Today's Guest Post is brought to you by C.J. Reynolds!
CJ Reynolds taught high school literature and The History of Hip-Hop in West Philadelphia and currently teaches in New Mexico. He is also the author of Teach Your Class Off: The Real Rap Guide to Teaching. CJ is also the creator of the YouTube channel, Real Rap with Reynolds.
Reynolds' book and YouTube channel aim to give viewers an authentic glimpse into what it looks like to teach high school, while also helping new and veteran teachers become the educators they have always dreamed of being. As an educator, CJ's bare bones teaching philosophy is simple: in the classroom, "relationships are king," and the job of a teacher is "always only ever about the students.”
Take it away, CJ!
Guest Post
There’s an old quote that says, “If everyone swept in front of their own porch, the whole world would be clean.”
When I reread that at the beginning of this school year, it hit me…hard. It reminded me that I might not be able to fix the entire education system, but I can change the atmosphere within ten feet of my classroom door.
So, I made a decision: every day, before and after school and between every class, I’d be out in the hallway. Not to supervise. Not to “stand guard.” But to interrupt my students’ daily rhythms with magic, to surprise them with joy.
And I’ll be honest, it’s been ridiculous.
Some mornings, I’m giving high-fives with a giant hand on a stick. Other days, I’m blowing bubbles, interviewing students with a fake microphone, or using an old VCR remote to “pause” students who are running through the hallway or “fast-forward” the ones who look like they might be late. I’ve muted students who are being too loud and given fist bumps with tiny plastic hands that fit on my fingertips.
Sometimes I hold up a large sign on the end of a yardstick that looks like I’m protesting, but the message says something like “You’re Awesome” or “Vocab Quiz Today.”
Here’s the thing… it works.
Someone once said that 90 percent of what we think about today is what we thought about yesterday. We’re all creatures of habit. Our students walk the same hallways, sit in the same seats, and talk to the same people every day. If we want to capture their attention and remind them they matter, we have to find new, unexpected ways to do it.
There’s not a single other person in my hallway doing any of this weird stuff, which is exactly why it works.
So here’s my challenge to you: What can you do in your hallway this week? You don’t need a giant hand or a yardstick sign. You just need to sweep in front of your own porch. Be the interruption that makes your corner of the world a little brighter, a little weirder, and a whole lot more joyful.
If you want to see what this looks like in action, you can check out a few of these moments on my Instagram @teachyourclassoffofficial.
Thank You, CJ!
Wow! Now, that is doable! How might you create joy ten feet at a time?!
If you'd like to explore more, be sure to follow his website HERE! Also, don't forget to check out his book, Teach Your Class Off: The Real Rap Guide to Teaching.
Check out CJ on YouTube and Instagram to see this strategy come to life and catch more amazing content!
