Learning

It's amazing that it is already June and another school year is ending. This year has flown by and looking back I have to say that it was an extremely interesting year. I teach 10th and 11th grade English at Madison Park High School in Boston. Madison is a great sch0ol to work in and as the only vocational high school in the city it presents students with the opportunity to learn a trade or vocation while still in school. My students are in a variety of vocational programs including Auto Tech, Auto Body, TV production, Networking, and Printing. I've always loved teaching at a voc school and I truly believe in vocational education but it wasn't until this year that I truly understood how the shops work and the amazing things that occur there. This year I was given the chance to spend a full day in the shops and it was amazing to see the students working and loving what they were learning. For me it was great to be able to see my students in a different setting and they loved being able to teach me how to work the machines. It was a chance for my students to show me what they know and are able to do. The remarkable thing was that students who struggle in English or with their academic subjects were amazing as they taught me how to work the print press or fix brakes. The students were truly in their element and it allowed me to connect and learn about my students in a new way. I also learned to make business cards and work on a car, although I don't think you'll find me under the hood anytime soon. The fact is that i was able to appreciate my school and all that it offers in a whole new way. My hope for next year is that I get the chance to visit the shops I didn't visit this year.