Teaching

Upon walking into class today, one student asked,

Did you miss me??

He is a big guy with a big heart.  Also full of jokes, a big laugh and a bit of crude language thrown in.  Later in the class period, he was singing a song that didn't sound like it had the best, most appropriate lyrics... he joked that if I thought that was bad, that I should hear the rest.  Then took that back and said,

Well, actually, it's not THAT bad of a song.

I replied,

I think your definition of "not that bad" and my definition are drastically different! 

He and everyone else agreed, with a chuckle behind their smile.

Sometimes we talk about the most random things in class while they are working... and you know what... I love it!  I love learning about them, learning the things that they know, laughing with them, and comiserating with them.  I love walking out of class with a smile on my face and looking forward to when we meet again.

Teaching is about connecting with others, helping them learn new things, enjoying the time with them and, to a certain extent, making it fun too.  While I don't believe my role is to be an entainer, I believe that laughter helps get through a lot of things.

Another role I have realized that I have, whether I want it or not, is as a therapist.  Sometimes students will share with me their life story, the struggles they've had, the things they've gone through, and what they are struggling with now.  Some of my students have or had:
     shoulder surgery in January
     had cancer and beat it
     a granddaughter with another grandbaby on the way
     a mother who is on hospice care and an uncle needing dialysis
     a seven year old boy and a 10month old girl
     a wedding they are saving
     a new job
     an old job where they were just able to use the information we learned in class
   
It's just amazing the things my students are going through, and yet even more amazing than that is how they are willing to share with me.  Whether I'm interested in it or not, sometimes they seem to just need to let someone else know.  And I am glad they are comfortable enough to share with me.