Then reading, Giving an A, I was at first reminded of the eternal stories (books and movies) of teachers who enter a challenging classroom of students whom everyone else has given up on (eg. My Posse Don't Do Homework) with the attitude that the students can and will learn and they achieve more than anyone else could have hoped for. As I read, it's more than just giving students an A with the expectation that they will do the work to maintain it but approaching every interaction with the idea that the other person (and yourself) has something of value to contribute to your relationship. It's taking the focus off the measuring stick and moving it to the relationship and growth.
Sky on Fire by Robert Couse-Baker
By focusing on what is working and valuable rather than what isn't, each person can change a small part of the world to unknown extents.
Heather,
ReplyDeleteYou have put it so succinctly. It really is as about our relationships and the level of respect we bring to ourselves and to our students. Well said!
Heather, you are so right. As educators we get so caught up in fixing the problems that we fail to focus on what is valuable about others. The problem lies in remembering these lessons when we've had it up to "here."
ReplyDeleteHeather,
ReplyDeleteYour blog post really nails it. I have had the opportunity to meet and know so many students that people have given up on. The students gave up on themselves. But by giving them the respect and allowing them to realize that you value them and what they bring to the table, you give them an amazing opportunity to grow. I really liked your comment, "I find myself approaching life as though my resources are scarce, when in actuality if I use them well I have abundantly more than I need."
It reminds me of the starfish story in the "Art of Possibilities". It is about making a difference one "starfish" at a time. Go out and make that difference.
Something that you wrote reminded me that some of the difficulties that I found with some of my classes were because my students were bored and didn't have the means to relate to what I was sharing. And some of their stubbornness was actually a strength that would see them through difficult times if I could just help steer them in a more constructive direction. What we "hate" most in our students is often a misdirected strength that we need to pull in our direction.
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