Teaching In-Between Two Worlds
By Lydia N.
In my last article, “One Student Two experiences,” I learned about a student’s perspective of both high school and middle school, as Elizabeth is in BOTH 8th and 9th grades at once! This article is going to focus on the teacher’s perspective of teaching students in both middle school and high school. Give it up for Mrs. Anderson!
Mrs. Anderson teaches American Literature, ACT and SAT Verbal-Writing Prep, Public Speaking, and Social Studies 7. She says that her American literature class and the Prep. classes are usually taken by 11th graders, though there are a few exceptions. Many different grades take public speaking, but most are high schoolers. Social Studies 7 is a seventh-grade class.
Mrs. Anderson says that she tries to teach all her students pretty much the same: fairly and passionately. However, she states that, “I do expect my high school students to know more about certain things and to be able to think critically and work independently - maybe at a higher level than middle school students.” She says she also notices that most differences in her students partially come from their age. “Middle school students are sometimes more shy and reluctant to ask questions. Maybe that's because they are often new to online school. Sometimes I find that high school students are more willing to take risks or step out of their comfort zones with certain assignments. But at the end of the day, I find that most students want to know if I am going to treat them fairly and kindly - whether they are in middle school or high school.”
Becoming a teacher was a dream of Mrs. Anderson’s. However, she went to college for accounting! “I was 3 semesters from finishing, and I HATED IT!!! I mean, I don't really love numbers. Why was I in accounting??? The answer is probably because I listened to so many voices that told me I could never make money as a teacher. It took a while before I understood that money will not bring any joy or happiness or contentment if we are not where God wants us. So I relented and repented and changed my major to English.”
One of her favorite teaching memories is from a time she likes to refer to as, “The Dark Ages,” a scary time in the lives of students when they had to hand in their research papers on ACTUAL PAPER! “This particular research project had to be submitted in a folder with pockets and brads. One student was really unsure of his finished work and thought a bribe might be in order. So he taped a Hershey's Candy Bar in the front of his folder. The only problem is, he forgot to tell me. I put the folders in a box and put them in the back of my car to take home. Yep - you guessed it; the candy bar melted all over his paper! It was a mess, but it smelled good at least!”
On the whole, Mrs. Anderson loves teaching in-between two worlds. “I like the diversity that comes from teaching two different groups of students. I do try to get to know my students, and I love seeing what hobbies and interests they have. I love where 7th graders are in life - just getting started out of elementary school. But I absolutely love juniors too and their journey toward college. I enjoy talking with students about that next chapter of their lives!”
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Lydia N. is in 9th grade this year and this is her first year at NSA! She loves to sing, act in local and professional theatre productions, and read when she isn't doing schoolwork. She lives in Kansas City, Missouri, with her mom and step-dad. She has no siblings, but she does have a dog named Pippin (after Peregrin Took from the Lord of the Rings book series).