Today, I took the phrase put yourself in someone elses shoes to know how they feel literally and made a few of my kids the teacher for a moment. Made the few selected individuals stand in front of the entire class with just one condition - they (the teacher in that moment) had to get the whole class to do whatever they instructed. But I added a little twist.. for each teacher that attempted, I wrote a different set of behaviours I wanted the rest of the class to portray but the teacher with their back against the board had no idea what behavior I gave the rest of the class to act out. My only challenge to each teacher was to say or do anything in their power to control the class and have them listen. Make a lot of noise ignore her stare at him without responding dont give her the chance to speak, keep asking questions be obedient and do whatever youre instructed were some of the things I wrote on the board depicting everyday classroom scenarios and behavior and needless to say, the rest of the class acted out to perfection.. But the kid(s) in front who was the teacher given absolute power all reacted differently. One stood shocked and at a loss. One started screaming but was drowned out by the class. One threatened to punish the class with detention. One conceded after a few attempts throwing his hands in the air saying I give up. When I asked how they felt, they said they were annoyed, irritated, angry, helpless.. they actually (and finally) understood. The thing is, the ones I deliberately picked to be the teachers were like the most mischievous or the ring leaders in class. I then explained to them and the rest of the class that this was the way their teachers felt everyday. Its 1 vs 40.. We feel the same way they felt. And teachers have to deal with these class scenarios every single day. I didnt know it was so hard.. said one boy. Sorry for misbehaving, said another girl. Whether or not they will keep to their words to be a little more obedient, I dont know.. but for a few of the kids today, they filled the shoes and felt what it was like from the other side of the classroom and I think, I hope, this left the biggest impact on them and theyll now be reminded of how they felt today the next time they choose to rebel.
Posted on: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 02:46:24 +0000
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