Each week we have a different story from our reader. This week, our story was about a man, who in the early part of the 20th century (maybe the 1930's), travelled from Japan to America. He settled in San Francisco for a bit. He returned to Japan after a few years, got married, and brought his new bride back to SF. After having a daughter, the family stayed in SF until she was grown...then they moved to Japan. The man in the story kept going from one country to another, and each time he was in a country, he missed the other. Each time he was in a country, he found something more that he liked about it.
The classroom offers a similar experience for both students and teachers. We come together in the early Fall, after spending time with our family and friends on a daily basis over the summer. When we first gather together in the classroom there is unfamiliarity. Students are looking at a new classroom, a new teacher, new expectations, and new learning experiences. They may also be with new students. The teacher is looking at new faces, new learning styles, new expectations, and new challenges. Together, students and teachers are missing their summer days and the comforts afforded to them by those days. They have a new routine, new sleep patterns, and a new demand on them socially as well as intellectually. It's funny---for the first two weeks of school, it is obvious and apparent that we all want to rush home to the familiarity we crave and miss.
Time passes, and within that time we begin the journey of spending it together day in and day out. We learn about each other; our strengths, our weaknesses, our desires and goals. We begin to relax around one another and find places for humor, for serious talk, and for idle chatter. We become dependent on one another for a variety of needs that we as humans have. The need to be accepted, heard, validated, and cared for.
As this develops I notice that while I am at school, I miss my home and while I am at home I miss school. Looking forward to going to both places becomes part of the life of a student and teacher...at least, that's the feeling we hope develops. It has for me.
I miss my family when I am at work. It does, however, make the time I am with them during the evening and weekends even more precious. I look forward to seeing my students during the week and feel good when I say good morning to each one of them every weekday.
A balance is being struck about this time of year. A balance between home and work. I consider myself a very fortunate man; for in both places I am accepted, heard, validated, and cared for.
Copyrighted material of Michael C. Casten
The classroom offers a similar experience for both students and teachers. We come together in the early Fall, after spending time with our family and friends on a daily basis over the summer. When we first gather together in the classroom there is unfamiliarity. Students are looking at a new classroom, a new teacher, new expectations, and new learning experiences. They may also be with new students. The teacher is looking at new faces, new learning styles, new expectations, and new challenges. Together, students and teachers are missing their summer days and the comforts afforded to them by those days. They have a new routine, new sleep patterns, and a new demand on them socially as well as intellectually. It's funny---for the first two weeks of school, it is obvious and apparent that we all want to rush home to the familiarity we crave and miss.
Time passes, and within that time we begin the journey of spending it together day in and day out. We learn about each other; our strengths, our weaknesses, our desires and goals. We begin to relax around one another and find places for humor, for serious talk, and for idle chatter. We become dependent on one another for a variety of needs that we as humans have. The need to be accepted, heard, validated, and cared for.
As this develops I notice that while I am at school, I miss my home and while I am at home I miss school. Looking forward to going to both places becomes part of the life of a student and teacher...at least, that's the feeling we hope develops. It has for me.
I miss my family when I am at work. It does, however, make the time I am with them during the evening and weekends even more precious. I look forward to seeing my students during the week and feel good when I say good morning to each one of them every weekday.
A balance is being struck about this time of year. A balance between home and work. I consider myself a very fortunate man; for in both places I am accepted, heard, validated, and cared for.
Mr. Casten
Sept. 16, 2011
Copyrighted material of Michael C. Casten
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