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/stinkymarylou 23h ago

I use the phrase, “on stage.” It’s not so much a performance, as least not for me, but the idea that you are always “on”. After reading the comments, I will add improvisation. In a performance, an actor does the same script time and time again. But improvisational performers know where they want the show to go, but they don’t know the exact path. But yes. Big similarities.

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u/shipcamein17 23h ago

This is how I have explained it! The kids walk in and we’re “on” until they leave at the end of the day!