Teacher talk.

As you might already know, I'm getting a degree in Social Studies Education and I'm graduating next spring. 

Translation: I'll be certified to teach anything on the History/Geography/Government/Economics spectrum to a classroom of students ranging from 6 - 12th grade at the ripe age of 22.

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My last few semesters have been jam packed with required lectures, required readings, required projects, and required papers that are supposed to help me learn "How To Be A Teacher". 

And some of it has.

 But the majority of it all has just felt like surface level busy work. 

I'm realizing that I've learned way more about being a teacher by simply just being a student for the past 15 years.

Today's topic: Classroom Environment

Exhibit A: The teacher begins the first day of class with a cheesy icebreaker game. The teacher genuinely wants to get to know her students. Students are forced to share basic information about themselves. Strangers bond and friendships form. The teacher has created a relationship with the students. Students feel more comfortable participating in class discussions. Students are more apt to complete textbook readings in order to be able to participate. Students look forward to class because of their friends, the teacher, and the class activities that await them. 

Exhibit B: The teacher calls roll. The teacher lectures. The teacher assigns textbook reading. The teacher gets frustrated when nobody in the class wants to read the textbook, answer her questions, or participate in class discussion. 

I've endured my fair share of Exhibit B, but it seems as if all of my classes this semester mimic exhibit A. 

So I'm pretty pumped.