I have a confession to make. Mind you, this is difficult for me. It may even be difficult for you to read. Are you ready? Are you waiting on bated breath? Here is goes...I am not as evil as I make myself out to be.
Yes, it is true. I do actually like my students. In fact, I am truly enjoying this semester's classes. My non-evilness goes so far as sometimes when I am at the store I think, "Self, you should pick up some cookies or something for your students. You know, just because." Now is that an evil thought? I think not!
Even when I seem evil, like when I assign essays or reading homework, I am really just being incredibly thoughtful. You see, I know what it is like in that world beyond high school. I know what is expected because (gasp!) I have already experienced it. I don't want my students to have that moment, in the college library, when they are surrounded by a bunch of books, printed documents, and their trusty laptop, only to stare sadly at the collection because they have absolutely no idea where to start. I don't want my students to enter the voting booth, quickly scan that new state amendment and make a split second decision to vote on a law that could change their lives - for the worse. And, most importantly, I certainly don't want my students to be the ones at their high school reunion that just sits back and listens to everyone else's achievements because, well, they have nothing positive to say about their last ten or twenty years. So, you see, I am trying to help by providing you with a well-rounded education.
It is because my intentions are always good (and never evil as I often kid about) that I find myself feeling sad when my students do not take advantage of the education that I am desperately trying to provide them. I don't believe in busy work or teaching to a test. Every assignment I give, every novel I assign, every essay prompt I provide is for a reason. Whether it is building higher order thinking skills, appealing to different learning styles, or simply passing along knowledge, there is always a reason for the activities we complete in and out of class. There is even a reason for my weekly stories (I believe it is part of my job to promote oral communication through storytelling - not just teach them).
It is these good intentions, these conscious reasons, that I expect the assignments to be completed. I expect the novels to be read. I expect the essays to be well-written. I think I do a decent job of providing a nice balance between rigor and fairness. I make a conscious effort to assign no more than 40 minutes of homework a night (although many students make it more by procrastinating) and also to not assign homework every night of the week. I expect this balance to be noticed and appreciated by students.
Of course, it is easier for students to ignore this effort and focus only on the negatives. It is easier for students to dislike their teachers and believe that we are out to get them. It is easier for students to blame their bad grades on teachers, and to complain to guidance and administration. But, the fact of the matter is that life is not easy. And, if school is supposed to prepare students for "life" then why shouldn't it be challenging?
20 comments:
I knew this was coming and I don’t see you as evil. I do some times get stressed out about your homework and specially the essays. I was such a good writer before but now I have just gotten more distracted by my surroundings. I also get stressed because I want to do well in your class and I want to impress you. I normally don’t really care about what my teachers think about me and I’m always so whatever with them. But in this case, in your class, there is something that I just love! I never had a teacher that cared so much and actually made the class challenging. In Venezuela everything is so different. Everything is so much harder. So when I got here and I saw how many teacher didn’t really cared and made everything to be so easy and simple I just kind of gave up a bit you can say. But also I was just like whatever no body is really challenging me. I was disappointed but I wasn’t really sure what was happening at the same time. Why are teachers so whatever here and they don’t challenge us? So when I get teachers like you that actually challenge us I get really into the class and I being to care about what the teacher thinks. I want to do better and get a good grade here but I’m so stressed with the SATS, ACTS and others problems. I will do my best and I hope I can get better at my essays and understanding English with you. You have also helped me a lot to be organized and control as time passes. I now get to finish everything quicker and I keep my time in order but I still get stressed. I hope I can get better and I really do thank you for what you have done to help me, and others in class.
Mrs.Stoklosa! I am so glad to hear you don't hate us, even though I always knew you didn't... I think if you have good dedicated students, I don't think you'll ever seem "evil," sometimes your "evil" face is not "evil" at all or when you're serious, students realize that you are being thoughtful and that you're a very dedicated teacher. If a student sees some type of dedication coming from their teacher and that teacher is conveying all the information in a very formal and balanced way, students will most likely succeed in the course. I believe it's not a confession at all, we always knew you liked us, I think it's the other way around, you didn't know if we knew you liked us. ok, wait, was that confusing? We know you're a good teacher, actually probably even better than other teachers.
I believe that school should be challenging because if it's not then people aren't going to be prepared for the real world. Even challenging classes my not prepare one for the real world, but at least it's a start. I think busywork is the biggest waste of time because it doesn't really help me to understand what Im working on. Although I usually complain about the amount of work I am assigned, I think it truly helps me to develop skills I need and obtain needed knowledge. I believe this class is very fair and that certain things that I have learned will help me in the real world.
Mrs. Stoklosa, do my eyes deceive me? Is it possible that this is just an illusion?! Could it be that there really is some good trapped inside that outer, evil shell of yours?!! NO...surely you jest!
No, but seriously I find that everything you have said in this week's blog is true (and highly reasonable). English might not be my favorite subject and I may or may not find some of your assignments tedious and just outright boring, but I definetely see the point of doing them and what they are meant to teach me. Some people might call your methods harsh, but the criticism that you have given me and the feedback that I have recieved from you have definitely helped me reflect on certain errors that I can now improve upon, such as in my writing. So I just want to go ahead and thank you for teaching us and for trying to make us better students...even though sometimes you do things that just seem EVIL to me. I'm not trying to kiss up, but I think it's fair to say the truth- at least in my case.
I completely understand your confession. The funny thing about this was that while I was reading this blog, I literally heard your voice stating the written text. I think that you are not evil, but you just have expectations that you know is the correct way for students to make it through your class. I agree with your teaching methods about preparing us for college and the real world. I also know that I will definitely not be the one who will come out of your class knowing nothing. I seriously have gotten a lot out of your class because it has helped me analyze texts better. Although at times I can’t stand some of the books, I force my self to read and comprehend the novel so therefore I become a better reader and student.
Hmm, I'm 100% positive that this post is directed towards me. Even if it was subconsciously. Maybe not completely towards me, but I am here to say, all your efforts to give your students a good education does not go unnoticed whatsoever! I will probably never be able to express in words how grateful, lucky, and honored I feel that I have been able to take your class for two years! And just because I don't always do your work doesn't mean I don't appreciate your class. In my case, it just means that I'm irresponsible and need to get my act together.
In a way, it's good that I get zeros because it's like a wake up call. It just sucks when I see the wake up call and don't respond... But that's what makes it challenging and prepares me for "life." So your class not only gives me more of an education than any regular high school student, but it really does prepare me for "the real world" which is something that close to none of the high school teachers do. I will be grateful for your class for infinity and beyond. Literally. And if I ever become a world renowned psychologist, I will be sure to mention you in my "How I Made It" auto-biography about success. Your class has honestly made an enormous impact on my life.
So, evil or not, everything done in your class is for the good of mankind.
I completely agree with the concept that preparedness is key. I like to look at it from not only your perspective but from my football coaches. They run us and we think they are trying to kill us but in reality they are only trying to get us prepared for the real game situation. Which is much like you as a teacher is trying to best prepare us for the real world work and education atmosphere. Students need a real teacher, they need to know how it is to work and use their brain. Nothing is accomplished because of it being easy, its the struggles that make us who we are.
It is really funny that you posted this blog. Me and Spencer always talk about your class and how great of a teacher you are. You are so devoted to teaching students what they will use in the future. And as a present student I have been noticing it more and more each day. I told Spencer how weird it was how now I always analyze everything especially movies. He agreed with we and is encouraging me to take your visual literacy class.
It is not that you give a lot of work, you just make us apply ourselves. You are not like any other teacher, the work you give us is actually important and not just busy work. Not only is it important, but you change up the style and techniques of your teaching because you are aware of how each student learns. This is honestly one of the most interesting classes I have taken.
Yes I believe that school should be challenging. But "life" is a different type of challenge. Instead of trying to complete all of the assignments on time and studying for tests, "life" has problems like paying off student loans and for some living from paycheck to paycheck. School should be challenging in the sense of preparing students for the hard work to come, for some college and for others a job.
Awe Ms. Stoklosa I don't think you're that mean. You just give allot of work but like you said it is for our own good. College used to be a really upsetting topic to talk about before your class, I have to admit i feel a bit better about it now. Still somethings are learned only by experience, live and learn; you know? Well anyway this is one of my favorite blogs, I managed to read the whole thing this time.
I think everything you do in our english class is for the good. You do have experience and you do know whats out there and who better to prepare us than someone who knows from experience. When doing the time management activity it really hit me how much work its going to be in collage . Time management is a big deal in collage and ive relied this in your class. The assignments you give us and the feedback on our writing is good as well.My boyfriend is taking English in college right now, and he will get very similar corrections from his college professor. This just shows me that your preparing us very well so we don't make these mistakes down the road.
I agree with you that school should be challenging so that it will prepare us for the future. I think that the students that are too lazy to do the work that you are assigning are missing out on the things that will be helpful to them in the future.I am glad that you are teaching us so much, though at times it does get to be a little frustrating.
Even though I like to joke about how evil you are in the classroom I can tell that you really are in fact a very nice person (although you do eat babies). Also, I don't bitch about the homework because I truly think that it is too much work but it is more to get a laugh and I apologize if it gets out of hand sometimes. Never in this class have I felt as if I am doing busy work. Many times I would rather be doing something else but I do see that you elect to only give us 40 minutes of homework each night and you nicely give us some nights off. My other friends have teachers that just seem to unload homework on to them and it seems that they are always complaining that they are up to 2 in the morning just finishing off english. Thank you for being a not evil teacher.
I loved this blog post, it amused me the whole way through. I have to admit that There was one occasion where I thought you were totally lame and a big meanie. And I use that word choice for the sake of being literal with what went through my mind. But then you were really nice and I took it all back within the hour. I felt so defeated. Thank you, Mrs. Stoklosa, for trying to actually teach us something.
I agree on you teaching us with your best intentions, I love the story-telling and many of the activities we do in class. The only thing I don't really enjoy as much is the reading and the writing, but I have never ever been a fan of them. You have taught me how to deal with both of these things and get them done the right and quick way, in other words, proposition to get things done.
I thought it was really nice of you when you brought the cookies for us, I really enjoyed them, thank you. But, i think that the whole "giving-us-not-too-much-homework" thing is not true. I mean, look at this week, for example, 5 blog posting that cannot be done more than two a day, finish reading a hundred pages left of the book in four nights and also a big project. It is possible to do but it WILL take more than "40 minutes" to be done.
Anyways, I do appreciate what you do for us and your efforts too. This class hasn't been like any other of my boring English classes, it has been lots of fun and is been going by super fast, it seems like last week we changed semesters but it has been already about 12 weeks!
I do not think that school should be easy. In fact, I think that the way our school system is is way too easy. They spoil students and let most of them get away with mostly everything. I think that the school system should be a lot more strict and not have to worry about students getting teachers in trouble because they usually never really do anything wrong.
I love how you wrote a blog about this because I do not think every student in class knew this or even thought about this. I know most teachers are not out to get us, however, we do have the occasional, but I know you are trying to push us for our future. You are only trying to better us and prepare us for what we are going to encounter throughout life. Every time we do an assignment that I dread I just think that one day I will have to write another essay or write a resume and this experience will help me. The time management activity along with the college resume and other college things you have us complete are things we will be doing for "real" in a few months that will determine our next steps in life. Even the things we all hate, will help us in the way they are intended to and even for other things that we would never think of. Education is a big part of our life and even though we all hate going to school, it is only benefitting us.
First of all, I don’t think you’re evil. I actually think you’re an honest and helpful teacher. I admire your personality and teaching techniques. You are simply doing your job by assigning essays and reading assignments. At the same time, you’re enhancing our learning. I see your good intentions behind your “evilness”. In fact, most teachers, at least those who are good ones, must be “evil” in some way because that will help us grow and mature as human beings. I believe that you’ve gained respect from your students because of the way you are. You are simply awesome! And, second of all, school should definitely be challenging because it should prepare us for the life ahead of us. School should enhance our knowledge and help as become more mature. That is easily accomplished by having a teacher like you!
I find that toward the end of the year that people aren't as passionate about their grades as they were at the beginning. But actually, I have liked working hard in your class because I feel really engaged in the topics that we go over. I am very happy that you like your students. At least you don't hate us. It's true, you really haven't given us crazy hard assignments or anything. It makes things so much easier on us students because we have other classes to worry about too. But, thank you for everything and keep up the good work!
I think what your blog is about is a real nice thing.I'm pretty sure that yor students already know this though:P.I think people take advantage of teachers that are to nce so a good balance is best.I think you have good ways of teaching and even though it's not funnnn it's still better then other English classes and that's why I Reyes to make sure I had you again.
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