Kelly Miller, seeking authentic discussion and times when the class takes on life of its own
By Hailey O’Connor
Tell us about the past year – the good and the bad
I had been a teacher at Sparta Middle School for many, many years, so not only was this my first year teaching remotely, but also my first year teaching 5th grade! It was very exciting for me -- at this point in my career, I was ready for the challenge and ready for something different. Between learning a new curriculum, teaching remotely, and adjusting to a new age group, this was a big jump from any previous school year. I tried to make life easier for everyone, educating the parents on how to use all the new technology so that they could help their kids at home. Everyone has been learning along the way, and overall, it has been a great year. I’m very happy to have the kids in person right now.
What motivates you?
I know it sounds so cliché, but my students motivate me. I love it when we are reading a novel, and right in the middle of it, the class takes on a life of its own. The discussions are authentic and exciting, and suddenly, all the students become engulfed in the book. It’s the spontaneous discussions that are the most memorable, both for me and the class. I believe that if you really want a student to love reading, you have to show them how exciting it is.
What’s the secret to being a great teacher?
I always find it so funny when people ask me this, because the only secret is to genuinely love what you do. I love working with kids, and each day is exciting for me.
What is one piece of advice you’d give someone considering becoming a teacher?
My advice is to be very flexible and not too strict in your planning. This was especially important for this past year! For instance, my 5th graders were nervous about going to the middle school next year. Since I taught there for so many years, they asked me for advice. They were worried about all the unknowns of going to a new school. So, I broke from my lesson plans and said “Okay, let’s take a break and talk about what the middle school is like.” We had a nice conversation, and I know that they aren’t as worried now. Teachers just have to listen to what the kids need -- which won’t be hard, because they will tell you!
Tell us about one of your best days on the job.
One of the best days on the job was teaching 7th grade. We were reading And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. My students that year were not thrilled at the idea of reading a whole novel; they weren’t thrilled with the idea of reading in general. And Then There Were None is one of my favorite books, and I promised them: “Just give it a week. Hang tight.” One day, after we finished reading a chapter, I asked the class: “So, what do you think?”
The class took that question and ran with it. They talked about the characters, the plot, the setting; I didn’t have to push for a discussion at all. It was super authentic, and I was so happy that they were so eager to talk about the book.
What made you want to be a teacher?
I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. My aunt taught 2nd grade, so the idea was always in my mind. Even when I played with Barbies, I used to pretend I was the teacher, and the dolls were the class!