Just hours ago my students left. They are on their way to summer fun, family-time,
and friends. Just as quickly as they
walked into my life they walked out; yet they will always be a part of my
life.
When a school year starts, my new students are just that…students. They come to me as a group and there really
isn’t any discernible difference between them other than physical appearance. They are quiet, reserved, and unassuming. In the first few days I snap a picture of
each of them not knowing who they really are.
I work to learn their names and memorize it with their classroom
number. I try to figure who knows whom
from the neighborhood. I share with them
my life in hopes they will reciprocate.
Time meanders on and slowly they began to show their
light. Slowly they began to share what’s
important to them. Slowly I am afforded
the opportunity to really “see” who they are.
Intermittingly I got a sense of what makes them “tick”. Often I got a
feeling for how they see themselves. And
so we began to build student-teacher relationships.
It was a delicate dance I performed in order to find out what
type of learning this class as a whole benefits most from while also ascertaining
how each child can fit into that practice. The leaders emerged, the followers
followed, and the independent ones respectfully exercised their independence; each
playing a role in the micro-society being formed in Room 211.
Enter humor. The
single most powerful tool a teacher can employ is humor; for it resonates with
children. They love to laugh, love to
see the silly side of things, and love the comradery formed when we all have a
good laugh together. The beautiful thing
about humor is that it is at its best when unplanned. It is always an incredible feeling and a pivotal
moment when we all LOL for the first time together. It’s what shapes our experience moving
forward.
Enter understanding.
As much as kids need to be accepted in their classroom each one achieves
that acceptance in their own way.
Teachers do as well. We weave
through lessons, specials, TDPE, and down time doing our best to “get it right”. It’s a tough road at times yet once we find
understanding for one another it becomes less of a rocky road and more of an
adventure.
This year’s class showed me what their preferred method of
learning was…projects, computers, and stations (allowing for social interaction
as well as educational interaction). They showed me a group sense of humor and more
importantly, individual senses of humor…I appreciated all of it! They also showed me a level of understanding
amongst themselves that resonated throughout the classroom. It’s heartwarming to see kids care about
other kids…and I felt that’s just what they did this year…they looked out for
one another.
I’m a fortunate person to be able to say that I work with
children. I’m a fortunate person to be
able to say that I work at Lincoln School in Elmhurst. I’m a fortunate person to be able to say I
work 4th graders. I am an incredibly fortunate person to be able to
say I worked with your kids.
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