#of course not all. there is the usual garden variety boredom adolescent angst and checked out-ness

[itspileofgoodthings]

The past couple weeks it’s been really hitting me how much harder it’s been teaching Pride and Prejudice this year—which was so disappointing at first? Because works I’ve traditionally had a harder time with I’ve felt like i’ve broken new ground while teaching and am teaching the kids BETTER. So initially I was so frustrated that my historically easiest work to teach was feeling so difficult! But there’s been some good days that have let me see that part of what was happening was that I have simply never reached this number of kids with pride and prejudice before and so consequently I have never had so many kinds of reactions before! In the waking up from the sleep of simply never paying attention there IS going to be plenty of stupidity, contrariness, crankiness, and almost arguing? Like even with themsELVES. And that’s a good thing.

#it’s hard because I am simply very sensitive and very tired #but I know it’s so good #like I just want to reach as many of them as possible and draw them in #and sometimes the words they say—as hard to hear as it can be for me—are simply proof they are being reached #something is Happening to them #of course not all. there is the usual garden variety boredom adolescent angst and checked out-ness #but this is more than that #anywayyyy of course this is mostly about teaching teenage boys #they’re not going to show you when they’re moved. in words. #but it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening #I talked to another teacher today about it and she goes ‘I can see it happening among them too’ #and it has helped! because I really was just in my head about it #first about the book itself (an insane thing but I had a bit of a wobble of just like. okay should I be teaching this) #and then about my own ability. #but it’s just that thing of leveling up. #and yeah some days it DOES make me miss the time when I and the book was sooooo under the radar that 90% of the class quietly checked out #and me and the rest of the students had an undetected fun time #I LIKE to stay in the shadows. in the peace and quiet #but clearly I am not meant to and I have a true compulsion to draw in as many people as possible #it can be scary but I know it’s good #teaching tag #ANYWAYS. thanks for listening