Tire, a word with so many meanings: bore, dispirit, exasperate, overwork. This phrase has always perplexed me. Usually it was said about me by my grandparents, when I was outside running around like a ten year old, or unfortunately by my teachers, who believed I would tire of being lazy and off-task in class. I have never heard it used in a positive way, it definitely brings a negative connotation with it. I hear teachers saying it in the hall on occasion in regards to misbehavior behavior or complacency of one of their students. But, today I was privy to a conversation where two teachers were complaining about the same student. This time it drudged up memories of my childhood and it frustrated me. I absolutely loathe generalizations and complacency from educators. This is how students fall through the cracks, get labelled, have judgments placed upon them when they are not allowed to defend their actions. I had to leave the conversation before it steered into one of a lot of questions as to why? this statement was said in the first place. Often, I hear frustrated, overburdened teachers use this turn of phrase as a release, putting blame per se onto the student rather than seeing the big picture. Personally, I hope my students never tire of anything in my class. I try every day to keep them engaged and excited about science.
But, alas students do get bored no matter how exciting you believe your lessons are. Attention spans vary, interests bring different levels of curiosity, personalities create very different stages for students to act upon. Some may be the lead while others forced upon it, hide in the shadows, lurking rather than participating in the play. So with the change of scenery, day to day, those participants or actors move center stage, rear stage and off stage. Some days you have full cast on stage while others you lose some because they are more comfortable being stage crew. Stirring up the plot, changing the lighting, re-writing the script sometimes doesn't matter, there is always one or two that just don't care. It could be hunger, a home situation or social distractions but there will be a time when you lose a few characters in the musical, comedy or drama that unfolds in the classroom. But, it is important to identify why? Not just give up on the students. Even if every day, this student is disruptive or off-task there is a reason and we need to figure out why. They may have become one of the off-stage lurkers in most of their classes, but if we can make a connection in ours, we can change their outlook, at least for 42 minutes a day they are the star of their own learning.
I may want to avoid the things I find dull or tedious. But, I try not to tire of things. In fact I try to force myself into situations I may find uncomfortable or boring to try and broaden my horizons. To tire of something to me means to give up on it. So I choose rather to keep a growth mindset and look at things differently because only then can I make connections and see the big picture. Monotony- lack of voice and mobility can lead to tiring of a certain class. Indifference comes when a student feels disconnected. This is easy to remedy- build relationships, camaraderie, a sense of community and students will engage and become more collaborative with their peers. Use flexible seating and let them be mobile and active. Sitting in a desk for 42 minutes is tiresome. Doldrums, fatigue and apathy come from a strict routine, lack of spontaneity and a teacher-centered classroom. This is tiresomeness at its worst. Rows, lectures, notes. To tire, is often to feel sameness, repetitive, trapped in a cycle. This is a cycle we as teachers can break. Include students in the decision making process, give them a voice, get them up and moving, give them choice of demonstration of knowledge and they will never "tire of it eventually." they will be excited to participate again.
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