Calling All Teachers

[Dalecarlian Union]

Hey there everybody, I'm an aspiring teacher and I was wondering if there are any teachers among the poster here that would be willing to a) give advice and/or b) share some personal insight on your experiences as a teacher. I want to teach European and World History at the High School level. I want to incorporate activities like Socratic seminars and debates (have half of the class be Sparta and the other half be Athens during the Peloponnesian War's for example) and above all teach critical thinking. I want to teach the material then have students draw their own opinions on historical events an be able to apply that to life in general.

My question is, is it possible to do that in today's "teach to the standardized test" environment? And is it still possible to teach a subject that is stereotypically boring and make it exciting?

[The Black Forrest]

Talk to Kat, she is a teacher in New York if I remember right.

[Canton Empire]

Hey there everybody, I'm an aspiring teacher and I was wondering if there are any teachers among the poster here that would be willing to a) give advice and/or b) share some personal insight on your experiences as a teacher. I want to teach European and World History at the High School level. I want to incorporate activities like Socratic seminars and debates (have half of the class be Sparta and the other half be Athens during the Peloponnesian War's for example) and above all teach critical thinking. I want to teach the material then have students draw their own opinions on historical events an be able to apply that to life in general.

My question is, is it possible to do that in today's "teach to the standardized test" environment? And is it still possible to teach a subject that is stereotypically boring and make it exciting?

Fatheland

[Wolfmanne2]

Hey there everybody, I'm an aspiring teacher and I was wondering if there are any teachers among the poster here that would be willing to a) give advice and/or b) share some personal insight on your experiences as a teacher. I want to teach European and World History at the High School level. I want to incorporate activities like Socratic seminars and debates (have half of the class be Sparta and the other half be Athens during the Peloponnesian War's for example) and above all teach critical thinking. I want to teach the material then have students draw their own opinions on historical events an be able to apply that to life in general.

My question is, is it possible to do that in today's "teach to the standardized test" environment? And is it still possible to teach a subject that is stereotypically boring and make it exciting?

You overestimate the intelligence of most kids.

[The Black Forrest]

Hey there everybody, I'm an aspiring teacher and I was wondering if there are any teachers among the poster here that would be willing to a) give advice and/or b) share some personal insight on your experiences as a teacher. I want to teach European and World History at the High School level. I want to incorporate activities like Socratic seminars and debates (have half of the class be Sparta and the other half be Athens during the Peloponnesian War's for example) and above all teach critical thinking. I want to teach the material then have students draw their own opinions on historical events an be able to apply that to life in general.

My question is, is it possible to do that in today's "teach to the standardized test" environment? And is it still possible to teach a subject that is stereotypically boring and make it exciting?

You overestimate the intelligence of most kids.

That can be said for the adults as well.

[Godular]

Hey there everybody, I'm an aspiring teacher and I was wondering if there are any teachers among the poster here that would be willing to a) give advice and/or b) share some personal insight on your experiences as a teacher. I want to teach European and World History at the High School level. I want to incorporate activities like Socratic seminars and debates (have half of the class be Sparta and the other half be Athens during the Peloponnesian War's for example) and above all teach critical thinking. I want to teach the material then have students draw their own opinions on historical events an be able to apply that to life in general.

My question is, is it possible to do that in today's "teach to the standardized test" environment? And is it still possible to teach a subject that is stereotypically boring and make it exciting?

You overestimate the intelligence of most kids.

Don't be so sure. Make it interesting and they'll surprise you.

[Wolfmanne2]

You overestimate the intelligence of most kids.

Don't be so sure. Make it interesting and they'll surprise you.

I'm a 'kid' (well, if 17 counts) and the amount of teachers I've seen that couldn't handle a classroom in my last few years of going to school is ridiculous, along with the amount of dumbasses that really make you question how some people have the brain power to wake up and have a shower (case in point: the guy who said there was no sound in World War II because the world was all in black and white). There are very few 'interesting' teachers too. Guranteed you'll find none in Maths and the only one for Science is the teacher for the top set (which I was in for GCSE). A bunch of teachers just left this year at my school. I'm sure plenty had good intentions, but you really have to wait until A Levels to be able to enjoy teaching. My friends from other schools tell me similar if not worse stories.

[Godular]

Hey there everybody, I'm an aspiring teacher and I was wondering if there are any teachers among the poster here that would be willing to a) give advice and/or b) share some personal insight on your experiences as a teacher. I want to teach European and World History at the High School level. I want to incorporate activities like Socratic seminars and debates (have half of the class be Sparta and the other half be Athens during the Peloponnesian War's for example) and above all teach critical thinking. I want to teach the material then have students draw their own opinions on historical events an be able to apply that to life in general.

My question is, is it possible to do that in today's "teach to the standardized test" environment? And is it still possible to teach a subject that is stereotypically boring and make it exciting?

Depends on the state you'd be teaching in, really. Here in texas, those kind of activities would be on the evaluate level, so we'd be all up on that kind of stuff, but it'd also be important to give the kids prep and background information.

You might also be able to support english classes by having students write essays on what their opinions on a particular event in history are and whatnot.

[Godular]

Don't be so sure. Make it interesting and they'll surprise you.

I'm a 'kid' (well, if 17 counts) and the amount of teachers I've seen that couldn't handle a classroom in my last few years of going to school is ridiculous, along with the amount of dumbasses that really make you question how some people have the brain power to wake up and have a shower (case in point: the guy who said there was no sound in World War II because the world was all in black and white). There are very few 'interesting' teachers too. Guranteed you'll find none in Maths and the only one for Science is the teacher for the top set (which I was in for GCSE). A bunch of teachers just left this year at my school. I'm sure plenty had good intentions, but you really have to wait until A Levels to be able to enjoy teaching. My friends from other schools tell me similar if not worse stories.

Doesn't necessarily reflect on the intelligence of the kids so much as a failure to address misconceptions. Differentiation is an important part of learning, as it addresses different areas of proficiency. Just because a kid has difficulty with equations does not necessarily mean he is bad at math in general.

[Havenburgh]

I graduated last year, and I agree. It seems like teachers these days would rather try to become friends with the kids rather than actually teach them something. Especially with the bad kids. Teachers think "Well if they like me then they will come to my class!" When in realty its that the kids are getting away with everything because the teacher wont scold them because they want to stay friends with them. Or with the athletes, who are just given good grades so they stay on the team. That was huge in my school

I passed high school with 90's in all my grades last year. I wasn't really considered a cool kid, or a sports player. I would rather sit with my closest friends, debate current events and politics over a round of chess. Now a days it seems like the teachers don't even care about us anymore.

[Dalecarlian Union]

I graduated last year, and I agree. It seems like teachers these days would rather try to become friends with the kids rather than actually teach them something. Especially with the bad kids. Teachers think "Well if they like me then they will come to my class!" When in realty its that the kids are getting away with everything because the teacher wont scold them because they want to stay friends with them. Or with the athletes, who are just given good grades so they stay on the team. That was huge in my school

I passed high school with 90's in all my grades last year. I wasn't really considered a cool kid, or a sports player. I would rather sit with my closest friends, debate current events and politics over a round of chess. Now a days it seems like the teachers don't even care about us anymore.

See, I want to avoid that. However, I want to teach in ways that will spur creative and critical thought. My students will earn their grades.

[Risottia]

Hey there everybody, I'm an aspiring teacher and I was wondering if there are any teachers among the poster here that would be willing to a) give advice and/or b) share some personal insight on your experiences as a teacher.

Don't become one. Seriously. Ill-paid, and facing a lot of cretins everyday - be they colleagues, students or (worst of them all) parents.

[Cetacea]

Hey there everybody, I'm an aspiring teacher and I was wondering if there are any teachers among the poster here that would be willing to a) give advice and/or b) share some personal insight on your experiences as a teacher. I want to teach European and World History at the High School level. I want to incorporate activities like Socratic seminars and debates (have half of the class be Sparta and the other half be Athens during the Peloponnesian War's for example) and above all teach critical thinking. I want to teach the material then have students draw their own opinions on historical events an be able to apply that to life in general.

My question is, is it possible to do that in today's "teach to the standardized test" environment? And is it still possible to teach a subject that is stereotypically boring and make it exciting?

You overestimate the intelligence of most kids.

not at all. Kids are much smarter than the system allows and so they get bored and disruptive. Unfortunately the old notions of tabula rasa and teacher as expert still hold sway and time constraints mean that the teach to the test approach is easier than actually creating learning.

as to OP three things
1- Discipline is key, be firm and have clear boundaries and expectations
2- Subjects aren't boring, delivery is. Kids will pick up on the enthusiasm and energy of the teacher. If youcare about your subject and care about working with your class then the kids will pick up that.
3- learning is a skill and it can be taught. socratic seminars and debates can happen IF you teach the skills first and give students responsibility

[Teemant]

Let's be honest. History in general is boring because even if you like one part of it you must learn 100 things you don't like. History lessons need to be more specialised (narrow) in my opinion for them to be interesting. The topic is just too broad.

[Dalecarlian Union]

Let's be honest. History in general is boring because even if you like one part of it you must learn 100 things you don't like. History lessons need to be more specialised (narrow) in my opinion for them to be interesting. The topic is just too broad.

I find that you can alleviate most of that concern if you talk about how people were affected by certain events. For example, yeah the Thirty Years War is pretty boring if you just run through the causes and effects, but if you teach the Human factor it tends to be more interesting. But it is true that not everything in history is exciting, but most of it, I believe, depends on your perspective.

[Wolfmanne2]

I graduated last year, and I agree. It seems like teachers these days would rather try to become friends with the kids rather than actually teach them something. Especially with the bad kids. Teachers think "Well if they like me then they will come to my class!" When in realty its that the kids are getting away with everything because the teacher wont scold them because they want to stay friends with them. Or with the athletes, who are just given good grades so they stay on the team. That was huge in my school

I passed high school with 90's in all my grades last year. I wasn't really considered a cool kid, or a sports player. I would rather sit with my closest friends, debate current events and politics over a round of chess. Now a days it seems like the teachers don't even care about us anymore.

See, I want to avoid that. However, I want to teach in ways that will spur creative and critical thought. My students will earn their grades.

Please do. I see just as many teachers that are successful instead of crashing and burn. Just remember that there's a chance you will crash and burn and that when you have to deal with a lower ability class you need to work hard to maintain your sanity.

You overestimate the intelligence of most kids.

not at all. Kids are much smarter than the system allows and so they get bored and disruptive. Unfortunately the old notions of tabula rasa and teacher as expert still hold sway and time constraints mean that the teach to the test approach is easier than actually creating learning.

as to OP three things
1- Discipline is key, be firm and have clear boundaries and expectations
2- Subjects aren't boring, delivery is. Kids will pick up on the enthusiasm and energy of the teacher. If youcare about your subject and care about working with your class then the kids will pick up that.
3- learning is a skill and it can be taught. socratic seminars and debates can happen IF you teach the skills first and give students responsibility

Maths sucks arse. No enthusiastic teacher could ever make me like it. I love History, even if the teacher is boring. And English Lit. I've always loved English, even when I had a teacher that never gave anyone a high grade and really seeped out my self-esteem. It's why I picked those for A Levels but not Maths. Put it simply, students like some things and students like other things. If you ask me, vocational education should be brought back for students who clearly do not like academic subjects instead of forcing them to study why the suffragettes campaigned for women's rights, or the contrast between Stella and Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire. I might enjoy it, but most people would hate having to study something they don't understand.

You really do overestimate kids. Some kids are just lazy and don't want to put their head down and work. I get bored and I've been unintentionally disruptive, but it has nothing to do with the system keeping me down. I work hard for my grades, other don't, it's why I've done well whilst some idiot brings plastic knives into school, stabs a teacher with them screaming 'DIE!!!!!!!' and get kicked out, then goes on Instagram to brag about his caution issued from the police.

[Conscentia]

Let's be honest. History in general is boring because even if you like one part of it you must learn 100 things you don't like. History lessons need to be more specialised (narrow) in my opinion for them to be interesting. The topic is just too broad.

I find that you can alleviate most of that concern if you talk about how people were affected by certain events. For example, yeah the Thirty Years War is pretty boring if you just run through the causes and effects, but if you teach the Human factor it tends to be more interesting. But it is true that not everything in history is exciting, but most of it, I believe, depends on your perspective.

You'll find that some people find the human factor to be the boring part.

[Nirvash Type TheEND]

High School level.

Socratic seminars and debates

You may choose one and only one.

[Nirvash Type TheEND]

not at all. Kids are much smarter than the system allows and so they get bored and disruptive

Coming from a wide eyed idealist, you should probably pull your head out of the clouds.

[Aelex]

As both a student and someone who is a literal passioné of history; I sadly have to tell you that, no matter how much you like the matter, history class will always be boring.

[Dalecarlian Union]

I find that you can alleviate most of that concern if you talk about how people were affected by certain events. For example, yeah the Thirty Years War is pretty boring if you just run through the causes and effects, but if you teach the Human factor it tends to be more interesting. But it is true that not everything in history is exciting, but most of it, I believe, depends on your perspective.

You'll find that some people find the human factor to be the boring part.

And that's why you diversify. There are multiple ways to teach certain subjects

[Teemant]

As both a student and someone who is a literal passioné of history; I sadly have to tell you that, no matter how much you like the matter, history class will always be boring.

Sadly it's true

[Dalecarlian Union]

High School level.

Socratic seminars and debates

You may choose one and only one.

I disagree, my World History class in high school employed both of those techniques. Granted it was AP, and that is what I want to teach.

[Cetacea]

If you ask me, vocational education should be brought back for students who clearly do not like academic subjects instead of forcing them to study why the suffragettes campaigned for women's rights, or the contrast between Stella and Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire. I might enjoy it, but most people would hate having to study something they don't understand.

You really do overestimate kids. Some kids are just lazy and don't want to put their head down and work. I get bored and I've been unintentionally disruptive, but it has nothing to do with the system keeping me down. I work hard for my grades, other don't, it's why I've done well whilst some idiot brings plastic knives into school, stabs a teacher with them screaming 'DIE!!!!!!!' and get kicked out, then goes on Instagram to brag about his caution issued from the police.

yeah, saying that vocational education needs to be brought back and different people like different things kinda proves my point that its the system that needs to change. SO you do okay in the current system, so did most teachers which is why it continues. But the kid who brings the knife has skills that could have been fostered in a different system

[Aelex]

I find that you can alleviate most of that concern if you talk about how people were affected by certain events. For example, yeah the Thirty Years War is pretty boring if you just run through the causes and effects, but if you teach the Human factor it tends to be more interesting. But it is true that not everything in history is exciting, but most of it, I believe, depends on your perspective.

The best you could actually do to interest your student in the Thirty Years War is to put some Sabaton's music but even so, it won't really interest more those who were already uninterested. And, even if I, personnaly, find it interesting; I still can understand that people ain't really interested into the whole "religion war in the H.R.E + France and Sweden coming in to shit things up"