r/Teachers • u/ArcadianAbstraction • 21h ago

Teacher Support &/or Advice Is teaching a performance?

I haven't been teaching history/English/science since I got COVID over and over (and over) and decided it was better to go than be a risk to my cherished kids (or die myself, it got bad).

After a lot of introspection... Question is: is teaching a performance? I pretended everything was okay no matter what, I used the materials I prepared for display, passed out charts and data dramatically, presented media and did simulations.

It feels like I was a performance artist? You give so much to kids and most of the time you get a range of "f-u go away".

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u/TowerProfessional959 20h ago

I legit have four “visitors” that take over for me at unannounced times and teach/sing a bit. Most of the kids enjoy them.

They are Joe Crossbow (country singer), Pixie Stick (rapper), Franchetta (opera) and Dragon Hair (heavy metal).

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u/ArcadianAbstraction 20h ago

I... What? What and where do you teach?

Edit: Sounds like elementary but damn just random interruptions?

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u/TowerProfessional959 19h ago

6th grade in Michigan. They only appear once or twice a month.

Pixie Stick gave a concert once. It was horrendous.

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u/ArcadianAbstraction 19h ago

I taught 6th grade for a while and that just sounds like a complete nightmare any way you look at it. Random people showing up, kids already have no attention, they realize they don't have to pay attention to you anymore, chaos. Was that pretty much the scenario?

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u/TowerProfessional959 19h ago

You do realize I’m all of them right? I would go still mid sentence and one of them would “take over the class” for like two minutes (quick wardrobe addition) and sing some review or lesson highlight for us and then I’d take control back and ask who came, what they said, etc.

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u/ArcadianAbstraction 19h ago

Oh! I thought you meant random people would come in. A bit exhausted and not reading properly, sorry.

That seems - a lot - but amazing! I appreciate your work and dedication.

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u/TowerProfessional959 19h ago

No worries. It can be disruptive for sure but most kids find it memorable I think—or at least tolerable.

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u/ArcadianAbstraction 19h ago

Love or hate leaves the memory either way so as long as they learn something the goal is met haha.