While in my teaching prep courses at UWEC, our learning goals were framed in "essential questions." Our content was driven by these EQ's. One of these EQ's hit me in a new way today: Who are my students?
It's one thing to answer this question in theory, referring to textbooks and articles written by adolescent psychologists to present my well-written and articulated answer. Those answers and conversations had order, semblance, and systematic thinking behind it. But I deal with people - with students - and the first theory that I chucked out the window is that you can approach people based on generalizations.
Today I was shown who my students are.
My students struggle with deep-seated depression that they can't shake, bringing them near tears when I asked them, "how are you today?" I saw the feeling of defeat and hopelessness written all over their face, and saw in their eyes that they didn't know how they were going to make it through the next hour.
My students have been abused. Hit by the very people who should love them; discarded with the attitude that parenting them was a flippant, optional decision. They have steeled their approach in return, callousing their hearts, sharpening their offense and letting their guard down only when they've tested you long enough to know you are safe.
My students face severe anxiety, and are paralyzed from it. Who can focus on school when you feel like the walls are inching closer and closer in on you? Their feelings are out of control, jumping and maneuvering and colliding like hail reacting to the sidewalk. They would give anything for consistency, for routine.
My students need me to look beyond their missing assignments, poor attitude, and lack of effort in order to see and understand what's really going on: their messy and unpredictable life.
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