I have been teaching now for almost two months. Over the
course of the two months, I have learned a lot about myself, my passion for
teaching, and what I want to do for the rest of my life. People in my life have
contacted me through texting, Facebook, Twitter, and every other way to ask me
about how teaching is going so far. For some people, I am the only “teacher”
friend they know, and so they ask me lots of questions. I love these
conversations. They truly make me realize how lucky I am to be teaching in my
hometown, and how I can easily seeing myself teach here for the rest of my
career. I am only 8 weeks in, but I am in for the long haul. Teaching is my
calling, and I wouldn’t want to have it any other way.
Below are some of the questions that are asked when people
talk to me about teaching. I have some good stories from class as well, but we
can save those for another time. I don’t want to turn this blog post into a
novel, and it could get long quickly if I told you every time a student made my
day.
Q: Do you teach your
own classes with your own students or are you helping another teacher out?
A: I love this question. I think it is funny it is asked so
much, like people don’t think I can handle 36 middle school students at once.
The answer is yes; I have my own classroom and my own classes. Currently I
teach halftime, so I teach my classes in the afternoon and sub for other
teachers at RMS or RHS almost every morning.
Q: What do you teach?
A: Currently I teach 6th and 8th Grade
Social Studies. I have 29 6th graders in my Minnesota Studies class,
and that class is super fun to teach. 6th graders are crazy, but I
love their innocence and their passion to learn. I got spoiled with my 8th
grade class though. 37 of us in a classroom can make for some chaos, but every
day the students re-energize me and make me a better teacher. The 8th
grade Global Studies class I have is fun, respectful, energetic, and always
willing to go above and beyond to learn more. Having this group of 36 kids to
start my day off is incredible.
Q: Oh, I didn’t
realize you taught Middle School. Isn’t it just crazy over there with all the
teenagers?
A: Fact of the Day: None of my 6th Graders were
even born when 9/11/2001 occurred. Imagine trying to talk to them about a topic
like that when none of them even remember it? That doesn’t answer the question
at all, but if it doesn’t make you feel old, it should.
Overall, I think Middle School is where I belong. As you
heard above, I love my 8th graders, but my 6th grade
class is also a joy to be around. They are still adjusting to life in the
middle school and it is fun to watch them make new friends since they are
coming from three elementary schools. Teenagers in general are crazy, and you
are going to see some craziness occurring on a daily basis. That being said,
Rogers Middle School has amazing students. I don’t hear swearing down the
halls, I don’t see bullying hardly ever and I see students respect each other
during passing time. I can’t imagine that every middle school has the same
atmosphere as the one that has been created at RMS.
Q: Is it weird
working with some of the teachers that you had as a student?
A: This question gets asked a TON. Going to RMS from
2003-2006, many of the teachers that are there now are still there. Some have
moved on, and many new teachers have arrived, but there is still a core group
of them still teaching, just as they were when you were in middle school. I
love the staff at RMS. I have never felt “new” or unwelcome because the staff
does a great job at welcoming you into their circle as if you have been there
for 5 years. Many of the other new teachers have said the same thing and seeing
old teachers every day just makes the day more fun.
In general, the world has a view that teachers never leave
the school. I used to think the same thing. If I saw a teacher outside of
school I used to think it was really weird, and my mom is even a teacher. Once
I got to high school and started considering teaching as a profession, I
realized that teachers are normal people. Teaching is their job, but they still
go home like you do to their families or friends. I will never forget when I
was working at Broadway and saw a teacher at the bar drinking a beer and
thought the world was going to end. YOU CAN’T BE HERE DRINKING THAT was a
thought that crossed through my mind. Now from the other side of things, I can
see people that still think that way. The faces on the students if you see them
outside of school are priceless. They act like you shouldn’t be there, like you
don’t shop at Target just like they do. Some students rush up and saw hi, while
the other ones duck beneath the next aisle as if they are going to get in
trouble for seeing me outside of class. It is hilarious.
Q: Why did you decide
to become a teacher? You know that it doesn’t pay you well right?
A: The teaching salary thing doesn’t really need to be
touched on to be honest, except for the fact that it is always included in
people’s questions to me. So many people have asked me why I don’t go do a job
that pays better. In simple terms, here is why I decided to become a teacher…
When I walk into RMS every day I feel like it is something
that I want to do, not forced to do. The students greet you with a smile, a
high five, or a fist bump. If you know their name, they think you are a hero,
and if you give them candy, well then you are their best friend for the day.
When the class starts and you see 20-40 students looking to you, and no one
else to teach them, it is an amazing feeling. When there is something that a
student doesn’t understand and then they finally get it and you see that light
bulb go on, it is indescribable. When they walk into your class and you can
tell that they want to be there, your day is made. I don’t teach for the
income, I teach for the outcome.
Q: Is it weird when
the students call you Mr. Hines?
A: I always laugh at this question. Last year when I was up
in Monticello student teaching, I felt really weird when people called me Mr.
Hines. It didn’t feel right. When I got to RMS in September and I started
hearing the students use it, it just felt right. Now I just believe it is
normal and don’t have to think about it like I did before. Lots of people
outside of the school will call me Mr. Hines now because I am their “teaching
friend.”
So there you have it, some of the most common questions I
get when I am asked about teaching. If you have any other questions about my
job feel free to message me directly or comment on this post. I love talking
about my job. Teaching is not one of those jobs that go away when you leave the
school. I am always thinking about ways to make my classroom better, to get the
students more engaged, and to make myself better. It is those thoughts that
occur frequently that make me confident that I picked the right career and that
this is the profession for me!
