Hello, Angela! I'll share the story I promised you I would... :-) We'll call it "Feeding the Spirits of Students...and their Teachers!" I've decided to be even more intentional about having "team time" with my students in order to create a comfortable learning environmant for all. Team Time seems to open the flood gates of conversation about so many important things...take the time! It's worth it! I asked a question of my third graders the other day that I've never asked before: "What have other people told you you're good at?" I told them they could each share one or two things. Right away most hands went up, eager to share...and I noted that two extremely shy children scooted back a little, but I waited to see what would happen as the group offered their 'pockets of giftedness,' as I like to call them. :-) I noticed, too, that one of my male students would raise his little hand halfway, then put it back down, over and over again. I wondered what what was going on...finally I asked him to explain after all children (minus the two very shy kiddos) had shared. He explained in a shaky voice with little tears pooling in his eyes, "I don't think anyone has ever told me what I'm good at." I thought I'd melt like candle wax on the spot! In no time, though, several of my students began to raise their hands, one-by-one to share great things that felt were true about this lil' guy, and slowly but surely his shoulders began to broaden. A smile even appeared on his face! I waited to see if they would do the same for the two children who had chosen not to share anything about themselves, and they rallied for them as well!!! What an incredibly POWERFUL, HEARTWARMING moment!!! I love my job. This experience occurred during the first full week of school! I cannot imagine what the school year will bring! I wish you all the very best! Enjoy learning from your students!
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I've decided to be even more intentional about having "team time" with my students in order to create a comfortable learning environmant for all. Team Time seems to open the flood gates of conversation about so many important things...take the time! It's worth it!
I asked a question of my third graders the other day that I've never asked before: "What have other people told you you're good at?" I told them they could each share one or two things. Right away most hands went up, eager to share...and I noted that two extremely shy children scooted back a little, but I waited to see what would happen as the group offered their 'pockets of giftedness,' as I like to call them. :-) I noticed, too, that one of my male students would raise his little hand halfway, then put it back down, over and over again. I wondered what what was going on...finally I asked him to explain after all children (minus the two very shy kiddos) had shared.
He explained in a shaky voice with little tears pooling in his eyes, "I don't think anyone has ever told me what I'm good at." I thought I'd melt like candle wax on the spot! In no time, though, several of my students began to raise their hands, one-by-one to share great things that felt were true about this lil' guy, and slowly but surely his shoulders began to broaden. A smile even appeared on his face! I waited to see if they would do the same for the two children who had chosen not to share anything about themselves, and they rallied for them as well!!! What an incredibly POWERFUL, HEARTWARMING moment!!! I love my job. This experience occurred during the first full week of school! I cannot imagine what the school year will bring! I wish you all the very best! Enjoy learning from your students!