What I have learned from my students this year...

This is my second year teaching. Last year, even though I wasn't overwhelmed by the teenage creature, having had no experience with them lead me to be shocked and at times extremely frustrated when dealing with them. This year that frustration and shock is way down. I have learned from them that they are actually not as different as we were ourselves. They have grownup bodies to deal with that they know little about. They have emotions that are strong and overwhelm them. They don't have the wisdom or control over their impulses that we have learned as adults because they are teenagers. We didn't have wisdom and control when we were teenagers. They have likes (music, friends, social activities) that we also had. Of course their technology is far advanced from ours but that is not their fault. They have fears and concerns similar too ours. I believe their concerns and fears are even more complicated with the present state of the economy, failure of the family structure, and pressures of school with regards to all the standardized testing going on. All this being said, I have learned that it is important to see these students as individuals. Give them the benefit of the doubt and try to see things through there eyes. I believe that if you can do that you will be less shocked by them and hopefully communicate with them a little better. Don't get me wrong that I don't still get frustrated by them once in awhile. We should always want better for our youth and be role models to them. That is the charge we have as adults. We should show them the correct ways to behave and react to problems. I have high standards for how I want them to behave and what I expect of them. Lowering those standards because I "feel sorry for them" does them no good. However, if you try to see the world through their eyes I believe you can reach them better and you are able to show them grace. Who doesn't need some grace once in awhile.