September 25 - October 2
What was the moment (or moments) this past week when you felt most connected, engaged, or affirmed as a teacher - the moment(s) when you said to yourself, "This is what being a
teacher is really all about"?
Bibb County CTAE has had the opportunity to work the concession stand during several Mercer University football games. Hutchings Career Center was included in the invite and my some of my students have had the chance to put their skills into practice. While we only prepare a limited menu, they have to follow the sanitation guidelines taught in class and the same cleaning procedures.
Several of the other schools have also participated, but it obvious which are Culinary Students. They have been overheard telling each other "Remember what Chef says..." or "Don't forget..." by other adults helping in the stand. They came back to me to tell me how knowledgeable these students are, how hard they work and great it was to hear them working as a team and helping each other remember what was taught and why.
These students are ready to 'leave the nest' and per sue a career in Culinary Arts.
Little Birdies Leaving the Nest Response... 9/25-10/2/13
ReplyDeleteHonestly this passage gave me a LOT to think about. The idea of our students moving on, soaring into the skies of limitless impossibilities, made me wonder to myself if I had done enough to make a difference in their lives.
I know that I am only one man, one teacher, one period in the day, but I have always felt that my role has been to inspire my students to achieve more than they ever did before. Looking back on the haze that is the first nine weeks, I can say with a blessed reassurance, that I am truly making a difference in some of my student’s lives. And really, if that means to them sink or swim, light or dark, up or down, then it means I have done my part.
I have connected with my students on a level I think previous teachers in my shoes didn’t because they lacked that motivation and desire to make a difference. I see myself as more than just a teacher at this point. I see myself as a role model, a caregiver, a counselor when need be, and so much more because of the opportunity I have been given.
One thing I have learned in all of my classes so far this semester is that if you don’t love the song being played in the background of learning, then by God change the lyrics, change the message, and change the TUNE. There is nothing better than seeing your students raise above the tide, the smoke, and the dirt this life slings at them, only to be like little birdies leaving the nest….
Mr. H
I agree with you Ray. I love it when the students are working on something I have previoulsy taught and hear things like that. I also love it when they begin to ask questions concerning the real world salon visits they participate in after school or on the weekends. We wonder how much they pay attention to us, and we find out the answer to that question when we get involved with them outside of our four walls. kudos to you!
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