I really enjoyed the section about inventing yourself as a contribution, and even posted the steps in my classroom and it’s been a powerful thing:
1. Declare yourself to be a contribution
2. Throw yourself into life as someone who makes a difference, accepting that you may not understand how or why.
A lot of my students are lacking confidence and I am always looking for new ways to find to let them know that they are important, and that their thoughts are meaningful, and THEY are meaningful, that they have a place in this world! Chapter 4 really just fell right in where I have been trying to go with this and I have really enjoyed learning things like this throughout this program. Things that I can take immediately back to my classroom and see it make in impact instantly. The students get a kick out of me sharing stuff from my Master’s program with them, and allowing them to be involved and learn through the different things that I have been doing.
Funny how fearless the littlest ones can be with their sharing, creativity and discoveries... there's been more than a little that's been written about how the educational system seems to squish that sense of discovery and curiosity and with it goes our willingness to contribute. I'm glad that you are look at ways to bring that back out of them.
ReplyDeleteKimberly!
ReplyDeleteHey, I also get a kick out of learning things that ‘you’ share throughout this Master’s program! Your care level for students is so exemplary for the world of education. I know that you also are one of the coaches at your school and that you are always doing things for and with your students. – And now you are finding ways to make students feel even better! Your quest to enhance students’ feeling of importance is amazing. That is definitely your gift. You are very special at it and that ‘place’ is the highest level a teacher can take students to. Your ability to help them in this critical age of middle school will save many of them in life. You are the reason many of them will go on to become successful because a special teacher like you, believed in them. Your calmness along with the fact that you are also so smart and ‘cool’ must make every student want to join your sport or be in your class. I want to be in your class! Thank you for taking education ‘higher!’
Kimberly,
ReplyDeleteI love the way you have shared your experiences along the way with your students. I, too, share as much as I can. I think this allows them to see that one is never too old to learn and experience new, fun, creative and exciting things. Even though my students are much older than yours, they too have a lack of confidence and I believe this can be a factor in their engagement and motivation in the classroom. These two items are something both you and I addressed in our CBRs. In the book when they talk about contributing and that it is like a ripple in the pond, this was the perfect visual description of what can happen when one contributes. It not only grows and expands possibilities for the contributor but then the person on the receiving end comes up with ideas to contribute and that one ripple becomes many in the pond. You are a large contributor to your students, and to all of us who have been in this program with you, so thank you for being just one of the ripples in the pond.
~Dorreen
I too loved this book and found it difficult to put it down. I definitely want my daughter to read this book as well. It is wonderful that you put up a poster with those two sayings. The age you teach is an emotionally difficult age. I love it when teachers encourage their students, especially middle school students, to be positive and understand they are important. You are a great contributor to your students and in turn, you are teaching them by example to be a great contributor too. As always, keep smiling.
ReplyDeleteI drove my colleague crazy the next day by paraphrasing whole sections of the book for her. She said she has to read this book too since it made such an impression on me. I am glad you were able to put this into practice right away. Everyone should view themselves as a contribution but most especially children. I love the concept of giving the students an A beforehand. It reminded me of my mother when she was teaching at a 'freedom' school in the 70s. She would let the students use their books during problem solving and testing. At first, they all thought it was a trick. She told them it wasn't always about 'knowing' all the answers but about being able to find them. I've started reading Jane McGonigal's book, "Reality is Broken". If you can find the time, I think you would like it and what it says about gaming and learning.
ReplyDelete