It seems like grading is one of those things that gets easier with practice. And I think you gave a reasonable answer to a tough question. I still remember my third-grade teacher explaining to the class (I forget the specific context) what stereotypes were and what they could cause. Teachers have to explain difficult things, sometimes, but they can (and you will be) be a good, reliable source of information, and provide a safe space for kids to ask those questions. And if another question is something you feel would be inappropriate to answer, you could always tell them that might be a better question for their parents to answer, or some such thing. the kids I used to mentor and tutor occasionally asked some... interesting things, jaded little middle schoolers that they were. And then there was the one who didn't like us so told her parents we were telling them about sex and abortions, which in that part of Indiana would have been an extra big no-no. Fortunately no one believed her...
Anyhoo, best of luck with the teaching. I have great confidence in you.
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Date: 2005-07-14 04:10 pm (UTC)And I think you gave a reasonable answer to a tough question. I still remember my third-grade teacher explaining to the class (I forget the specific context) what stereotypes were and what they could cause. Teachers have to explain difficult things, sometimes, but they can (and you will be) be a good, reliable source of information, and provide a safe space for kids to ask those questions. And if another question is something you feel would be inappropriate to answer, you could always tell them that might be a better question for their parents to answer, or some such thing. the kids I used to mentor and tutor occasionally asked some... interesting things, jaded little middle schoolers that they were. And then there was the one who didn't like us so told her parents we were telling them about sex and abortions, which in that part of Indiana would have been an extra big no-no. Fortunately no one believed her...
Anyhoo, best of luck with the teaching. I have great confidence in you.