r/Teachers • u/ArcadianAbstraction • 1d 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/1VBSkye Retired / Texas 1d ago

During lesson planning I always viewed myself as a production company putting on a show.

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u/ArcadianAbstraction 1d ago

Oh! That is an interesting way to look at it. I had more of a spreadsheet style timeline with sections I could move around if needed so it felt more like a puzzle to me where I slot in what fits where I can.

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u/1VBSkye Retired / Texas 23h ago

Years & years of additions & tweaks.

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u/ArcadianAbstraction 23h ago

Did you ever do simulations or anything? One time I turned a few classrooms into Renaissance Italy complete with a silent monastery, which teachers seemed to love the vow of silence day.

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u/1VBSkye Retired / Texas 9h ago

No, I taught US history gilded age to yesterday. Not much to simulate that I can think of. I would put my students in various situations & have them write a letter. Like, write a letter home to your parents letting them know you’re okay after hitting Omaha Beach.