As some of you know, I spent 6 weeks in this classroom in the fall. I know most of their stories and have spent a little time trying to figure them out, but now my curiosity is all the more sparked. Time after time when my cooperating teacher and I discuss a student, my concluding thought is "He/she is such a puzzle..."
I say that over and over in the sense that I cannot figure out where she is coming from or how I should help her or what she needs from me. These kids are all over the place with their emotions, but they are all very bright. My cooperating teacher has pushed them very hard this year, returning assignments with a "this is not your best effort" comment and some encouragement to think harder, question bigger, and write more. And what's so neat... they have! They analyze and quote and I swear I was nowhere near that level in the fifth grade. Today I conducted the class spelling bee and I was trying to remember which of these words I would have known in fifth grade. I made it into the top five at our school spelling bee just to be eliminated on the word hustle. (Not to be confused with hussle.) The winning word today was alfalfa. Three in a row spelled it with ph. They tried.
I included this comic because I have continued my journey of working on my intimidation factor. Though I have no Mr.Whiskers of my own, I try some positive reinforcement. I try some compliments. I try some rewards. (Even though my candy jar was hijacked a few afternoons in a row.) And we're working on establishing my teacher presence in the room by me being in charge of transitions or hallway time. It's the small things, you know.
This weekend will consist of planning out a unit on the colonies. Think I should show them 1776? Just kidding. I wish I could. I suppose I'll come up with some other stuff, and occasionally break out in "For God's sake, John, sit down! Someone oughta oooopen up a window"
1. "And you know why? Because I'm a pusher. I push people. I pushed my husband into law school. That was a bust. I pushed myself into working three jobs. And now I'm gonna push you because I know you're smarter than this."
ReplyDelete2. As the resident creeper of the family, I Googled you to see how easy this blog would be to stumble upon, and the first thing that came up was "the murder of..." you get the point. That's the last time I'll creep on you.
3. Add the Clark street bus stop text number to your phone right now!