In my second grade class we have been working on our hopes and dreams for the second grade. One of my students shared the sweetest hope and dream with complete and utter seriousness, and it has since inspried me to introduce a new perspective into my classroom. The dialogue went like this...
Me :"So, _______, what is your hope and dream?"
Student: With a very serious face the student replied, "My hope and dream (long pause) is to be a super hero."
I struggled not to show the awe, humor, and surprise written across my face.
Me: "Well, that is a wonderful dream! Now _______, if you would like to someday be a super hero, what do you think you need to do in the second grade?"
Student: (Extremely serious and contemplative) "Well, I'll need to make a suit, (long pause) and a cape."
I about lost it at this point, but somehow managed to keep it altogether. I loved his dream! In my class this year, we are going to have a super hero day.
So now, here is the one question I have for you.... What are your hopes and dreams?
At the beginning of the year, my heart is filled with so many hoes and dreams! I guess that this year my list of hopes and dreams are the same, but one really stands out. My hope for my first grade class is that they will become a classroom family. I have a student who hasn't found her groove yet and is taking her lack of connection with the other kiddos out on them by being mean. It has really brought the moral of our learning environment down. I hope that she can embrace who she is and see that no two people are the same. I hope that she can learn that to get respect from her peers, she needs to show it. I have high hopes for my class this year...I want their first grade year to be a memorable one where they felt love and are proud to be part our our classroom family.
ReplyDeleteInteresting... I basically do the same thing at the beginning of the year. The only difference is that I share my own hopes and dreams as well. I basically shared to them that I want to be the best teacher possible. I invite them to make suggestions and comments about assignments, tests, my teaching style. I also tell them that I want them to learn to love learn. I try my very best to come up with lessons that will get them thinking outside of the classroom. For instance, last week we talked about the first domesticated animals. Then, we watched a clip on how people in Russia are domesticating foxes. I showed them 2 minutes from a 10 minute clip on youtube and all the kids said they wanted to finish it at home. It was so exciting to see their curiosity and desire!
ReplyDeleteWay to prompt us, Lauren.