Welcome to week two, blog two.
Official Key Term: Classroom Community.
This week I started my internship in an ENC 1101 class, and officially stepped from behind the mirror into WMS room 120. Initially, I was terrified. As a person with some hermit-like tendencies, I was nervous to move from behind the safety of my dark observation window into daylight. After meeting with my mentor, I secretly fretted that he and I were a bad match. If I had to choose one word to describe each of us, his would be “intense” while mine would be “sensitive.” Only occasionally do people call me intense, and it is usually to say I’m “intensely sensitive.” I wrung my hands. Is there room for “intense” and “sensitive” in one classroom? Where do I fit? How can I make my voice heard? How do I step up and make “sensitive” as loud as “intense?”
Three days of observation and participation yielded these answers:
Official Key Term: Classroom Community.
This week I started my internship in an ENC 1101 class, and officially stepped from behind the mirror into WMS room 120. Initially, I was terrified. As a person with some hermit-like tendencies, I was nervous to move from behind the safety of my dark observation window into daylight. After meeting with my mentor, I secretly fretted that he and I were a bad match. If I had to choose one word to describe each of us, his would be “intense” while mine would be “sensitive.” Only occasionally do people call me intense, and it is usually to say I’m “intensely sensitive.” I wrung my hands. Is there room for “intense” and “sensitive” in one classroom? Where do I fit? How can I make my voice heard? How do I step up and make “sensitive” as loud as “intense?”
Three days of observation and participation yielded these answers:
A successful classroom allows room for all voices, be it a dissenting student’s voice or the tentative voice of an inexperienced intern. In fact, a classroom with strong community encourages those differing voices to emerge. One way I think this is achieved is by an equal distribution of respect amongst teacher and students and by balancing criticism with praise. The teacher needs to create an environment where all voices are valued, no matter how intense or sensitive. I think this environment is achieved by explaining to students that we, as scholars, are situated on an even playing field—a playing field where the ultimate win comes from challenging ourselves and learning from each other, not from speeding through assignments or disregarding differing opinions.
After three days, it was clear to me that my voice as a “sensitive” person didn’t have to work in opposition with my mentor’s intensity. Just as student’s voices work together to create a more whole learning environment, my voice and my mentor’s can compliment each other.
Classroom Community Lesson : Make Room for Voices
from the mirror,
Claire
After three days, it was clear to me that my voice as a “sensitive” person didn’t have to work in opposition with my mentor’s intensity. Just as student’s voices work together to create a more whole learning environment, my voice and my mentor’s can compliment each other.
Classroom Community Lesson : Make Room for Voices
from the mirror,
Claire
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