Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Slice of Life - Uncovering the Real Issue

I wrote a post yesterday titled Sprinting to the Bus and you might want to catch it to understand today's writing.  

Last night Lindsey Taylor left me this comment, "I didn't get many new students mid year.  But I did once.  And boy was it a struggle.  For both of us. My other students had known me for years.  They KNEW me knew me.  He did not.  I knew my students.  I did not know him."  

I read this three times and thought this is it.  This is something I hadn't thought about.  My worries are really about not knowing him.  I was trying to get to know him through some assessments.  I've gotten to know his academics a bit.  There is some worry and there is some goodness.  However, these assessments don't tell me about him as a person and they certainly DON'T tell him about  me.  I did ask a few general questions - he likes sports and has two older brothers.  Again, I don't know what he knows about me.  So you can bet tomorrow we are going to work together and I'm going to find out about him and share my answers to let him learn about me.

1.  What is your favorite food?
2.  What is your favorite ice cream?
3.  When you aren't at school what do you like to do?
4.  Do you have a favorite spot to read?
5.  What is your favorite color?
6.  Do you have any pets?
7.  Do you collect anything?
8.  What do you want to learn about?

I might even take the time to read one of my favorite books, The First Henry and Mudge.  Maybe this will help me slow down and instead of sprinting to the bus we will visit about life and build a relationship.

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for fostering and organizing this writing challenge.

5 comments:

  1. Yes, it is these conversations where we get to know our students and their stories that then help to clarify the academic picture that unfolds.

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  2. It's so important to get to know your students. They will do so much more when they know we care and are invested in them!

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  3. Oh, Mandy, this just makes me smile. He is so lucky to have you for his new teacher. Can't wait to find out what you learn about him. :)

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  4. Like I said yesterday, he's lucky that he ended up in your class, because you will know him and he will learn about you. That's how a community is built.

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  5. All the really important stuff!

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