October 26, 2021-
Who is more uncomfortable teaching math to a group? The question was on both my mind and that of my co-teacher, earlier today. The kids were not too concerned. My group seemed to understand the lesson, and took my fat-fingering the Smart Board graphics in stride. The other group loves their teacher too much, to not cut her some slack, in the one-day absence of her regular co-teacher.
Besides, these two classes are perfect examples of what keeps me connected to education, even after official retirement. They are typical, robust, sometimes devious 11-year-olds, but when it comes to learning, to paying attention, their concept of their role is spot-on. Like the native speakers of Parisian French or Mandarin Chinese, all they ask is that you try.
Trying to explain a concept that is a bit rusty, from decades of scant use, is a temptation for shyness or self-doubt to set in. I said “No”, to that temptation, and took the fat-fingering in stride. It was made all the easier by the students’ assumption that Boomers know nothing of Smart Boards, and their inherent patience. (Disclosure: Penny was in the first group of teachers in Arizona to use a Smart Board, in 2002. I got to try the tool out, several times, on visits to her classroom.) The kids were amazed, at how quickly I learned to use the tool.
There is joy, and power, in extending oneself. That is the most important lesson I hope the students picked up today.
A Sagittarian Seeker 
Technology is becoming much more intuitive than it was a long time ago, making it easier to master!! Glad you overcame the nervousness!
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I gave up on nervousness, about six years ago, about the same time I really started to recover from losing Penny.
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I don’t see why anyone ever doubted your ability at all.
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It was my self-doubt, coming from or maybe generating mistakes, that was the hardest to overcome. I suspect it’s that way with most people.
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Yes. It’s amazing the difference in function a little self confidence makes!
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I get angry vibes from some “counterculture” people, even though I generally agree with their lifestyles.
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Counterculture people?
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People who live in intentional communities or hang out at coffee houses where jam sessions take place.
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I applied to live in one of those before. They had me sit around a fire with them and answer a bunch of questions like “What is your spirit animal?” And in the end, they didn’t accept me. I used to hang out in such coffee houses but now I generally avoid people due to pandemic… 😂
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There are, in fairness, good people who live in such communities. Where I live, the pandemic is ebbing and with robust immune systems, infection rates are going down. Nonetheless, I was referring to thin-skinned, judgmental people, whose pre-conceived notions about one “should” live tend to get mixed in with stated ideals of peace and harmony.
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What is fat-fingering?
What is a smart board?
Thanks.
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Fat-fingering means one touches more than one key at a time. The most sensitive key is the one whose character appears on the screen, or both characters appear. A Smart Board is an electronic screen which responds to touch, either by a stylus pen or a finger.
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