This has been a very interesting read for me. Unlike a lot of the people taking this course, I could not relate closely with the stories of Jake an Laurie personally, but I could see reflections of my students in every situation. Then, when I started reading the comments on Rose's articles, it really hit me. Teachers are the ones who can make or break a child's desire and interest to learn. That is a very powerful and frightening thing. I have certainly seen and heard things that I definitely did not agree with, but these stories put into perspective the weight that a teacher's actions can carry. That science teacher could have just excused Rose's good work for a child being lazy on a pre-test. Instead, he went and questioned the child's placement and most likely changed the course of Rose's life. Perhaps if we focused less on a child's shortcomings and more on the positive, we could effect more change. It really is hard some times when you have a child that is capable of so much more, but won't try. It can be so frustrating. But, I think this book and this class has really taught me to take a step back, put myself in the child's shoes, and think about what else this child might be dealing with. I have only been teaching for three years, but I hope as time passes, my students will come back and tell me that I really helped them or that I was the one who led them to think about the possibility of a better future because I believed and cared. For me, this is the ultimate goal. This is also something that cannot be done without a personal relationship with children. If it could, people would be thanking textbooks and computer programs, but this doesn't happen because a child doesn't develop a bond with these things like they do with a teacher. We as teachers can sit here and transpose our passion, our concern, and our dedication to a child by developing these bonds. You can't expect a child to love learning if the teacher doesn't and you can't expect them to learn if their is no bond or reason. Each day gives us an opportunity to potentially change a life through our actions and reactions. I hope and strive for my change to be a postitive one, one that encourages and motivates a child that, in any other case has nothing postive in their life, to embrace education and learning and see it as a way to open doors when all others have been shut.
Whitney Gilbert
Comments (5)
I agree, reading Laurie's, and Jake's stories have helped me see my students and my teaching differently. Sometimes I wonder, if Hick's did a study in my classroom, what would she find? How do I measure up? Each year, I have students I know I have really connected with and helped, but I also know that I have some who I have not really touched. This is a sobering thought, given we are talking real children here. You are right, the task is frightening because the cost of failure is so high.
Posted by Jayne Thompson | April 26, 2009 1:59 PM
Posted on April 26, 2009 13:59
All semester I have thought of a teacher with whom I taught who seemed to suck the very life out of her students. She was a "my way or the highway" kind of teacher, and I saw more than one student "surrender" individuality to survive. I have no doubt those students learned material, but they did not learn to love learning. More and more I believe motivating a child to want to learn is the greatest task I have as teacher. You are right--students do not return to the computer or a book and say, "Thank you for caring about me."
Posted by Lisa Rasey | April 26, 2009 5:37 PM
Posted on April 26, 2009 17:37
Honestly, it is the students' responses that keeps me going. Not only do I appreciate children from the past few years coming back to tell me how much they loved my class, and now love social studies, but I also like the immediate response that I sometimes get from my current students. Most of the time, by seventh grade, they will tell you if a lesson was good for them or not. When they enjoy it an learn, I am overjoyed!
Posted by Heather Coe | April 26, 2009 10:42 PM
Posted on April 26, 2009 22:42
" Then, when I started reading the comments on Rose's articles, it really hit me. Teachers are the ones who can make or break a child's desire and interest to learn. "
I completely agree with this statement. It reminded me that it is my responsibility to engage students in my class. So often, we can clearly see that the lessons we truly develop and plan well are ones that engage children and result in greater learning.
Posted by Brittany Guy | April 27, 2009 8:42 PM
Posted on April 27, 2009 20:42
I like the way you summed up this book "I think this book and this class has really taught me to take a step back, put myself in the child's shoes, and think about what else this child might be dealing with." For me this statement says it all. I agree Whitney.
Posted by SuSu Watson | April 28, 2009 4:48 PM
Posted on April 28, 2009 16:48