A Personal Intersection of Education and Technology
As spring seems to have sprung here at Lake Petenwell, my work shifts from being a substitute teacher to working in caddie services at Sand Valley Golf Resort. As my work transitions, it seems proper to tell the story of my transition back into the classroom after nearly two decades away.
When we moved back to Wisconsin, I quickly realized something important: winter and golf are not exactly compatible here. To fill those winter days (and perhaps to feel useful), I decided to step back into education and work as a substitute teacher. I was confident that I still had the requisite skills to teach. After all, it had to be like riding a bike, right?
My first assignment was to be a junior high social studies teacher. Perfect! Or at least so I thought. Could there be a better way for me to get back in the teaching game than as a social studies teacher? No way.
When I arrived for the first day, I had to laugh because I genuinely had “first day of school” jitters. Suddenly, I realized just how long it had been since I had taught. As a coach, you always consider yourself a teacher, but the fact is coaching is different from classroom teaching.
I checked in with the office staff and was greeted warmly. They gave me a rundown of the things I should know since I was new to the school, and they showed me to the classroom where I would be teaching that day.
Taking a seat at the teacher’s desk, I read the sub notes and lesson plans. I instantly became excited because the lesson that day was about Ancient Rome. “What luck!” I thought, “These kids don’t know how lucky they are to have me come in and teach them about the how Rome went from Republic to Empire.” I was feeling confident, perhaps a little too confident.
As students started to enter the room, I greeted them warmly, trying to create a favorable first impression. Some students seemed curious by this new person standing in their classroom, while others looked at me with an expression of indifference more than curiosity.
After the bell rang, the morning announcements read, and The Pledge of Allegiance recited, I introduced myself to the first period class. As I was giving the students my mini biography, I quickly ascertained they were not interested in my past life as a teacher, so I decided it was best to jump right to the lesson.
The lesson plan clearly stated to read these instructions, “Take out your notebook and start working on…” so I read those instructions. Suddenly, I realized there was a genuine problem. The students, in mass, all started to take out computers, not notebooks. My mind started racing. “What do these kids think they are doing?” I thought, “They must think they can pull one over on this “new” substitute. Well, they’ve got another thing coming.”
“Stop!” I yelled.
At that moment the students, taken by surprise by the tone and volume of my voice, stopped and looked at me with mass confusion.
“I told you to take out your notebooks,” I said, determined to establish an orderly classroom.
As the bulk of the classroom still looked at me in stunned silence, one young lady slowly raised her hand.
“Yes?” I asked.
“Mr. Tuescher, the assignment is in our Chromebooks. That’s how we do the work… and that’s how we turn in the assignment.”
At that moment, the Roman Republic didn’t fall, I did. I went from confident teacher to historical artifact.
“Of course you do,” I replied because what else could I say. The class resumed getting their Chrome Notebooks out and I recalibrated. The rest of the day went surprisingly normal.
That moment has stuck with me. As I have subbed through the year, I have realized that while aspects of teaching feel exactly like it did two decades ago, other parts, especially technology, has changed. Maybe, I need to be more open to changing as well. Maybe.
Besides this moment of personal embarrassment, my biggest take away from being back in the classroom is how much excellent work teachers are doing out in this world. To those teachers who I worked with in the past, and to those teachers I have been able to meet this year, I commend you. Keep fighting the good fight.
That’s the perspective from Petenwell this week, and hopefully day one at Sand Valley doesn’t involve me yelling at golfers for no apparent reason. If you enjoyed reading this, please pass it along. I am confident former coworkers, former players, and especially former students will enjoy my moment of misery.
Remember, while empires and republics fall, so do substitute teachers that don’t understand Chromebooks.
Until next Friday,
“Mr. Tuescher”