I got this from Alisa:
Hi Ben,
I searched ‘Bitchy Edge’ on the PLC and got the thread from 2010 with Susie Gross where you are clarifying what is and isn’t an ‘Eclectic Teacher.’ I don’t recall ever reading it before, so thanks – it was awesome, and apparently I too was a non-textbook toting and creative ‘eclectic Teacher-‘ but it doesn’t illuminate my query.
I modeled a Hebrew (Sunday School) lesson this morning for 2 new teachers. We combined a 5th and 7th grade class and I tried to spin a lil story. I had previously observed each of them (after very little CI training by me) and determined that I needed to model ASAP. They needed help on all fronts – management, language usage, engagement, etc.
So I went in today and noticed immediately that the same ‘trample all over the T’ behavior that I saw in the 7th grade class when I observed, was attempted in my demo lesson… NOT ON MY WATCH. I re-seated students, called them out for blurting, commanded my presence; worked the room, stopped teaching cold and wore a ‘Queen of England” face til it was quiet – really the works. I was able to bring the cute story (with an actor) to some conclusion and CI was had by all. But then I reviewed the video of ‘my’ class, and WHOA. I demonstrated a SERIOUS BITCHY EDGE.
I realize that the circumstances were not ideal to set up a model lesson. The students have been violating rules of courtesy and self-control for months in this new teachers class. I taught (modeled teacher lessons) with the same kids last year, but apparently they’d forgotten my iron fist, I mean Assertive Teacher’s Presence.
SO I guess after this lil ramble my question is whether there is ever a role for the (teacher’s) Bitchy Edge in the classroom. I feel badly that the younger kids were exposed to it – we combined the groups for ease of observation by the new teachers, and not for best practice…
I think the new teachers got something out of the observation, despite my sometimes nasty disposition. First and foremost, they saw the unfolding of a lesson entirely in the TL; the 7th grade T whom I previously observed used probably fewer than a dozen TL words during my observation 2 weeks ago…
They also saw how I dealt with the Frequent Flyers (preferential seating; proximity and eye contact; fist bumping and positive strokes; stopping and waiting for silence, etc.)
But I’d like to think it could have been done in a friendlier atmosphere of fun and good will…
I would appreciate your thoughts on the Bitchy Edge. I haven’t needed it in my own classroom in Winnetka as I have painstakingly normed my classes from the very beginning. Oops, did I just answer my own Q?
Alisa