Shadowing a Student...and an IB Student nonetheless

I have been the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program Coordinator at my school since the beginning of the 2015 school year. Little by little I have gotten more confident in an awkward role. I say that because I am a teacher, but I have administrative responsibilities as well. I can't tell anyone what to do, but I can strongly suggest.

I recently saw a video made by PBS about an administrator who shadowed a student in her school for the entire day. She went to all of the student's classes including PE and participated just like he would. I was intrigued and immediately asked for my principal's support as I wanted to do the same thing but with one of our IB students. I chose Sophia, for a variety of reasons, but mostly because I knew she wouldn't mind me following her around all day.

An IB student takes 6 academic courses that can span 2 years (at least 4 of them have to) and also take an epistemology course called Theory of Knowledge. It is an extremely rigorous course of study, the most rigorous we offer at our school, and it culminates in an additional diploma that is recognized worldwide.

I got to school at 6:30am (my norm even though school starts at 7:45) so that I could make sure everything was in place for the classes I was missing that day. After all of that was done, and my sub showed up, I was off to first period. Backpack and all, I walked down the hall channeling my inner "Josey Grossy" (a "Never Been Kissed reference). First period was IB Spanish...

I never took Spanish, nor do I fancy myself a lover of languages. But I went in with an open mind hoping to learn something. And I did, not Spanish per se, but how trusting the students to prepare without hovering over them is something that works. As a Math teacher, creature of habit and overall rule-follower, I have a hard time letting go of control. So watching as the Spanish teacher relinquished all control and trusted the students to do what they were supposed to was interesting. Granted I was supposed to be there as a student, but I couldn't help but view the class through the eyes of a teacher. I was super impressed with the students but most of all the teacher's faith in his pupils.

We were then off to a double period of IB Biology. I was never a big science fan but as an adult I found this class very interesting. Luckily we were doing some mathematical calculations so I caught on quickly and was able to collaborate with my "lab partner for the day". We then moved onto an activity that stemmed from the Friday before. As a lab group we were drawing, labeling and annotating a mini-ecosystem.

Then we were off to School To Work. This is a program we have in our school that allows students to work or get credit for helping a teacher in the building. Since we are a Middle School/High School our students have a variety of educators to chose from. Sophia worked with one of our 6th grade teachers and her and I punched holes in index cards and put binder rings through them for her students. I know how helpful it is to have someone do the little things for you. I was happy to help.

We then went to IB History where the students were researching the lead up to WWII. Their assignment was to examine articles from the Treaty of Versailles and to write from the perspective of a specific country. International Mindedness at its finest, folks. I was so happy to see our students doing this assignment.

Then we had lunch or what our students like to call "free". We allow our seniors to leave campus for lunch. So, I left the building for the first time in a long time...and it felt great!!

After lunch it was off to Theory of Knowledge (ToK). To be honest this was the class I was most interested in attending and it did not disappoint. The pure nature of the conversation based course was the best part. There was no right or wrong, there were perspectives, universal "truths" and opinions but no correctness. I loved being there!

Next was IB English. I was awaiting this class all day because I have formed a relationship with the teacher over the course of my tenure as the IB Coordinator that I have come to appreciate. He is the kind of teacher that I hope every student has in the course of their education. He is passionate and intelligent, thoughtful and intriguing. The students appreciate him but not fully until they are in college. He reminds me of my AP English teacher when I was in high school.

Lastly was AP Statistics. This was good news for me, because I already knew the material being presented and I could almost "shut my brain off" during 9th period. Not a luxury our students have. As I took notes, and participated in my colleagues lesson, I was grateful that the day was almost over.

Of course I double booked myself for the day and had to do a mini-PD session at our department meeting but I wasn't really phased by that. At the end of the meeting I went back to my office and reflected on the day. Conclusion: I WAS EXHAUSTED!!! And I wasn't responsible for any of the homework. So I can only imagine what one of our students feels like. They are responsible for the material presented in class as well as the HW assignments/projects assigned.

This experience was so eye opening for me...and maybe not in they way that you would expect. What I really took away from this day was that my colleagues, who I have never actually seen in action in their classroom, were rock stars. Not that I doubted that, but I was super inspired by them!!! They were doing exactly what I hoped they were doing, as their coordinator and exactly what I think I should be doing as a teacher. They were letting our students "do" and "try" and "prepare" on their own and together all at the same time. It made me think about my approach in my classroom.

If you are an administrator, set up a day where you can shadow a student. It will be such a rewarding experience. If you are a teacher in a building that supports peer observations, sign up, like right now! You will be end up being the student!