I'm Sorry I Asked
Maverick, in his usual endearing way, whined, "I hate social studies. Everyone hates social studies." As I passed out an assessment on the American Revolution.
"Just because you hate social studies, doesn't mean everyone hates social studies," I sighed.
"Yes they do!" Maverick insisted.
"Fine, let's check with the rest of the class. Raise your hand if you hate social studies. Be honest, I won't be mad."
20 hands go up. Woops. I can know only draw one of the following conclusions:
1. I have been teaching social studies in a thoroughly horrible way.
2. Asking students if they like a subject while passing out a test on said subject will not elicit a positive reaction.
I've been trying to make social studies (and every subject I teach) engaging and fun. Just during the past unit alone students debated whether or not to fight the British, they created protest posters against the various British taxes, and we shared a read aloud of the Magic Tree House: Revolutionary War on Wednesday. So either I need to reevaluate my teaching of social studies, or the kids don't realize that these lessons were in fact social studies. In the future I guess I should also be careful asking questions I don't know the answer to.
"Just because you hate social studies, doesn't mean everyone hates social studies," I sighed.
"Yes they do!" Maverick insisted.
"Fine, let's check with the rest of the class. Raise your hand if you hate social studies. Be honest, I won't be mad."
20 hands go up. Woops. I can know only draw one of the following conclusions:
1. I have been teaching social studies in a thoroughly horrible way.
2. Asking students if they like a subject while passing out a test on said subject will not elicit a positive reaction.
I've been trying to make social studies (and every subject I teach) engaging and fun. Just during the past unit alone students debated whether or not to fight the British, they created protest posters against the various British taxes, and we shared a read aloud of the Magic Tree House: Revolutionary War on Wednesday. So either I need to reevaluate my teaching of social studies, or the kids don't realize that these lessons were in fact social studies. In the future I guess I should also be careful asking questions I don't know the answer to.
Comments
Don't feel like the Lone Ranger. We've all taken hasty surveys that had unwanted data lurking.
Kids won't pass up a "harmless" opportunity to good naturedly harass their teacher, so don't feel bad.
Do continue to ask questions for which you don't know the answer.
Do continue to ask questions for which you don't know the answer.