Monday, June 17, 2013

Slice of Life June 18, 2013: Traveling with Students


This post is an introduction of myself and a few thoughts on traveling with middle school students.

Introduction: After nine years as a science teacher in a rural high school, I have taught the past six years as a middle school teacher in a K-8 independent school.  My school focuses on learning through independent projects and curriculum and experiential education.  Students and teachers work together on learning goals and how to take "the next step" as students and people.  I am privileged to take the twenty-three students in my class on two extended overnights a year, usually five-to-seven days in the fall and a ten-day trip in the spring.

Traveling with Students!
By now I know that look.  A mixture of surprise, annoyance, horror and exasperation crosses the faces of adults as they do a mental count of the number of middle-schoolers following in my wake.  Whether we’re walking down the sidewalk, entering a restaurant or boarding an airplane, adults show their bias and preconceived notions towards teenagers with as little subtlety as teens themselves show in their worst moments.  Eye rolls, whispered remarks that are easily overheard, or a gathering of their belonging as if they expect one of my students to suddenly accost them and take their laptops or purses.  Parents of the students I take on trips often tell me, “You’re a brave man,” like I was some sort of saint.  Going through security at the airport with twenty-plus middle schoolers, a woman asked what I had done to deserve this horrible fate?  I replied, “Obviously something good.  These are great kids.”  I’m no saint and the reality is, teenagers are wonderful and fun to travel with.

Yosemite National Park
While it is politically incorrect to judge a person by their race, gender, or religion, most adults have no issue blanketing all teens together by their worst stereotypical traits.  In fact, adults tend to treat teens as a subcategory of human.  Homo imbecilius perhaps.


Just as a good driver in a new city will cut people off or not signal as they navigate unfamiliar roads and highways, teenagers make inconsistent and seemingly thoughtless decisions as they plot a course through the foreign world of adults.  What is the equivalent of cutting across four lanes of traffic to reach an exit might be a teen’s rude comment, or socially unacceptable dress or demeanor.  How teens act towards adults who confront them is not dissimilar to how most of us interact with policemen who pull us over and tell us we’re not following the laws.  However, as experienced drivers, adults do know the laws and usually make a conscious choice to bend them. Teens are still trying to learn the rules of the road in the adult world so it is no wonder they sometimes run social red lights or drift into the proverbial, oncoming traffic.
Winter Camping/Snowshoe trip at Francie's Cabin

But despite their occasional ignorance, I have never seen a group of adults rally around each other, have as much non-inebriated fun, and be so flexible, as the teens I take on trips.  They find magic in impossible places and difficult circumstances and have the ability to enjoy each moment for what it is rather than be always planning ahead and worrying about being late.  They always give me so much to consider and help me not miss the everyday special moments of our trip.  I only hope that I'm as much fun to travel with as they are.


16 comments:

  1. I always enjoyed seeing the faces of others when I traveled too, Max, and knowing that their attitudes would change when they talked and interacted with our students. I know you've had some amazing trips with your group-wonderful times!

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    1. Linda, Thanks for all your help starting this blog, but also mentoring me so many times the past six years. You've made my learning curve much less steep and a lot more fun!

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  2. Oh, I want to teach at your school! I think traveling with students is so important - so much to learn and teach on these voyages. I've been trying to persuade my colleagues to travel to gettysburg - we study the Civil War and that would be such an awesome trip. Alas, no takers...yet! PS.Welcome to our SOLS community!!!

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    1. Thanks for the welcome Tara. A few years ago when we studied the Constitution, we did a trip that went from DC to Gettysburg to Philadelphia. It was amazing! I've had some harder trips, but none that I regret and they are always highlights for the students. They do so much more learning, especially life lessons, while on trips.

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  3. You have great perspective on traveling with teens.

    I used to teach fourth and fifth grade. Field trips were by far some of my favorites and not because they were a cake walk. (Try transferring Subway lines without losing anyone. That's not easy, but thankfully I managed to do it!) I loved the discoveries that happened outside of the classroom, which made me work as hard as I could to plan as many trips for my kids as possible.

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    1. Thanks Stacy. I have a vivid memory of almost leaving three students behind during rush hour on the DC Metro, and holding the doors so they could squeeze in. Thanks for your wonderful blog. It's full of such great resources and the community you've helped create is fantastic. I'm only just beginning to explore it. I'm hoping to consistently contribute to SOL and reap the personal and professional benefits that should come from that.

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  4. Welcome to the slicing community!

    I love how you describe the teens. This is so true - we have to remember that they are still in the process of learning the lingo. AND they have a lot to offer those of us who are stuck in a rut.

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    1. Thanks Maria. I remember how confusing it was to be that age. I try to laugh and sympathize with them and that helps us keep a good connection, even through the rough patches. My students' behaviors show me when I'm in a rut, and usually show me a way out of it.

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  5. Welcome Max! What a fun experience traveling with students. I've been to Europe with high schoolers and we had a great time. I love your analogy of learning to navigate life. The most fun is watching the learning that takes place away from the classroom.

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    1. Thank you Elise. I don't know how many adults remember specific lessons about their middle school education, but most do remember it was "A dark time." Of course, there are always great teachers and great lessons in everyone's pasts, but I think helping students navigate the change to adulthood is at least as important as the academic lessons they get from me.

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  6. Wow, I love the way you respond to and refute the idea that spending your days with middle schoolers must be some kind of torture! I LOVED middle schoolers when I taught them, and I now love my high schoolers too. I think this is an incredibly powerful statement. Your students must love you!!!

    P.S. Welcome to the Slice of Life community! It's an amazing experience, and we are glad you've joined us!

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    1. We went opposite ways Jennifer. I taught high school for nine years and LOVED it. I was worried about teaching middle school and LOVE it too. They're too young not to want to love and be loved by their teachers, but to old to want to show it. A teacher told me early in my career, "If you want to teach and have them learn, teach high school. If you want to teach and love teaching, teach middle school." I have issue that he thought they don't learn. Their learning just doesn't show up as readily since they're doing so much processing. Thanks for the comments.

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  7. Max, can I just say it? You are a saint! (I teach the little ones down in the elementary grades!) I think it is awesome what you do and can only imagine what your students will remember for the rest of their lives. These are once-in-a-lifetime trips. And you know what? They always live up to your expectations. Kids, no matter the age, want to please and do the right thing. I love that you both (you and your students) learn along the way on your journeys!

    Welcome to the Slice of Life community -- a year-round extended trip with lots of support and guidance too! Lucky for you to have Linda as a mentor and co-teacher to work beside. She is quite amazing!

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    1. Michelle, Thanks for your kind words. I think you and the wonderful teachers of the youngest students are saints. I love entertaining and playing with younger kids, but teaching them? "Wow!" is all I can say. I agree about the expectations comment as well. Expect little and get little. Expect the moon and they turn into stars. And I am VERY lucky to work with Linda. She's amazing!

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  8. Welcome Max! I enjoyed reading your slice. Your positive attitude and passion for your students shines through. I have to say, I couldn't teach your age group (I teach kindergarten!) but I am always very glad that there are people who do it so well. And how lucky you are to work with Linda!

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    1. Thanks for the welcome and comment Robin. My wife teaches first grade and I feel like I have learned so much about classroom management and talking to students from her, even though I need to change up the tone and language a little. You kindergarten teachers do an amazing and to me, impossible job, but it's a joy to watch a great teacher of younger kids. Linda is amazing no matter what age child (or teacher) she is working with!

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