"We got one of those cool black Teachers!"

Third Day of Student Teaching? It was pretty chill. My cooperating teacher made it back! (She was out for a while) I began my day attending a team plan. The teachers all discussed their problem students and the ones that were behind in their schoolwork. I took all this information in because I was going to be teaching those students in a few days. The meeting was pretty long; the school is on a block schedule so classes are 90 minutes long. On A days I will have three periods then a planning period. On B days the planning period will be in the morning followed by three class periods. So all together I am responsible for six classes. I kind of like the block scheduling because I can do a lecture, group activity, and then independent practice with all of my classes before the hour is up (that’s what I think now). I have already chosen the class that I will use for my Teacher Work Sample (A big project that I have to do while I’m student teaching): the class that meets during second hour on B Days. Why? Well I think they will be my most challenging class. Today one girl (a sister with an attitude) raised her hand and said, “Mrs. (Fictitious Name because I want to keep identities Private) can you not let this student teacher be mean to us because I don’t like that! Last year in Ms. “So and Sos” class I had an altercation with her student teacher because she was trying to be mean!” My eyes got wide. They got wider when one boy was like, “He looks cool, but you never know he could be mean!”. These kids did not care that I was sitting in the class. They talked about me while I was sitting there listening. They better not be bad though! I just smiled with my eyes wide and starring. My cooperating teacher simply said that they wouldn’t have to worry about that because I’m a man of integrity and it won’t happen because they are going to do what I tell them to. Nice! I loved the way she phrased that.

The next hour filed in and everyone was like, “Hi Mr. Caruthers!” You know, I really like being called that I feel so “antiquated”. Too soon? Maybe. Haha. My cooperating teacher introduced me to them as well and one boy said, “Oooo we got one of those cool black teachers!” I mean he wasn’t wrong. I am cool. I am black (my skin is a nice brown color). These kids crack me up. I spent the day watching National Treasure. I watched the first half of the movie three times today. It never got old because I enjoyed watching the students talk in the beginning and then snap to attention as the movie drew them in. The one part where Cage and the blonde chick were changing in Urban Outfitters was funny to observe because one boy was like: “Where’s her bra!?” He obviously was getting a little excited. They all liked the movie. My cooperating teacher had them write down 15 historical things that they noticed. So they didn’t get off easy but they got to watch a decent movie with Nicholas Cage.

The day was a good one. I found out what I’ll be teaching next week. My unit for my TWS (Teacher Work Sample) will be Chapters five (The Road to Revolution) six (The Revolutionary War) and seven (The Making of the United States Constitution) in their textbook and she is letting me take over! I get to teach the chapters however I want and pace the material as I see fit! I have a lot of planning to do! Keep me in prayer!

Here is a quote, “Without education, you are not going anywhere in this world.”-Malcolm X.

That is a true statement from my favorite historical icon. Without knowledge what can you do? The cliché statement “knowledge is power” is true. If I can show these kids one thing I want to show them that without an education they can’t do anything in this world. When I think about them I also feel like with that they need another quote, “With great power comes great responsibility”-Ben Parker (Stan Lee). These days people are getting increasingly reckless with their knowledge. People must be taught to be responsible for their power (Knowledge) because they really can go somewhere with an education like X said, but sometimes the destination is not always a good one. Good night.