a nerdy teacher - challange accepted

As a teacher, I should try to give my students challenges. I want them to be stumped at first, to struggle to find the answer and be stoked when they overcome the obstacle. I feel like that is my job. Kids need to be prepared to face tough challenges and work to solve them. And only once in a while do I come across a student who throws the challenge back at me.

This happened last week, about 2 minutes before the class ended I threw my famous “what are you going to do over the weekend?” question. It’s no surprise that I always get the same answers: watch tv and play computer games. This time, in an unexpected turn of events a student threw his challenge of “pani ucitelko, you should play Dungeon and Dragons”… hahaha

Well, the weekend did come and maybe thanks to my nostalgia for youthfulness (I did celebrate yet another birthday last Saturday) I turned on the computer and thought to myself: Challenge Accepted

1. Stumped at first- yes! Dungeon and Dragons is a tabletop role-playing game, including computer games, console games, arcade games and mobile games. Not to mention some online games. With a deranged look I must admit „that I don’t even know where to start! “

2. Struggled to find the answer- not only that, but I am still in awe as to where to start…

I always loved surprises and boy, was I surprised. I am going to go to class this week and ask my students how and what and when – not so I can see if they know it as without a doubt they do- but so I can catch onto a string of something (the game) which has sparked my curiosity enough to just maybe learn it. 

3. Overcame the obstacle – nope, not yet…. But it is to be continued…

time to recharge?

Every now and then, my passion meter gets close to zero. Near the middle of the second semester it can get very low. I use different things to keep me going during the school year. Sometimes I pull out a box of chocolates, buy a pair of shoes or watch “Ferris Bueller’s Day off”. They put a smile on my face and get me through the rough spots of a school year. But by March, the long gloomy winter months just get to me and all I can think is "JUNE". However, there is one thing that never fails to recharge my passion bar; my yearly hiking trip with the students! Some say it’s a punishment to go on a holiday with a group of teenagers, and at moments it does feel like it. However, away from the school desk with no ability to charge your computer (thank goodness they haven’t invented chargers in trees yet) I end up talking to students as people, not as students who must learn something. Result is astonishing, they actually learn something. In some small tiny way, they learn to be young adults. And that is enough to spark a boost of energy which makes me come back for another year.  As teachers, we are so busy inspiring the little bodies in the desks, we forget to keep the fires burning within for ourselves. And hence, today as we move into the semi- “spring-ish” month of March and I still have two more months before the trip I just need to check my passion meter – as it just might need a fill up… and today a chocolate bar will do just fine.