Teachable moments: Practice + perseverance = success in math

Morgan City native Shawn Falcon attended M.D. Shannon Elementary and Morgan City High School, going on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education at Nicholls State and Northwestern State universities. Now in his eighth year at Christian Brothers School, he teaches math (pre-Algebra and Algebra I) to sixth- and seventh-grade boys at Christian Brothers’ City Park campus. Falcon also serves as the school’s Quiz Bowl moderator and Academic Games co-moderator with Christian Brother Laurence Konersmann.

Why did you become a teacher?

I knew I wanted to be a teacher while sitting in Mr. Westbrook’s American history class at Morgan City High. He was a great storyteller, and history is all about telling the story! I started teaching in 1997. 

What do you enjoy about teaching at a Catholic school?

I believe that student success hinges on a three-way collaboration between teachers, students and parents. When all three of those groups are doing their jobs effectively, success is almost guaranteed. Nobody puts this collaboration into practice like Catholic schools! 

Why do you love teaching at Christian Brothers School?

We have a unique situation of being an all-male faculty teaching all boys. Couple that with the incredible setting of City Park, and what’s not to love? I know we are sending our boys to be the leaders of their high schools – and beyond – very well prepared for whatever life may throw at them. We always say that building great students is nice, but building great citizens is the ultimate goal.

Is there a school activity that’s especially dear to you?

We have an annual Mass just for our homeroom and their parents in our upstairs chapel. Even the (fifth-, sixth- and seventh-grade girls) from the Canal Street campus come to the City Park campus for their homeroom Mass. The chapel is small and intimate, and it’s just a very special moment for our families and for us.

What do you like about teaching math?

Math is everywhere! It’s all around us every day, and without it we are lost. Nothing can beat that “ah-ha” moment students have when a concept clicks. When I was a student in middle and high school, math was my biggest struggle. So, I absolutely relate to those students who “don’t get it” or “don’t understand.” 

What might people not know about your math students?

They are typical students. They hate math just like you and I did in middle school. They would rather play video games instead of factoring polynomials. But when push comes to shove, they get the job done. They are silly, goofy, whiney, funny, studious, hard working, lazy, serious, etc. – normal! 

What are some misconceptions about math?

“I’m not a math person,” or “I don’t get this new math,” is something I constantly scratch my head about. I tell my students what we are learning in middle school isn’t rocket science. They will have plenty of time for that kind of math later in life. In my sixth- and seventh-grade classroom, everything we do comes back to adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing. If they can do that and follow instructions, they will be fine. The other thing is their willingness to practice. Unlike other subjects where you can study facts, math is all about application. You must practice. It’s like sports. You don’t get a .300 batting average by reading books on how to be a hitter. Sure, it helps, but the secret is practice. Being in a batting cage, day in and day out practicing, is the key. Math is the same way. When I introduce a new concept, my guys have to go home and practice – work problems, put in the extra work. That’s the whole secret. I tell them all the time that I am no math genius. I just literally do it every day, and practice makes perfect.

What is the most rewarding aspect of teaching math?

Again, the “ah-ha” moment. Nothing beats that kid who says they aren’t “a math person” or didn’t understand their elementary teacher, and then you can just see the lightbulb come on when they understand the lesson. It’s the best feeling ever as a teacher.

Do you have an interest your students might not know about?

I love to travel. My favorite place to visit is Disneyworld. Having a 21-, 19- and 15-year-old, we have been so many times, but I’m always excited to go again. My wife calls it my sickness. Our third child shares this sickness with me, and when we start talking about family vacations, she and I always say “Disney” first. We get overruled lately, but we try anyway!

What lessons have you and your students taught one another?

I try to teach them perseverance – stick to it! They get so caught up in one test grade or one report-card grade. Yes, those are important, but in the big picture, it’s small potatoes. Most of these kids started in a pre-K3 program somewhere. By the time I get them in sixth grade, they’ve been in school for what, nine years? Add another year for seventh grade and five more for high school, and we are talking 15 years! Out of those 15 years we stress about one test, one nine weeks. But it’s a blip on the radar. Don’t stress! That one test on volume and surface area doesn’t define you. That one quarter of that one school year doesn’t define you! It hurts in that moment, but tomorrow is a new day. They teach me to be better tomorrow than I was today!

What would you be doing if you were not a teacher?

It’s funny, but I never pictured myself as anything else. When our third child was born, I stayed home with her for seven years (before coming to Christian Brothers). Even then, I felt like every day was filled with teachable moments. It’s crazy how similar being a stay-at-home parent is to day-to-day classroom teaching. 

Do you have a go-to prayer?

I find myself saying some form of the Serenity Prayer at times. There are things I can control, like my actions and reactions, and things that are out of my control, like my students’ actions and reactions. I can only hope to have the wisdom to know the difference.

– Interviewed by Beth Donze