The Teacher Becomes The Student

by Jacob G., Friendswood Junior High student

Every teacher has different ideas about how to communicate what they know to their students. In 6th grade, I had two teachers that were very different. Mrs. Appel and Mr. Scogin. Mr. Scogin made bookwork fun, while Mrs. Appel turned bookwork into fun games and activities. They were both great teachers, but they both had different ideas.

At this conference, I met a few teachers to get their opinions. Beverly Pirkil, a 7th & 8th grade teacher in Conroe ISD, said that she came here to learn strategies to implement in her classroom. She will be attending informational sessions all day. That's the kind of dedication I would want in a teacher.

I introduced myself to another teacher from Pasadena, CA, Laura Dossman. She explained to me that she wanted to see the newest techniques of teaching to use with her 6th grade students. Attending three sessions in one day will definitely be hard to manage, but seeing what a positive attitude she had made me think differently.

The last teacher I talked with wasn't a teacher at all. He was a vice-principal from California. His name was Jeremy Powell, and he works for 7th & 8th grade students.

"I'm here to see what the most recent research shows and what new strategies are being used," Powell said.

He smiled the whole time that I was talking to him, and that simple act made me feel really good. If I were in trouble, I would want for him to be the person I have to talk to.

Talking to these teachers changed the way I thought about this conference. At first, I thought this convention was just going to be one big, boring, learn-a-lot lecture. After talking to those teachers, I think that I will have a new understanding of how this convention will change my schooling experience. All the technologies, books, tour groups, and public speakers at this event will better educate my teachers so that they can better educate me.