Reluctant Disciplinarian

Of the many pieces of advice to new teachers offered by Gary Rubenstein in his book Reluctant Disciplinarian, I responded most to the following two:

1. Shut up.
2. Be decisive.

In my lessons over this past month, I had several almost out-of-body experiences in which I could see myself giving a ridiculously long answer to a simple question, pompously lecturing on the Latin roots of some obscure word, or just botching directions by flooding my hapless students with a torrent of words. (No doubt, my videotaped lesson will soon confirm this.) I've always been this way in groups- using words to fill the silences- but I am beginning to see how carefully chosen words and the thoughtful, almost meditative practice of silence in the classroom might be more the way to go. Particularly when posing questions to the class, I have a tendency to speed through them unnecessarily, and often to answer them myself. It is quite funny to see yourself pose a rhetorical question (by now the students are lost) and then answer it yourself a second later. Socrates would not be proud. Although it is still difficult for me, I am trying to slow down in the classroom, accept the silence, and really listen to my students' answers. If I listen, I can respond more thoughtfully- a lesson in life and in teaching.

As to the second piece of advice, I could not agree more. Nothing makes a teacher look weaker faster than indecision. Whether it's having to look up something in the handbook while the students wait, getting red-faced about hilarious but inappropriate personal questions, or just hesitating a moment too long after a routine question, I certainly agree with Rubinstein's opinions on this matter. Last year, I struggled with this- as a new teacher, I didn't feel that I had the autonomy necessary to act decisively all the time- perhaps I should check with another teacher, the dean, or the head coach to give the okay for what I was choosing to do. I soon tired of asking people for help- I wanted to do things my way. No, I won't accept that as late work. You have to go get a pass. You can't start because you didn't come to practice. As new teachers we are all flying by the seat of our pants on occasion, but learning to become more decisive made me feel more like a real teacher and an adult- definitely an asset when you are only a few years older than the students you teach.