It's all about acting

So as I'm sitting in my classroom awaiting the initial greetings of this year's class, I realize how much of an "act" teaching really is.

Anyone who has seen my classroom knows that I theme it out with penguins and make a big deal about Antarctica. Now it IS true that I do like Antarctica and it is my number one place I want to visit some day, but it's not the ONLY thing I like.

In the classroom I always start the year by unloading my useless backlog of Antarctic information, telling them that no one owns it, and people from all over the world work together there, etc, etc.

Then I of course have to explain why I have so many penguins around the room and like them so much. They like all this useless information and they make a big deal of it because I do. At Christmas I tend to receive a deluge of penguin items which has become my "penguin shrine" next to my desk.

I thought about changing my theme this year, but it works so well and ...I'm kinda lazy. Plus what would I do with all my penguin accessories?

If you know me, you know I'm not a cutesy teacher, but I do like to make things light and fun. I might not throw out all the cliche teaching bells and whistles like Renee was so good at, but I do excel at sharing pointless information about a blubber flightless southern bird in the coldest place on earth.