In Awe

I do not often write about my life as a teacher.  This is my 11th year of teaching.  I started as a multi-age first and second grade teacher, then I graduated to third grade, then I took a step out of the classroom to become an advanced academic resource teacher.  In case that title sounds a bit odd—my role was formerly known as the Gifted and Talented resource teacher.  So I teach…..thinking, creativity, enrichment in math, reading, or writing…and who knows what else.  I enjoy it….I miss having my own class on some days. But today….today made me realize the benefits of working so many classes….because each class as it’s own inspiration. It’s own moments of awe.  And today…today I was awed.

I went to several classrooms to teach a thinking lesson about learning styles,about being unique-  using the strategies of encapsulation and analogies.  I started with a great book, A Walk in the Rain With a Brain by Edward M. Hallowell, M.D.  After reading the story, I asked students to think about themselves as learners.  What helps them learn? What makes them learn? What is easy? What is hard?  The next step was students selecting two pictures from a huge assortment of random images, that could by symbolic of how they learned.  And this is where the awe sunk in. Now,I will grant you–some (but not all)-of these students were my former third grade students (now in 5th grade)—so I adore them….but really…how could I not be inspired by these thoughts from so many diverse learners:

“I chose hands because I like hands on learning. I chose a brick wall because when you build a brick wall you usually don’t know what it will turn out to be but when the wall is done being built you understand what it is.”

.

“I chose the broken egg because sometimes for me to learn, I have to change what I’m working with.  I chose gloves because I have to put my mind INTO things.  And I chose snow, because I like to jump ahead before I start.  This helps in art and math.  I like to look under snow.”

.

“The guy with the jacked and back turned represents me because when I learn something new and I don’t understand it, it feels like I can’t do it and I should just walk away and do it on my own. But I feel alone and weird and so I turn back around to learn from others.”

.

“A city because when I am thinking about something, a lot goes on in my head, just like a city.  I also chose a traffic jam because when I am thinking about something I can’t think about anything at all. I’m stuck just like one of the cars in the traffic jam.”

.

“The dominoes falling represent me because I have to make mistakes alot of times before I reach the end.  The gloves represent me because I need all the help I can get.  The dominoes also are like when I fall down I have to pick myself up again.”

.

“The doughnut represents me because I like to take bits of information piece by piece.  If I stuff the doughnut in my mouth at once, it would be too quick. I would not get to savor it.  I chose a brick wall because after I get the information I will think about it and then piece it together until I have a whole.”

.

“I chose the picture of the rainbow in the rain because when things are hard I know there is hope.  The rain represents the hard times and the rainbow represents hope.

.

So yes, test scores and grades are how we quantify education.  But it is not a true or accurate representation of the endless potential of our students.

.

These moments…This is why I love what I do.  This ….this my friends…is our future.

.

xo

.

Elena

.

Share Me

• 

Tagged as: Teaching