Hi! My name is Carmilla Driscal, I live in Cleveland. I prefer to be called Carmilla or Carm. My email address is cdriscal11@jcu.edu. I completed my student teaching December 2010. I was fortunate to get a Long-Term substitute position with Cleveland in January, teaching middle school math and social studies (my licensed areas). This current Foundations of Education course is my last class for completing my Master's in Education. I'm so excited.
I'm excited and very anxious at the same time because unfortunately my mother has been hospitalized with pneumonia while trying to recover from a broken hip (a very slow process). So I'm in the middle of being a primary caregiver, for my mom and my two sons' ages 14 and 10. I do have a great sister who is also helping with my mother.
So along with learning about the foundations of education and recent research on education, I'm learning about the pros and cons of the medicare system.
I have always enjoyed teaching in some capacity, yet my profession before pursuing education was as an accountant for over 20 years. I have a tendency to be detailed oriented and have a "thing" for numbers and patterns. However, I'm a people person, many who know me state that I'm a very patient person (sometimes to a fault). I'm very much interested in the lives of most people I meet and my own self-perception is that I'm an encourager especially to young people. This is one of the main reasons I pursued teaching middle school.
Since middle school students are at a point where physical, intellectual, and mental changes are most transparent whether rapid or gradual, it's definitely a period of time that requires patience and understanding from an adult that's consistently engaged with them. I have discovered that each day I must remind myself of this.
I'm also reminded that like the middle schoolers, even mature adults need to have a sense of security when participating in intellectual and creative risks in the classroom. This security comes from both one's own self-esteem and the openess or willingness of the educator to allow for risk-taking. For me, I'm comfortable doing this if I truly believe that what I say or do will matter or make a difference by causing one to reflect, analyze, support with more detail/experience or raise awareness.
Congratulations on completing your degree in middle school math and social studies, and finding a yearlong teaching position. Your concentrations in math and social studies should put you in a good position for a long term assignment. Hope your mother is feeling better; I know you’re busy, but it’s wonderful that you have an opportunity to return your love to her.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that middle-school students need teachers with patience and understanding. During pre-adolescence these students are full of raging hormones and questions about life and their identity. With your skills in accounting and work experiences, your lessons will be unique. Students love interesting and informative stories. When they learn that you are a caring person, I’m sure that they will respond to you quickly.
Camilla, congratulations on your graduation; it has taken great fortitude to complete the program. It has taken me much longer, but hopefully the end is near for me also. I empathize with your mother’s health issues. I also am caregiver for my mom who has steadily declined over the past ten years with Alzheimer’s. She no longer recognizes me but continues to be pleasant and endearing. I believe the added responsibility makes one become a stronger person and more sympathetic to other’s challenges. Good luck with your mom.
ReplyDeleteMiddle school kids are a challenge but are also the funniest age group. Humor always works. I find it interesting that this age wants you to think they are so grown up and responsible but love attention and kid-style activities. They also do well with turn and talks…the problem being to get them to return to whole group talk! Best of luck!
Deb Corrado
Carmilla and Debra, I can relate to the caregiver season of life. My husband’s mom passed away a few years ago after having Alzheimer’s. My stepdad was semi-paralyzed from a stroke for six years before he died. My mom has rheumatoid arthritis and is wheelchair bound. I go to the west side to do her groceries and laundry every two weeks and call her twice a day. It’s so hard, especially with other responsibilities, but I know that doing what’s right for our parents is the only way to have peace in the end. Knowing you’ve done the best you could do will leave you without regret later on. Still, it can be so hard.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Gina that your accounting background will put a different and unique spin on your lessons. You can draw on it for examples from real life. (Kids need a reality check about careers, since we won’t all be athletic and entertainment superstars!) Your accounting background will also give you an automatic headstart on all the record-keeping that is required of teachers!
Middle school. I haven’t taught middle school, but I’ve taught ninth grade for a long time. And some principles with kids are universal. Gina said, “When they learn that you are a caring person, I’m sure that they will respond to you quickly.” That’s actually what first came to me when I was reading your more recent blog about overcoming the eight years of low expectations. This is a twist on something I heard somewhere else: they won’t care what you know until they know that you care. Especially at this hormonal age, especially in settings where the kids have been devalued, especially in this crazy era, students are like dry sponges seeking the moisture of caring.
Here’s one way to start that off in a year. On the first day I give students a survey/questionnaire of favorites and interests. Ideally, I’d like to write a short note back to kids the next day commenting on something they’ve said. Do I manage that every year? No. But when I have been able to give them feedback and affirmation so soon, they’re surprised. Another way to affirm is to learn names quickly, to show it matters who they are. While they’re doing the questionnaire, I take attendance slowly and write down distinguishing features so I can start to learn their names faster (pointy chin, reminds me of my friend Ann, blue hair).
Debra’s comment is also right on target. Who doesn’t love humor? If you’re not quick on your feet with repartee, you could have class traditions like a Word-a-Day definition followed by a joke. There have got to be ten million jokes on the internet.
I sense that for you, teaching is a ministry, in addition to a vocation. With so much heart and compassion coupled with your many skills, you will make a difference in kids’ lives. Some of them will never show it. A few will tell you thanks, and many will be in-between, but you will make a difference.