Congratulations you are now taking a pop quiz. Please get out
one pencil and one piece of lined paper in 5….4….3….2….1…0. Now you have 1
minute to write down the answers to the two following questions; What do you
notice? What do you wonder? On your mark….get set….GO!
(Feel free to try this
before strolling below)
I see a student who attempted to wrap
this gift. I notice my last name is capitalized correctly. I’m wondering if he wanted to put more bows on
the gift. I’m also wondering why he crossed out “the” when to me looks
great! I notice a student who showed up to school on time (which is starting to
happen a lot!) I see a student who stayed on his flexible all class. I also see
a student who earned many tickets for his amazing effort in class today. I
wonder if we can keep this streak going forever. I see a student who cares
about me.
The truth is the story is so much
deeper than just a picture. The backstory is a familiar for many veteran teachers:
a student who is known around the school is put into your classroom, you stay positive
but start pulling your hair out when the rumors become reality, and then…slowly
but surely something happens and the student changes.
It’s a lovely story and I wish I
could say that this change will stay like this everyday and that it will always
work out this way. The truth is it might not. (I didn’t say won’t because I’m a
optimist about everything). I’ve only taught for one and half years, but many
co-workers will say there are some students that might never change no matter
how hard a teacher tries. If that’s the case, then at least don’t stop trying.
This gift
(that I haven’t even opened) doesn’t happen without a relationship. Relationships
have to come first to build trust, comfort, and safety. It wasn’t built on day one
and it’s still far finished. This relationship is mainly built on a belief. For
this student I had to dig deep to believe in him until when I finally saw him
writing capitals and low case letters in the lines when asked to do so. I
acknowledged it to him, bought into his capabilities and haven’t stopped since.
So much that in a meeting with tears in my eyes defending in why I believe this
kid can make a learning gain. When I met with his mom for the first time (weeks
after the meeting), she said “I already know what you’re going to say. He…” I
stopped her mid sentence and said, “has potential! He can write. He can think.
He’s hearing what I’m teaching. He can do this with baby steps to independence.”
The saddest part was no one has ever told him
the things his mom told me. It blew my mind. It’s my belief that every person
has good in them. People just make bad decisions. If you’re constantly hearing
how bad you are you’re going to start believing it as a child because they’re
still cognitive developing so much. Did you notice I didn’t mention any
negative comments in my description about the package? I didn’t because the
gift looked great the way it was given to me. The words “it’s the thought that
costs” has never been truer when he gave me that gift this morning.
-Mr. P
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