This week Denver Riley is back to dive into the quirky and chaotic moments that make up daily life in the classroom. From a “bagel ban” created by Denver’s students to navigating E.E. Cummings' poetry with skeptical high schoolers, they share the ups and downs of engaging students. Denver recalls being humorously bullied by her middle schoolers and admits the trials of working within a scripted curriculum while keeping her teaching style fresh. Denver and I explore why teachers love (and sometimes hate) certain poems, how they handle student antics, and why staying flexible keeps their classrooms fun and productive. This episode brings both the humor and the honesty of what it's really like to teach English to a room full of teenagers.
Takeaways:
Student-Led Humor and Inside Jokes: Embracing humor, including quirky student terms like dependapotomus, helps teachers build a fun, inclusive classroom culture.
The Struggle with Scripted Curriculum: Scripted lessons often limit teacher creativity, highlighting the need for flexibility to make lessons more engaging and relevant.
Navigating Challenging Literature: Teaching poets like E.E. Cummings can be daunting, but breaking down difficult works offers students fresh perspectives and critical thinking skills.
Teacher Growth Through Reflection: Andrea and Denver emphasize that learning from students, sharing laughs, and adapting strategies keep teaching fresh and fulfilling.
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Want to Learn more about Denver Riley?
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Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea
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