Kent City — There’s a lot in Lauren Carlisle’s background that makes her an ideal fit for her job teaching English to sixth- and seventh-graders at Kent City Middle School.
She’s born and raised in Kent City and is a Kent City High School graduate. She worked at a daycare in Kent City, which solidified that she loved being around kids and wanted to make it her job. She even did her student teaching in Kent City while attending Ferris State University.
And yet, there was nothing easy about the start of Carlisle’s career in the fall of 2021. She was offered a job at the middle school when she had envisioned teaching early elementary students. She was part of a hiring group of nine new teachers in grades 6-12 — a significant number for this small district. And the nation was still in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the state mandating masks for her sixth-graders but not her seventh-graders.
Now in her fifth year of teaching, she wryly calls that “an interesting time,” but also says she wouldn’t change a thing.
“It was a lot, that year, but I overcame it,” she said. “And I’ll be honest, I would kind of rather start out rough and have things get better instead of having a really laid-back year to start. That way, you know if you really want to do it or not. And I do.”
We recently met with Carlisle in her KCMS classroom to learn more about why teaching is the job for her, and what she loves about middle-schoolers that she didn’t expect.
Why do you teach? “I really love English, writing and reading, but especially writing. It’s a way that people can take whatever’s going on in their mind and generate their ideas on paper. Even for me, I’m not very good at articulating my words, whereas on paper I can articulate things better.
“It’s not just academics, though; it’s being there for the kids. There are times I can get really frustrated that they’re not doing what I want them to, or I feel like I’m not doing well as a teacher. But it’s the interactions — ‘Ms. Carlisle, I’m happy to see you today! Ms. Carlisle, thank you for being here!’ — that’s what helps me keep going.”
What is your biggest motivator? “Besides those relationships with the kids, I like to use the metaphor of the light bulb. When kids get that little moment of, ‘Oh, that makes sense!’ or “Oh, I understand!’ That’s a big part of why I teach and definitely something that keeps me going.
“It was actually the main thing that made me realize I wanted to go into teaching when I was working at the daycare. I was with preschool most of the time, and once they started knowing their colors or their shapes — that aha moment — it just felt really rewarding.”
What is the best or most interesting thing about teaching English? “We can’t read each other’s minds, but I love seeing their way of thinking when they put it on paper.”
Carlisle described a recent interaction where a student asked her to read something he had written for a social studies class: “I told him it was really good, and that I noticed he used figurative language, which was something we were doing (in English class). And he said, ‘Yeah, we didn’t have to do that, but I thought it would make the story sound better.’
“I was just like, ‘Oh, YAY!’” she said. “He’s using the knowledge that I gave him for a different subject — that was so great. … Even if kids say that they’re not good at writing, I can give them that push to let them know that it can be better, and keep reinforcing that way of thinking.”
What are some of your biggest challenges, and how do you strive to meet them? “I think the biggest challenge in middle school is reading. Kids seem to do OK with writing, but with reading there are the kids that love it and the kids that hate it.
“Reading is a skill where, if you’re low in it, then you might struggle in other classes as well, and if a kid is low in reading they often have a lack of confidence generally, not just in English. I just want to remain positive for them — keep telling them, ‘Practice, practice, practice.’ A graphic novel is OK; an easier book is OK. I tell them, ‘My goal is not necessarily for you to fall in love with reading; my goal for you is just to get better at reading and boost your confidence.’”
What is the most interesting thing about your students? “I enjoy how creative they are. They think they’re not creative, but I enjoy seeing what they can come up with. Even like the ‘6-7’ or other silly trends — it can be annoying sometimes, but it’s also kind of fun seeing trends evolve and different verbiage that comes from it. … At this age, they’re still kids, so they have to rely on you as an adult, but they are also pretty independent and I can have really nice, thoughtful conversations with them.”
You originally thought you’d be teaching younger students; what has it been like to shift your approach to middle school? “It was a hard adjustment. … It wasn’t until the end of the first year (teaching middle school) that I started realizing that what I was doing was similar to elementary classrooms. One of my professors in college always said, ‘Kids are kids — you can use the same strategies.’ And I didn’t consider that all year, because I was so focused on the thinking that middle school would be so different. But it’s true: they’re kids. You give them choices; you speak positively to them and you treat them with respect. You give them independence, but also you need to be there for them. When I really made that realization, it was like, OK, I can do this. I have a lot of experience in this. They’re just taller, and their emotions are different because of all the hormones going on. But kids are kids.”
What is the best part of your day? “Standing outside of my room and saying ‘hi’ as they come in. Just making small talk. I try to stand out there every single day. … I was on maternity leave last year and I enjoyed the time at home with my baby, but I really did miss just talking to the kids. Not academically — just conversations. Hearing their ideas or what they’re doing outside of school.”
What would you say to someone considering teaching as a profession? “Get as much in-classroom experience as you can. College is great, but college alone can’t prepare you for what’s going to happen in the classroom. You know the term, ‘I could write a book’? It’s not a lie — even in my five years of teaching, I could write a book on what I’ve seen, heard, the challenges, the good things, bad things.
“Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help, whether it’s from the principal or from other teachers. Teaching can be solitary, make you feel alone sometimes, but at Kent City I’ve never felt that way because we ask questions, we help out — everyone’s respectful and kind.
“My last thing would be to keep trying and just keep going. Every day is different. Every hour is different. It can only get better.”
Read more from Kent City:
• Middle-schoolers learn skills for life
• Pi Day slices fun with mat
