Releasing Your Inner Nerd

 

In the first days of school, your class is getting to know you. Maybe this isn't the best time to release your inner nerd (though I did know a middle school science teacher who wore his Harry Potter robe, sans hat, every day. He also sponsored the Anime Club.)

LOTT (Lord of the Teachers)

But at some point, knowing Teacher as an individual and his/ her special interests (appropriate to revelation at school) is healthy. Now, some of us are more theatrical. In my family, Vaudeville never died. So I relish the chance to dress up, tell stories, sing, or dance. We're on!

Middle schoolers, especially sixth graders, really love this. Of course, if you are supervising the Halloween Dance, it is almost mandatory you dress up. See picture to the right.

It should be obvious that teachers like reading.

Mr. S's poster.

But maybe a touch of your other interests make school more interesting for the students, or help them identify with you. A computer science teacher had a very straight forward class. Except for one poster up and to the far right on the front wall.

The students were amazed he knew who the Beatles were. (They knew them from Rock Band.)

I am the greatest!

A seventh grade Math teacher has this poster up. I don't think he was a boxer, but he didn't have too many discipline problems in class.

Sometimes teachers have pics of their family, dogs, sports logos. I risked my life putting up a S F Giants pic of AT & T Park in my SoCal classroom. I'm not superstitious, but that was the year they won the Series.  The Dodgers' and Angels' fans at school were so pleased.

Teachers' screensavers, occasionally shown by the LCD projector, reveal special interests, trips, or hobbies. Maybe your wedding, or new puppies. Only as personal as you want to get. One seventh grade ELA teacher had real horseshoes on her bulletin board. Didn't take long for the kids to ask if she had horses. (She did.)

See? I have no pride, will go for the laugh every time.

I would try not to be too freaky at school. But when visiting Comicon in July, I did have fun experimenting with the concept of Zombie Teacher; I wore my teacher union shirt, and other teachery clothes and face makeup I wouldn't wear to school. I did half face makeup. Although, since I arrived at school most days at dawn, this sight might be closer to familiar to the kids than I would like to admit.

If there was an Academy Award or a Highly Qualified Credential for Nerds, I would be a strong nominee. And that's okay. Art teachers, writers and creative types can be like that. I have chosen to reveal my inner nerd. Kids (and grownups) can extend the concept of tolerance to nerds, too. So I am going to take you the the greatest gathering of nerds in the galaxy:  the Las Vegas Star Trek Convention 2012. I'm here and I'm proud.

Ambassador T'Mel of Vulcan

Now I would like you to meet T'Mel of Vulcan, who will be your tour guide this year to infinity and beyond. No wait, wrong slogan.  To boldly go where no nerd has gone before. No wait, plenty of nerds have gone before. Never mind. Live long and prosper.