Yes, I must admit it, I am a high school math teacher. Not a great one. Not a cool one. Just your average, everyday algebra facilitator. Mostly, I teach freshmen, and they all tell tales of amazing eighth grade math teachers who basically sound like the educational equivalent of GTA4. In other words, amazing, if not slightly overrated. Don’t get me wrong; I try to be great. I write songs about math and rock out on my guitar while singing to my classes. I put in extra hours to make math-related games so my students can play while practicing, as opposed to doing worksheets. I suppose, in the end, it’s personality I lack, which is why I often find myself turning to my last resort…outing myself as a gamer.
It’s hard to walk past the conversations in the classroom. Whether it’s talk of “pwning noobs” in Halo or boasting over beating a particular Guitar Hero song on expert, I always get the urge to toss in my two cents. It’s not like I’m a videogames expert. On a scale of 1 to 5, my general knowledge is probably somewhere around a 1.141592653589…okay, that’s enough of that. The point is, I’m no expert, but I know more than most of the 15-year-olds I teach and at least enough to converse with them on the topic of “gaming.”
Then the questions begin. What systems do I have? Do I have a Live account? What do I play? What’s my gamertag? When will I be on? I answer all the questions. I even give out my gamertag. I’ve played Halo with my freshmen. Oh, what an experience. You know all those annoying 10-year-olds that yell and sing into the microphone over XBox Live? The ones with gamertags like "nooobXxX4xXxliiifeXX." Yeah, they’re not 10. They’re 15 and they were all in my 4th period this year. Seriously. All. Of. Them.
I know what you’re thinking. I’m going to end up like one of those teachers on CNN. Don’t make me get explicit. You know what I’m talking about. But I want you to again imagine those annoying kids on Xbox Live screaming into your ear. Now, imagine wanting to do anything with them besides kicking them in the face. You can’t right? Yeah, me either.
I must admit, though, it does make for positive classroom interactions. I know I can count on my gamerkids to have my back. Those are the kids that always say hey to me in the hall or come to class with their homework done. So, despite the part of my brain that tells me I should probably leave the gamer out of the classroom, I just don’t think I can.
But, what do you think? Is it
inappropriate to accept friend requests from students in my algebra class? Or, should I start listing my gamertag on my syllabus?
Class dismissed.
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Hey teacher, I brought my Pencil!
How about you give me something to write on
wow... I really enjoyed reading this... nice pi humor.
I think anything that can draw a kids attention more to class is a bonus. If you find it works, go with it.
Here is an apple.
@Ancient Master of Warfare:
/facepalm
I say list your gamertag on the syllabus, if only for the lulz. Then again I've never been known for giving good advice
Highschool teacher?! Good luck not going crazy.
ewww...math.
You sound like a way cooler math teacher than my high school Algebra teacher. She was currently cheating on her husband (who she had two kids with) with the Latin teacher when I had her.
I don't know who you are but I think I love you.
Lol
@King3vbo
I couldn't resist. I'm weak T-T
@technophile: math rocks :)
Be very wary of them thar 15 year olds. I am only two years older and I want to kill them sometimes. You are now my second favorite teacher on a sliding scale of awesome; next to that Hot For Words chick.
What Freetouch said, It seems reasonable and is actually good advice, can't see anythng wrong there, hope it goes well for ya.
i wouldn't see it being a good idea to give your gamer tag to your students. it doesn't mean you can't joke and laugh with them about it, but keep the two away from each other.. or else it might lead to sticky situations. i duno, at least that's what i'd imagine.
I remember on the last day of 7th grade I was in my science teacher's classroom playing playstation games, it was awesome!
Sounds pretty cool to me, I say run with it as long as it helps keep them brats interested.
You still have to come a close second to my college maths tutor though. He had super bad eyesight and when helping someone would often write straight past the end of the whiteboard or piece of paper onto the wall/desk. When we told him he'd say "Oh well, that's why we have cleaners" and keep going. That guy was all kinds of awesome.
Welcome to Destructoid! The community occasionally acts like highschoolers, so you'll fit right in. :D
(inb4 you are a highschooler)
I don't think its necessarily innapropriate, just hella awkward.
Awesome read! I personally really love connecting with my students (when I TA organic chemistry) and have even become facebook friends with them...however, I normally wait until after they are out of my class. One thing that I get concerned about is other students yelling of "favoritism" because I write on another students wall.
As far as outing yourself with a gamer, I dont think that you "lack personality" and therefore you have to "out yourself" as a gamer. Being a gamer IS our personality :P Now that our generation is getting older and taking over the world, it is not going to be that odd that people in positions of power play games such as Halo or World of Warcraft :D Thats just the way the world turns!!
Could you lecture me in math? I really suck at it...
Welcome to Destructoid... you're alright, teach.
the only thing that i knew about my math teacher is that he went to the same church as i did, so even tho i failed his class, he still gave me a C
and hi!! welcome to the dtoid
When you teach them about multiplying Binomials/Polynomials, do you tell them about F.O.I.L. aka First Outer Inner Last. It really helped me when I was going through Algebra. Also, Pythagorean Theorm ftw
@ThisYearsPink
Says the math teacher.
I'll take a good science any day of the week. You keep your scary numbers.
Also, you play Carcassonne and Catan, you should get Ticket to Ride as well.
and welcome to the 'toid.
@Heretic: Only in summer school (which I'm teaching now). My principal is very strict during the normal school year. I'd probably get fired! Actually, though, stuff gets stolen all the time and most kids don't whip out their DS's and PSP's for fear that it'll get jacked.
@elitechief27: Dude, I have a t-shirt that says "FOIL...keepin' algebra fresh."
Welcome to Destructoid. Great read, Great introduction.
@ThisYearsPink
Holy Shit, you are new to Dtiod, welcome, how are you finding the place so far?
Oh and BTW, having 'one of those', makes you immune to flaming, trolling and will almost likely have everyone listening to your opinion, no matter what you post.
So, young jedi, use this power well, the pussy force is strong within you.
(LOL, only Joking!!)
This was actually fun to read. :)
Holy shit, I would want to see what you can do with math!
I CAN HAS DIVIDE!
i too work at a HS and i too have been called out on being a gamer. i actually tried to keep it under wraps for a while just because it can get you the same kind of attention being a gamer IN HS can get you (btw i hate the word gamer).
but i love to chime in when kids are talking about a game and kinda blow there mind a bit. sadly some kids found my gamertag on xbl and i have to deal with constant COD4 invites, but its still fun to be able to connect with them about something i really love and some of them do too.
their* ... jeeze, thank goodness its summer break
so kenner fuck little kids?
FOIL...keepin' algebra fresh
Oh man... I want to punch myself for laughing out loud at that. Welcome to Dtoid!
FOIL! FOIL has got to be one of the easiest and most useful things in algebra.
Please... don't ever teach your kids matrices. They're stupid and useless and multiplying them is tough shit.
Also, I'd say you shouldn't get that close to them through gaming. Not because you'll become a "CNN teacher" but because the pricks will probably use it against you.
Also also, you look in your teens.
That's a pretty smart way to connect with your kids. I have a question, isn't it awkward if you or one of your students just start swearing uncontrollably in a game of Halo because they're so damn frustrated?
Ok, "Teacher". Let see what you got.
Is there always a prime number between any two consecutive squares?
@Keener: Nice correction. I was just hoping you weren't an English teacher (us math teachers always have an excuse for poor writing skills).
@Clockwork: I have an automatic profanity switch. I have never accidentally cursed in front of my students (even on XBL). Of course, I also mute my mic unless I have something to say. As for them...maybe they do the same because I can't remember hearing anything worse than an occasional "hell" or "dammit."
@Nicholie: That is just a conjecture. And, yes, I totally cheated and looked it up. Though, at least I understood the question and considered a way to prove it myself before looking it up. A for effort? No? Fine :(
I have had ONE teacher that has ever even owned a system. He was an awesome Tech teacher that I had 2 years ago (my sophomore year), and used to give out his live GT when people asked him for it.
I think it should be alright, as long as you... you know... make the kids feel awkward. Ask them if they finished their math homework or needed help with a problem.
Ok, I'm kidding. Do what ever you want. Welcome to Destructoid. I'll now be here praying that I have a teacher as cool as you my senior year of HS.
Hell yes! I used to play Risk with my freshman history teacher and I have to say, his class was always my favorite because of it. Of course you already know you'll always have to be "Ms. ThisYearsPink" when playing with the little punks, but you can't feel bad just doing what you enjoy.
Just be careful with parents... they might be a harder sell than us.
Welcome :)
Heh, this was epic. It's only inappropriate to accept friend requests if they try to get higher grades by playing with you.
As one high school worker to another (I'm a custodian... Not as glamorous, I'm sure), welcome to Destructoid. :D
I had a really cool high school AP Physics teacher and your teaching personality sounds a lot like hers. In my book that makes you pretty damn cool.
I taught for four years in college, and I found the best way to get the kids to listen and pay attention to me was to relate to them. To do that I demonstrated to them how I had the same interests in sports, movies, music, video games, and partying. They students loved it and it really strengthened my relationship with my students. They not only paid more attention to me when I taught, but they also felt more comfortable asking questions and coming to my office hours if they needed help.
The biggest mistake I made was trying to hang out with my students outside of class and be their "buddy". I discovered that there is a fine line there and if the students think of you as their "friend" they start to feel like they can act up more in class. Students need to think of you as their "teacher" first and formost.
Anyways ... now I'm just rambling. Great first post. I wish more people had a first post like this. Welcome to Destructoid. :-)
Yep my study hall teacher was a gamer. So all during my senior study halls him and my friends would sit around and talk about videogames and play chess. He would complain on how he kept getting killed in RE 4 by the rock.
now see, THIS is an awesome blog. thank you. and it couldn't have come at a better time, what with all the fail blogs that were published today... ugh.
That's really fantastic!
I'm on track to be a professor of literature, so its great to see that I'm not the only aspiring edu-gamer. I wonder if this approach would work at the collegiate level...
This is epic! I was good at math, but now I'm an English major, so no more math! the end.
It had been my plan to teach high school English as a career but the academic system is simply too oppressive for that to be much of an option for me. It always killed me that the teachers I respected and learned the most from were repeatedly punished by administration for simply doing their job well.
To answer your question about whether it's appropriate to share your passion for gaming with your students, not at all. I don't think I would hand out my gamertag to them, however, as that crosses a line into the personal lives of the students that some parents may find inappropriate. With all of the negative press online gaming receives, all of the suggestions that online games are a breeding ground for pedophiles, I can easily see how such a thing could bite you on the ass in the form of an ignorant parent.
This is a great first post and I want to thank you for it. Welcome to Destructoid.
Welcome to Toid, and I hope that you join us for one of the many community events that we may hold.
Welcome!
I loved your story, my maths teachers were hilarious in school.
Never gamers though.
@fooliz: Your cat is adorable!