(Untitled)

[crabbypattie]

Today I taught my first high school art classes. The fact that I have been teaching younger students for years did not make me any less nervous. I looked into their blank expressions and it freaked me out. I'm used to boisterous energy, laughter. The Stepford teens at my academic high school terrified me. The silence is so creepy. My voice cracked

Comments

skool

[dlasky]

Hi G! I'm teaching (or assistant teaching) at four different schools right now. I started my first elementary school gig (an after-school comics class) last week, and am having a hard time with the more disruptive kids. I tell them to sit in their chairs, etc, and it's as if they didn't hear me at all. I'm more used to high school and middle school (and now college too). I think you'll get to like your high school kids. But yeah, the blank stares and lack of interest can be super-daunting. If you make little jokes while lecturing, it can break the ice.

Years ago, I did my first presentation about mini-comics to a high school class. I thought I'd checked my samples pretty well for mature content. But then the first kid to pick up "Deep Girl" turned right to the page with "Lesbo Hell Hole" and immediately read the title out loud to his classmates. Oy! I've been more careful since then.

Also: Today I think I heard a 3rd grader use the F word. It happened so fast, I'm still wondering if I misheard her.

[dairryiere]

I wish you were my art teacher!
If my kids are lucky they will end up with you as there H.S. art teacher.