A blog post about Student
Teaching Week 2, inspired by quotes from #kidpresident. I’m obsessed. Watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-gQLqv9f4o&list=SPzvRx_johoA-YabI6FWcU-jL6nKA1Um-t&index=1
Over the last two weeks, I have
noticed how Ms. M begins her classes by being the most enthusiastic,
energetic person in the room. She dances at the doorway and sings her
greetings. The stubborn students roll their eyes and call her corny as they
settle in at their seats, but by the end of the period they are all usually bubbling
over with their renewed excitement (or at least a smile on their faces). Her
lessons typically involve some time for quiet reflection, some time to talk
with friends close by, and some time to share aloud with the whole class. This
has helped to build community and has made transitioning much easier because we
have similar ideas about what a high school English class should look/sound
like.
“I took the road less traveled. And
it really hurt man! Rocks! Thorns! Glass!”
Every day I learn more and more
about each student. I am piecing together their personalities, learning styles,
and outside factors that affect learning. Since Ms. M and I can’t
collect all the rocks, thorns, and glass that the students stumble upon in the
winding woods of adolescence, I do hope to continue to foster the “clearing
in the woods” that Ms. M’s classroom seems to be. One student who frequently
comes into class very upset (on the verge of getting in a fist fight or just plain
uninterested in participating), is especially on my radar. Yesterday, he came
in with his usual tough guy swagger, but after talking him through some brainstorming,
providing gentle encouragement, and throwing in a pirate joke or two, he was
the first one with his hand up to share. Can we #hack SLOs and include data
that shows improvement on the frown-to-smile ratio?
“This is your time. This is my
time. This is OUR time. We can make every day better for each other.”
I really love this line because I
think it represents the experience of student teaching so well. Each one of us
must bring our best selves to the classroom each day. Unlike Practicum where we
shared responsibilities with our teaching partners, this semester we get the
opportunity to fly solo, to be the only “Ms.” or “Mr.” in the room. However, we also have the benefit of working
in our cohort of 15 student teachers. I have been so energized by classmates’
successes (shout out to Emmanuel for his “Chain of Kindness” and his revision
of our 10th grade common task!). I love hearing stories about students who
opened up or activities that blew students’ minds. We can make each day better
for each other by sharing new ideas, pooling resources, and providing encouragement.
Let’s continue make the world awesome, #actofhope.
I love how you took notice of a typically frustrated "tough guy" and provided him with the extra attention he needed to get out of his slump and make a purpose for himself in the classroom. It sounds like Ms. Marsland's class is a haven that temporarily takes students out of the world of thorns, rocks, and glass that inevitbaly come along with being a teenager. Being so enthusiastic and singing greetings(which I can so picture her doing!)almost leaves students with no choice but to eventually catch on to such excitement or to atelast pay attention.
ReplyDeleteBrittany! So much here that is good. Thank you for taking Kid President's critical theory of DOING SOMETHING and applying it to your life and work as a teacher. My most favorite line from your writing is this:
ReplyDeleteCan we #hack SLOs and include data that shows improvement on the frown-to-smile ratio?
I love it so much it bears repeating:
Can we #hack SLOs and include data that shows improvement on the frown-to-smile ratio?
What if, Brittany Richer? What IF?
Thank you for contributing to the ratio of awesome in the universe and for seeing all of the ways that Ms. Marsland's classroom persona impacts her students' classroom personae. You are starting to see the power of positive influence, the power of personality and empathy and kindness, the power of face-to-face teaching and learning.
(Now try listening to someone tell you that distance or online learning is just as good for kids.)
Thanks for the kind words and all that you do to make the world awesome! Distance/online learning is a scary thing to think about. Two summers ago I helped in a camp where some middle school students spent their morning making up English and math credits via computer. Something about it just felt wrong. It seems to me that students who struggle the most in school need more human interaction, not less...
DeleteBrittany I have to agree that this line deserves as much emphasis as possible (for its truthiness and also because you're just an awesomely creative writer)
ReplyDelete"Can we #hack SLOs and include data that shows improvement on the frown-to-smile ratio" !!!!
I am so happy that you are connecting with both your students and your CT in such a positive way. I think her way of starting out class with energy is so important and I can't help but remember our own enthusiasm last semester even when we were teaching first thing in the morning. As the teacher YOU set the tone for the class and it seems like you and Ms. M embrace that to the fullest extent. Yay!