Classroom Dynamics

It's really funny how different personalities change classroom dynamics. I'm right now teaching 2 sections of World Cultures 1 and in both I did a simulation exercise where students were trapped on a desert island and had to create a community set of rules.

The first class was very calm and people raised their hands and were very communal oriented. There are a couple of outspoken conscious black girls that were taking the lead in the class and helping figure out things. Things went well and they accomplished everything they were supposed to by the end of the class time.

The second class was hilarious. It was the Lord of the Flies. A student took the lead and proclaimed herself the captain. She was telling people what they were going to do and gave "permission" to people to do things. Then another student wanted to break away and make a boat and legalize drugs. Then another student wanted to know about sex and how that would be handled. It was hilarious. At one point a student said something and I just lost my shit and started laughing. It was totally hilarious. By sitting back and watching I learned a lot about student personalities.

The things classes had in common were also interesting. Both classes said cutting off limbs would be a form of punishment. It was kind of gruesome.They also both divided labor along gender lines. That was a trip. But I guess it's all part of the colonized mindset. But other than the classroom dynamics were totally different.

Interestingly, one student that is on the fast track to dropping out really got sparked by this simulation. The guy was debating and was the person taking the lead on arguing for people to make a boat. It was cool cause most of the time he is just sitting there spaced out and not doing anything. It gave me some fucking hope for him. He's got it rough, cause he's got a learning disability and is pretty immature. Then on top of that he is lazy. My coworker said it best, "he starts off slow and then tapers off!"