Kids sense the vibessss

Kids know when you're being honest, genuine, authentic. They can also tell when you're trying to be something your not, forcing a conversation, false expertise or interest in a topic or lesson.

I have made far more head-waves with my students when I have had to say to them "Look, I don't know exactly why this is the standard we have to teach. Sometimes we have to do things that don't make total sense." But what I do know is we will be able to get some great practice at problem solving and resilience since it's not something they are passionate about learning.

When I am honest, they gain further respect for me. And respect is everything in the classroom.

Doing stuff that sucks is a part of life. You cannot always find a reason that will drive you to passionate work for every task you do. Sometimes you are just told to do something and there is no way out of it. And it sucks.

Students careers are mainly centered around being told what is important to learn. Teachers do their best to uncover the "why" behind lessons, but at some point, not every single standard has a beautiful golden rationale. And for what we are working with in this messy education system It is okay!!! Now in a perfect world I am going to change the education system so that what is taught is always applicable to our students' lives, current, and future well-beings.

But we are all working with what we have. And sometimes, it is okay to just not like what you are doing all the time.

But it is how you can make the most of it. And that is what I try and encompass in my classroom. Honesty. Kids can tell when I don't love a lesson I am teaching and sometimes it is fine to let them know its not going to be exciting, fun or engaging. But their is always a take away. Even if you have to dig a little bit further than you want.