As I was discussing with Bonnie during our break last week, I really love having buddy letters as part of my classes. It is so easy to become lost in the theory and the texts that we are presented with. Sometimes I need a reminder that the entire purpose for my education is to educate students. But the buddy letters can bring more than a connection to students: it takes me back to the mindset of being a student.
My favorite letters that I've received this semester was two weeks ago. My student's class was lucky enough to get a grant that brought laptops into their classroom. The students were really excited, but the administration failed to have the proper internet setup. The students can't save their items, they have no way to use the computers for research, and it is impossible to print from them. Such a wonderful opportunity was given to the students, but the lack of communication created a huge dilemma.
We need to remember as teachers that when we act for students, we need to be ready for their reactions. The students in the classroom with the laptops are so frustrated that they don't even want to use them anymore. Middle school students have a short temper and an even shorter attention span. We need to keep our promises and keep them excited in our classrooms. I hope that I always remember that if I make a promise or have a great idea, I need to follow through for my students.
Doesn't that sort of thing always happen? It's so frustrating because it seems like every time something really great and beneficial to a school happens, there's some massive problem that almost nullifies any progress! But, best of luck to them, because it also seems to me that these things end up working out in some little way.
ReplyDeleteFollowing through is something that I need to work on, as well. In my student life, procrastination doesn't really have any consequences, at least not for anyone besides me. However, that's not true for teaching. Students need that follow through and procrastination is just not gonna cut it.
ReplyDeleteI love your line about being ready for students reactions. If I've learned anything from observing multiple classrooms, it is that students will either love or hate what you throw at them. A teacher has to always have a plan B just incase plan A fails. I love seeing students excited about things, and I couldn't agree more that once you promise something to a group of kids, you can't not follow through with it.
ReplyDeleteBeing able to react in the best interest of the students is great! As Jenny said having that backup plan (or in the words of Big Boi, a backup plan for the backup plan to backup your backup plan!)is great and is beneficial to the student as well as the teacher.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good thing to remember. I know I have made a few promises in my day in which I couldn't keep, and somehow it always came back to me. I would hate to see my students lose interest in something so powerful as writing.
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