A Day in the Life of a Student
By Mrs. Little (8th-Grade English Teacher)
It’s impossible to understand the experience of another until you’ve tried to live it yourself for a day. On Thursday, March 9, I took off my English teacher hat and pulled up my middle-schooler hoodie (figuratively of course, because I didn’t want a detention). Leaving my gradebook, prep periods, and phone behind, I followed the schedule of a 7th-grader from 7:40 - 2:16. The result left me appreciative of the JGMS staff, reflective of my own teaching practices, and more aware of the reality students face in a 7-period schedule.
One of the best things about attending seven different classes was that I got to watch other teachers creatively manage their classrooms while delivering engaging lessons. All day long, my student “peers” asked questions ranging from, “Why is it called a cow-magnet?” in science class (ask Ms. Noferi for a fun-farm-fecal-fact), to “Did Elon Musk succeed Queen Elizabeth?” during Ms. d’Entremont’s vocabulary review in English class. In every scenario, teachers responded with both insight and good-humor, a winning combination for middle-schoolers.
It wasn’t just the impressive fielding of questions though; the content was also made quite accessible with visual aids and hands-on learning. I touched magnets, cut out cylinders, acted out a play, spoke French, and watched a video about Chinese philosophy. And I experienced the stress of “doing school” along the way. For one, I found it difficult to abruptly transition from Confucianism to using π r², needing a minute to collect myself once the bell rang for the next period. In math, I certainly struggled with trying to find the area of a 3D object, but found myself beaming when Ms. Burstein gave my group a thumbs up once we were on the right track. The process reminded me how important it is to celebrate even the small moments of success in the classroom.
With all of these experiences, I couldn’t help but reflect on my own teaching practices. Here are a few points that I plan on more consistently using in my own teaching:
Increase…
Movement breaks
Hands-on activities with physical materials
The inclusion of videos and images
The number of times a student experiences some success during class
The amount of time at the start of class to allow students to physically and mentally transition from their previous period
Decrease...
The length of time spent lecturing to students
Screen time when possible
Allowing students on computers while giving directions (trust me, they’re playing chess)
After completing this experience, I hope to be more mindful as an educator. Our students can learn from us, but we also have a lot to learn from them and their experiences. I’m also appreciative of my colleagues for opening their doors and allowing me the opportunity to be in their classrooms for the day. If any other teachers ever want to take on the role of the student, my door is always open as well.