A Teaching Persona

Wondering how many of you feel the same way.
When it comes to dealing with adults~ I usually can get very tongue-tied and feel very self conscious. I wouldn't think of telling a joke in public or doing anything to cause attention to myself. However~ in the classroom it was so very different! I put on a black wig and serpent headgear to introduce ancient Egypt. I also put on a sari when doing India and dressed as an Islamic woman during a lesson on the Middle East. If a student gave an awesome response to a question~ I might walk slowly to the window~ open the window and shout out how excited I was about the student's response. I was known to get on my desk and do a short tap dance if I was thrilled by a test result!
Interesting story: Last year~ when I went to China~ I brought along my purple bear(a gift from a student when I retired) to experience China with my husband and me. The first couple of times~ I took out the bear from my backpack~ I felt self-conscious again~ wondering what other adults would think of me with a stuffed teddy bear. "Purpleannie" had pictures taken at the Forbidden City~ The Temple of Heavenly Peace~ the Terra Cotta Soldiers~ the Great Wall and other sites. I eventually got over the "what will others think of me" and had such fun taking pictures with the purple bear! It was interesting that as the trip went along~ others in our group offered suggestions for photographs with Purpleannie and at the end of the tour dinner~ she was included with the photograph! Maybe~ my teaching persona has taken root in a small way.... in my adult world. :-) Teaching....a wonderful profession!

Care to share?

Gail Hennessey

http://www.gailhennessey.com