I have yet to meet a teenager who would turn down the chance to mingle and munch. For this reason, and many more, I believe the English teacher I observe every week is a genius.
The first time I observed Amy White’s 9th grade English class, she and the class were in the midst of an old fashioned Maycomb County tea to wrap up their unit on To Kill a Mockingbird. Each student was tasked with conducting an in-depth character analysis, dressing up as that character on tea day, and mingling in character with fellow “townspeople” during class time while they munched on Southern goodies.
As I sat in the back of the classroom trying to capture the excitement of the day in my notebook, Mrs. White wove her way through the classroom dressed as a member of the press, asking the students questions about their characters. It was loud and chaotic and messy and an absolute blast. Maycomb County came alive in Mrs. White’s classroom and, by extension, a classic piece of literature came alive, too.
The beauty of this lesson is that the kids had fun and they learned a thing or two. Mrs. White was able to link an in-depth study of characterization, plot, setting, cause and effect, theme, and other literary devices with an activity that engaged her students. It is a day they all still talk about.
I’m sure my MAT@USC classmates would agree that nearly every discussion we participate in with our professors leads to the same conclusion – teachers are most effective when they engage their students. It sounds so simple, but preparing a lesson like this takes time, energy, and patience to link the right activity with the right lesson. We can’t stand up in front of the class every day and juggle, stand on our hands, or tell jokes to get our students to pay attention. We must take the time to get to know our students – their likes and dislikes, their strengths and weaknesses, their cultural beliefs and biases. We must know the material we are teaching. We must identify our goals in advance. It is only then that we can plan Maycomb County tea parties.
Mrs. White knows her students. She has a great rapport with all of her students, and she knows what she’s talking about when she stands up in front of her class every morning. Is every day a tea party in Mrs. White’s class? I think she would be the first one to say, “No way!” But whether she is walking students through diagramming sentences, or staging the ball scene in Romeo and Juliet (we’re doing that this week – I can’t wait!), it is clear that her students respect her, they listen to her, and they learn from her.
I am so fortunate to have such a special teacher as a model and mentor.
