Contributed by Burton Williams-Inman
Okay, so to be completely honest, this may end up being just as much a plug for Shadowing a Student as it is a blog on teacher burnout and stuff like that. It may even be a shameless plug for the teacher PD options, as a whole- let’s be clear, I have not been asked by Julie to plug these opportunities in any way (cue Wayne’s World sponsorship montage- real one’s know). But, really, I haven’t.
This time of year is obviously wild for a number of reasons: exams are on the horizon, we’re all exhausted and wishing maybe we were still on Thanksgiving Break, students are tired and also really busy with all of their out-of-school activities that are also somehow ramping up at the same time as everything else. In the midst of ALL of that- I do want to give a few words of encouragement before doing my thing:
a) the assignments from the semester that are piling up will get graded
b) the students will take their exams
c) you will make it to break and will enjoy some much needed rest
All of those things are true.
On a different note, earlier this week, I shadowed a 9th grade student for a day. I specifically chose a Monday schedule because I wanted to attempt to see a Monday schedule through their eyes. The option to shadow a student was attractive to me even last year because I (as much as everyone else) sometimes fall into the trap of simply saying/feeling, “they’re high schoolers, they gotta figure it out on their own” (which is true) or “if they wanted more time they shouldn’t have applied for AP/decided to play ball/wanted to do all of those extracurriculars/etc.” (also, kind of true). I haven’t endured an anchor day/Monday schedule as a student since my own days in high school and I figured it would be at least somewhat enlightening and hopefully even give me a little more empathy. I’m also not saying that they don’t need to figure this out on their own and that high school isn’t the time to figure out some semblance of time management, because it is, but I also genuinely believe that I (again, as much as anyone else) can fall into the trap of thinking that my class should be a student’s highest priority. Further, I also kind of think an equally dangerous trap is the trap of not thinking about it all. Moving on!
I shadowed a 9th grade student for the day- following along to their classes and lunch and breaks (at a slight distance to not make it too awkward). When asked by my 9th graders why I was in their Spanish or Biology class, I just told them I was doing some observations for a “teacher development thing”. It was honestly a pretty fun and informing day for me. I’m not going into detail on my findings during this blog, I’m saving that for later; I’m actually observing this student again in the Spring on a Tuesday or Thursday schedule in order to compare it to the movement and flow of a Monday schedule. I’ll be doing a larger tell-all closer to the end of the year.
I’m telling you about my decision to shadow (even in the midst of end-of-year content and exam preparations) to say that I actually think some of these PD opportunities can be a great way to mix up our daily or weekly routine to prevent/mitigate some of the burnout or exhaustion you may be experiencing…just hang with me for a sec. I am FULLY aware that, essentially, to some folks, it sounds like I just said: “maybe try replacing some work with some different work and see if you feel better?” I don’t mean to sound so naive or pretend that the real feelings of exhaustion or burnout, or however you would prefer to word it, are so curable that you just observe someone else’s classroom and then you’re suddenly caught up and well-rested and all that other stuff we want right now.
I am merely stating that, for me, shadowing a student was a really great way to get out of my own rhythm for a day and allow me some insight that I wouldn’t have otherwise received. I also think that taking that day to shadow a student or observe a colleague for a block or two, or participate in a teaching square can actually take us out of the moment that we’re in and allow us to glimpse/remember the larger picture in front of us. That is something that I am always down for.
AGAIN, this message is not sponsored by Julie Rust…but next semester, especially as we enter that stretch of February days where we feel like we need to mix it up somehow because we’re already feeling the burn, I might recommend taking the time to observe a faculty member for a couple of blocks on a Monday, or even shadow a student with whom you already have a working relationship. I’ll even put my money where my mouth is and say that my planning blocks are 3 and 5 if you need some coverage to do either!
I firmly believe there is SUCH good work going on in the classroom right next to us and I also believe that there are SO many insights to be gained from better understanding the perspective of the students we teach. Why not let this inform our daily experience and use it to get out of our own daily ruts?
If you need a reminder, here is a list of this year’s PD opportunities w/ short explanations. Feel free to shoot me an email if you have questions or would like to chat more about any of the PD options, especially Shadowing a Student!