There big brown eyes stared at me in amazement. "But Miss C. we don't deserve it. You said we don't!" said one girl. It had been one of those days. In my head I was counting down to Thanksgiving Break. We all were getting on one another's nerves and we all needed a break. Today had been filled with teasing, name calling, arguing, and complaining. I had even stopped my lesson and made them sit at their sits until they could pull themselves together. They knew I was upset and I knew they were frustrated. And then I glanced over at the jar full of jolly ranchers on my desk. In my room I will occasionally pass out jolly ranchers when I notice exceptional behavior or someone that goes above and beyond. The rule is though that they can never ask for one. If they ask, they automatically do not get one. As I stared at the candy, I began to wonder....
"Alright, here we go." I said as I grabbed the jar. "Do you think you deserve one?" Some stared at me blankly as if I had just dared them to answer "Yes."
"Nooo Miss Christenberry" chimed most.
"Right. You definetly don't deserve one." I replied. I continued to discuss with them that the only reason I was giving them candy was just because I loved them and cared about them. Grace was something that isn't earned. It had nothing to do with what they had done. They all excitedly reached their hand in to pull out a jolly rancher. I had almost dismissed the lesson as a failure and thought I had probably just confused them. However, something interesting happened the rest of the time. For one, they all immediately got right to work and were working with each other well (something that doesn't happen often). Second, every single one of those kids pulled me off to the side to say thank you and apologized for their previous behavior. I was stunned all through lunch. A simple act of grace encouraged an entire change of attitude. I am even still at work thinking about my Saving Grace. I am truly filled with gratitude of God's grace in my life. I hope that you have a Happy Thanksgiving as well and remember His simple act of grace.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
My Feet Hurt, My Heart Hurts More
I made it through another week! The more weeks that go by the closer I get with each of my students. This week was just as crazy. We have followed a recipe to make puppy chow, practiced reflections through painting, made reflections with are bodies in various dance poses, and enjoyed the latest addition to Miss C's music collection...The soundtrack from Where the Wild Things Are. But don't start smiling yet. Or laughing because you understand how I am. I have also obtained "a look" as the kids tell me ("Shh...Miss C is giving us her look), gotten down at eye level and sternly spoken to a student, and somehow managed to make three girls cry. Trust me it's chaos everyday but I absolutely love it. The students deal with more each night when they go home than I could ever imagine. Another teacher in a different district but similar demographics was yelling at a student of his (8th grade):
"Why don't you care about context clues?! You didn't even do your homework!" Why didn't you do your homework?" said the teacher.
"Cuz I was in jail last night." replied the student.
The teacher got quiet and said, "Oh....so that's why you don't care about context clues."
I overheard a conversation in my room one day of students discussing how much they don't like the police. "I never like it when the police come to my house because..." or "I wish the police would just stay away." I realized that having the police involved in your life has become the norm for some of them. Domestic violence is common. And it has been hard for some students to look at one of their own parents as "the enemy". As I talked to one mother, I listened to her tell her story and at the end I told her to try to have a good day and we will take care of her children. Relief flooded her and with a smile she replied, "I will." You have to understand that I am here to form equal bonds with people and make relationships in a world that puts little value on people. It's not about the poor and the rich, or the fortuneate and unfortuneate. Her story is real, her child's story is real. Sometimes it is hard for me to understand why I get the honor of being in their path to hear their story. Go out and get into someone's story.
"Why don't you care about context clues?! You didn't even do your homework!" Why didn't you do your homework?" said the teacher.
"Cuz I was in jail last night." replied the student.
The teacher got quiet and said, "Oh....so that's why you don't care about context clues."
I overheard a conversation in my room one day of students discussing how much they don't like the police. "I never like it when the police come to my house because..." or "I wish the police would just stay away." I realized that having the police involved in your life has become the norm for some of them. Domestic violence is common. And it has been hard for some students to look at one of their own parents as "the enemy". As I talked to one mother, I listened to her tell her story and at the end I told her to try to have a good day and we will take care of her children. Relief flooded her and with a smile she replied, "I will." You have to understand that I am here to form equal bonds with people and make relationships in a world that puts little value on people. It's not about the poor and the rich, or the fortuneate and unfortuneate. Her story is real, her child's story is real. Sometimes it is hard for me to understand why I get the honor of being in their path to hear their story. Go out and get into someone's story.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Tick,tick,tick...Test Time!
I believe every teacher has strong opinions when the testing debate comes up. I have heard so many arguments over the frustrations of the teachers, the content of the test, the time of the test, they types of students taking the test, and the list could go on. Because we are in the midst of 1 of 5 standarized tests that the students will take throughout the year, I thought that I will put in my two cents as well. As teachers, you may take it or leave it, these are purely my own opinion:
1. No Cramming! Yes when we get to college, cramming is the end result of ultimately not preparing in advanced and planning ahead so why as teachers should we instruct students to do the same? The students surely do not need an entire packet of math problems to do as homework the night before the test, nor do they need to be coming in early to go over every single type of problem that MIGHT be on the test on the same morning the students are going to take the test.
2. No Negativity! Yes, I know there are certain students that no matter how much you discuss with them, they are still not going to make good choices. However, test day is not the time to give a lecture to a student. Students forget to sharpen pencils, goodness please let them sharpen pencils or give them a pencil without shouting at them. Testing is stressful, don't underestimate the student's stress.
3. Follow the Rules! If testing doesn't allow you to help the student, then don't help them! This is a measure of how much students know. Let them do their best without teaching how to cheat!
4. Give Students Strategies! Not every student is a brilliant test taker. BEFORE the week of the test, teach students the tricks of taking a test. Teach them how multiple choices are set up, how to eliminate, how to write an essay even if you don't know the answer. This gives students confidence and helps them work through the test with confidence.
As teachers, as long as we are doing our very best teaching, we should not get caught up in the drama of testing. Students pick up on that attitude and they learn bad habits. Teach students that you believe in them and that you expect their very best from them. You may be surprised at who rises up to the challenge!
1. No Cramming! Yes when we get to college, cramming is the end result of ultimately not preparing in advanced and planning ahead so why as teachers should we instruct students to do the same? The students surely do not need an entire packet of math problems to do as homework the night before the test, nor do they need to be coming in early to go over every single type of problem that MIGHT be on the test on the same morning the students are going to take the test.
2. No Negativity! Yes, I know there are certain students that no matter how much you discuss with them, they are still not going to make good choices. However, test day is not the time to give a lecture to a student. Students forget to sharpen pencils, goodness please let them sharpen pencils or give them a pencil without shouting at them. Testing is stressful, don't underestimate the student's stress.
3. Follow the Rules! If testing doesn't allow you to help the student, then don't help them! This is a measure of how much students know. Let them do their best without teaching how to cheat!
4. Give Students Strategies! Not every student is a brilliant test taker. BEFORE the week of the test, teach students the tricks of taking a test. Teach them how multiple choices are set up, how to eliminate, how to write an essay even if you don't know the answer. This gives students confidence and helps them work through the test with confidence.
As teachers, as long as we are doing our very best teaching, we should not get caught up in the drama of testing. Students pick up on that attitude and they learn bad habits. Teach students that you believe in them and that you expect their very best from them. You may be surprised at who rises up to the challenge!
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