The Crosby Chronicles: The new addition to my classroom

The spring semester has just begun in Glendale schools and for the first time in my 23-year teaching career I have a student teacher who is teaching all my English classes.

This is something I’ve wanted to do for the longest time, but the right arrangement could never be worked out.

I enjoy working with young teachers. A few years back I taught credential courses at Cal State University, Northridge and liked engaging with up and coming teachers. It also gave me a chance to share with them things that I have learned in the teaching profession.

So having the opportunity to work with one teacher every day is going to be a thrill. Already I’ve noticed how different an experience it is being in the classroom but not teaching the students.

These are young people who I know quite well, and suddenly, I’m a stranger as their full attention is now given to their new teacher. It takes much will power not to say a word during my English classes.

I’ll keep you posted along the way how things are going.

Brian Crosby is a teacher in the Glendale Unified School District and the author of Smart Kids, Bad Schools and The $100,000 Teacher. He can be reached at brian-crosby.com.