Student Teaching / Interesting Questions

Then

It was 1984 when I decided to teach and I was assigned the toughest school in the area. I remember walking into the school by myself. To know me you wouldn't necessarily know that I used to be painfully shy in fact I wasn't quiet sure how I would make it as a teacher. The first task was to find the classroom and my mentor teacher. This task was not necessarily easy since the school was an open campus with several buildings. I felt like I was an impostor was I actually suppose to be there? I really didn't feel like my course work had even remotely prepared me for what I was about to do. Lydia my mentor teacher was about my current age now, she looked at me with skepticism. I just knew she could look right through me and knew I was not ready. All of a sudden she started talking about Echinoderms and Mollusks And that the kids would be dissecting in the coming weeks. I was terrified I couldn't remember what an echinoderm was. I just knew I was in the wrong place. Why would they let someone as dumb as me teach. I did know it was an invertebrate maybe I could go home and study and everything would be alright. I worked so hard that semester and it paid off. I did get an "A" in student teaching and made the dean's list for the first time in my life. One lesson I took away from this experience is that if you truly want to learn something; teach it. You have to know your stuff when explaining something to a kid.

Now

Ok on Friday I was teaching my Seventh graders about the excretory system . I thought it was a simple subject that I could finish within 45 minutes. Well was I ever wrong; seventh graders not only know very little about their bodies but they also are very curious. As you know the urinary system is part of the body that parents call your private parts. This is my first year with seventh graders I have always taught Senior high in the past and kids generally had a good idea of whats going on by then. My seventh graders know nothing. I am not kidding the questions they asked were amusing and refreshing. It started in first period when a kid asked me if you ever urinate blood. I explained that you could have a kidney infection and how it would cause a high fever and blood and puss to discharge. Of course this got their attention and the next comment was enlightening. One of my young ladies said that the pee turns red during her period and comes out the VIGEEE . Oh lord she had know idea there were three openings in the female anatomy. Well as the day went on I continued to correct a million misconceptions. Thank goodness I am not still stuck looking up echinoderms. I feel better about teaching these days. I am never shy in front of my kids, I can even answer some of the toughest questions. Whewwww

Ps Don't worry I know when to tell them to ask their MaMa That came up a couple of times on Friday. I will answer anything about anatomy or physiology but straight up sex questions go to their parents.