Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Teacher!


It seems there are a million things I need to say on the first day of school, but I save only the most important for day one, knowing I'll get to the rest as soon as I can. For sure though, my kids will get the my-name-isn't-teacher talk. 

Granted, this isn't a life or death issue, but learning names is a life skill. And seriously, no matter how young, I think students should be expected to use their teacher's name. Hearing the word "Teacher!" is about as annoying as that poking finger in my side from a little person who's trying to get my attention. (That would be another vexing problem that's worth addressing.) 

"Teacher!" is a lazy habit, but it can be fixed. Our kids are capable. It simply takes an adult who notices and then respectfully and consistently addresses it. I think all teachers should be that adult. 

Guaranteed, by mid-September, my name will officially and thankfully be Miss McMorrow once again. Hopefully that poking sensation will go away soon after. :)

P.S. Anyone else annoyed by this?


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16 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the first day of the school year. I am on the other side of the planet and we still have two more weeks for the beginning of the school year.
    I start having dreams of the school year before it begins, Its my sub-conscious mind telling me "get ready you have long year ahead of you:".
    I wish you a meaningful and a productive school year.

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    1. Samir, I have a few weeks to go as well, and I sure know about the dreams your talking about. Good luck with your year!

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  2. Oh, one of my unlikes, also. When one of my little friends says that to me, I call them "student" back. Some of them catch on, lol. Sara

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    1. Sara, I like to make the point on the first day of school that I won't be calling them "kid" so it would be nice if they don't call me "teacher." :)

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  3. Yes! That drives me crazy, too! But I do the same as Sara and respond, "Yes, Student?" Works like a charm :)

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    1. Barb, I'm glad that you and Sara are with me on this! :)

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  4. Oh my, the poking gets me too. I politely tell them they are not a bird, so they need to stop pecking on me! They giggle and laugh and we go on, but they understand not to do that. :)
    Lori
    Conversations in Literacy

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    1. Lori, Ooh I like that. I'll have to borrow the bird analogy!

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  5. I always just say "do I poke you to get your attention?". Yes, I do think this is a lifeskill! I always introduce everyone we pass as well-including our cafeteria staff so they understand the power of calling people by their actual names! :)

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    1. Miss Trayers, I like how you introduce staff members you pass. The cafeteria staff must love that too.

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  6. Many of the children I work with call me "teacher" as well, but these children are newcomers from cultures where calling someone "teacher" isn't laziness, it's a sign of respect. Calling a teacher by their name is seen as disrespectful, and when I ask them to call me Jane, I end up with "teacher Jane" instead!

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    1. Thank you Jane for that perspective. We obviously need to understand the cultures of our clientele. :)

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  7. Oh, Tammy, you are so right! Too funny that two of your little annoyances are mine as well. There is absolutely NO poking me allowed. Ha! I work on that Day 1. Most of my kids know my name from me teaching them in music K-1, but the Kindergartners who come in definitely call me "Teacher" or even the K teacher's name sometimes. Ha!

    Crystal
    Teaching Little Miracles

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    1. Crystal, I'm glad you're teaching our little k kids to use teacher names and to stop poking. That's where the real training happens. :)

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  8. Oh my goodness! This made me smile!! I am called everything! I just quickly remind them of my name and move on. I guess that is what can happen when they switch classes each day :)

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    1. Em, I've been called mom and grandma before. Those definitely make me smile. :)

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