I was so priviledged to have my 9th graders share some personal moments with me Friday last week in English class. We are beginning our memoir unit, and to start we are bringing in significant objects from our past. I brought in some personal items from my past and I was actually nervous that my 9th graders would act too cool for school and complete the assignment in a superficial way. When I had them bring in their items, I was shocked at the time and care they put into their assignment. Some brought in their luvies or stuffed animals from when they were young. Others brought in dog tags or their rock collection from their youth. Others brought in photos or items that reminded them of a loved one that had passed away. I was so suprised not only with the sharing, but the level of respect in the classroom. Other students shushed talking students if they were being disrespectful. This makes me so excited to continue the year and to develop meaning ful relationships with my students.
Have any of you had particularly suprising or meaningful moments yet this year? Please share.
Wow Connie. Sounds like you had a great experience. I cannot imagine how meaningful it must have been not only for you as their teacher, but also for your students to share such a personal thing. As a counselor, I have a lot of personal relationships with my students indivdiually but not as much in a group setting. I do run a girls group that never ceases to amaze me with the meaningful things they will say. I wish I could share it with everyone (but a little probelm with confidentiality!)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Connie!
What a cool idea Connie :) I might have to steal that for our memoir unit and kick it off that way! That is such a neat activity to do with students and I am sure made them feel extra special :)
ReplyDeleteThe most meaningful moment I have had so far this year is from a a past student who emailed me to thank me. She wanted to let me know how much I taught her last year and that everything we talked about she was able to remember and use so far this year. It made me feel so special and excited that she was able to use strategies we talked about and apply them this year and more importantly that she was taking time to email me and thank me.
Makes me remember why I became a teacher :)
Nice job Connie! I had a cool positive experience with a two students this past week. I was able to run a 5k (shakopee Jack O Lantern 5k) with two of my students and it was their first ever big race. I was able to pace them and get them through the race and they both did a great job! It was so fun to see them accomplish this goal as they are always big runners in physical education class. We decided to run this race as they were going to the kids run which is a 1/2 mile and I wanted to challenge them a little more so they signed up for the 5k. Their parents were there to cheer them on, and today to celebrate Halloween we are wearing our shirts from the race ;)
ReplyDeleteAwesome work Connie! One of the more rewarding things that has happend to me has been running the after school diversity program. It is such a neat environment to interact with students. It strengthens relationships between the teachers involved because they are now seen more as a person and less as Mr. Math, or Mrs. Social Studies. It's a great repetoire builder. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteI am jealous Connie!
ReplyDeleteI tried to do that same activity with my 6th graders. It was not as heart warming. Most of my students forgot their items. However, I did not do a very good job hyping it up.
The one activity I am finding that I am making connections with my students is something I call "campfire." For Language Arts, after we have done the independent writing task for the day, I create a campfire for the students to sit around and share. I actually use real wood logs. I have a string of orange lights I put on the logs to resemble a flame. We shut off all the lights, and the person who shares gets to have a flashlight to shine on his/her face or writing. My students beg for it every day, and it has been awesome just to relax with my students and hear their writing.
I think making meaningful connections with our students is one of the biggest perks of the job! i think that people forget how much time we spend with our students. I think that making meaningful connections is something that helps lay the foundation for the year. I love that idea, Connie. I am sure that is will be something those students will never forget. I think it is so important to take the time to build connections with the students and parents. Your students are more likely to trust you and do their best for you. Parents are more likley to support you and trust in what you are teaching their students at school. My favorite time of my day is when we have a closing circle in my classroom. We share highs and lows of the day. My student are learning to celebrate the good things with each other and lift each other up and empathize when the not-so-good things happen. When you take the time to make connections, you are creating a safe learning environment for all of your students!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteConnie, I love the activity you did! These are the moments that our students will remember. Times when they were given a chance to share, be respected in a safe environment, and create meaningful relationships and connections with their teacher and peers.
ReplyDeleteIn my fourth grade classrom, we have a box of 'Way to Go' postcards and a mailbox. Students (and myself) can write a postcard to anyone in our class when they catch them doing something extra helpful, being a good friend, working hard in class, etc. They can sign them or remain anonymous. During closing circle on Fridays, I read them aloud and pass them out. Never underestimate the power that a small handwritten note has on someone. My students are learning how to lift, encourage, and support one another not only as elementary students, but hopefully as they continue into adulthood.
Very cool activities/moments described! One variation of Connie's activity that I have done the second day of school is "Three things in a bag." I give students a brown paper bag (more to hype it up than anything else) and their homework assignment is to put three things in the bag that represent things that are important in their life. Then they have to share in front of the class on the third day of school. I like this activity for several reasons. First, it lets me get to know the kids in a much more meaningful way right off the bat. Second, it has the kids up and speaking in front of the class RIGHT away. Obviously this is makes some kids very nervous, but we talk about the type of classroom environment we will have this year etc...Worth a try!
ReplyDelete