Chapter 9: When things go wrong

Fires in the Bathroom: When things go wrong

This chapter talked about how to keep students motivated and not allow them to give up. It is easy for students to get discouraged because of bad grades. This is why it is important that teachers make sure to check in with students before the grade period ends to see how they felt the semester/term went. By asking students how they felt this term went for them, if they felt they deserve the grades they have gotten and how they can improve next term. If a student feels discouraged its not uncommon for students to skip school or slack off even more. It’s also common for teachers to feel discouraged as well. Sometimes classes don’t go well or teachers have a hard time reaching out to students. When this happens teaching can become frustrated and blunder or behave in insensitive matters towards their students. It is important that teachers know how to apologize, learn not to take a bad day to hard, try not to act like a superhero and most importantly not to give up on students.

I really liked this chapter because as a student it makes teachers seem more “real.” As a student in elementary/middle school teachers did seem like super heroes, like they could never do anything wrong or have a bad day. Now that I am older I realize that teachers do have bad days and even bad semesters. My mentor teacher was telling me that she had the worst group of freshman last semester and had it been her first year of teaching she would have quit. It just showed me that some years are going to be more enjoyable than others and it is important that no matter what I do, I never give up on my students. I know how discouraging it would be if a teacher had given up on me and I always want to make students feel that they have someone who believes in them.