In your experience as a teacher, when/where/how have you found yourself participating in “the teacher’s lounge?” Address your own awareness of, participation in, and avoidance of the deficit thinking that comes with the teacher’s lounge?
My warning of the teachers' room came mostly from television shows like "Pete and Pete" where teachers would drink an alarming amount of coffee and express their hate for their students. My undergrad professors never really touched upon the topic. I did not really know what to expect. During my student teaching semester, my cooperating teacher and I would have lunch in the classroom since the "lounge" was too far away and teachers from across the hall would join us. The conversation was always positive simply getting to know each other and having good laughs. I assumed this is what all teacher lunches would be like.
My first real experience with the teacher lounge was my first year subbing. Brand new to the school, ready to network with potential colleagues, and finally allowed to be in the teachers' lounge. I enter the room for lunch and I take a seat. I am greeted with faces of confusion and annoyance as a teacher behind me says "That's my seat". It was a rather large room but I choose the wrong seat. I moved and sat at a smaller table nearby. The teacher whose seat I took was talking as if I wasn't there "Subs shouldn't even be allowed to be in here." This was a toxic environment. They made fun of students, complained about administration and other colleagues. It was "Mean girls" times ten. Luckily I do not work in this school.
After that experience with the "teachers lounge of doom," I became cautious, interacting very little. I wanted to avoid negativity. I related so much with the author when she said: " I was shy, quiet, and mostly kept to myself unless I was talking with my close friend at work." At my current school, I usually am just a spectator at lunch but I will chime in when I feel like I can add to the conversation. The conversations now are a mix of positives and negatives. Which kid is the pain today, which teacher didn't refill the copy machine, sharing easy recipes that are delicious, and reminiscing school events that were a blast. I have seen a good amount of the negative side of the teacher lounge in my short teaching career but its the teachers who are in the room that sets the tone. If we have certain expectations for our students on how they interact with each other then we need to have the same expectation with our colleagues even when the students are not around. We don't need to avoid the teachers' lounge but we can make it better by making the conversation more positive and supportive.
Who do your students think you are? Who do you think your students are?
I try to keep the class environment upbeat so laughter is a common factor in all of my classes. My relationship with my students is very important to me, if they see I am not engaged in teaching the topic then they'll check out too. I've had my students tell me I'm funny and nice but know if they cross a line they see the "Scary Miss Gonçalves". I like to share stories about my family with my students and they seem to respond well with that. They come up to me in the hallway to share what's happening at home and about there day. They probably see me as an older sister or aunt (since I'm always talking about my niece and nephew) someone they can trust.
My students are full of energy, there is never a dull moment. I tell them all the time that they are like a box of squirrels, cute but all over the place. Something new I started this year was check-ins with my students. At least twice a month, I sit with each student and talk about school or their interests. Checks in usually start with me asking them questions and depending on how talkative my student is, they will guide the rest of the conversation. By having that one on one time with my students I am learning way more about them than just the daily conversation in class. For example, I recently learned one of my students participates in fencing tournaments! That's something I would never picture this student doing. It is truly amazing what we can learn from our students if we give them time and outlet to do it. My goal for the check ins is for my students to open up more, build trust and understand who they are and where they come from.
