Friday Fun

The end of a semester often makes me melancholy. Relationships have been forged and deepened over the course of the term. The deeper the relationships, the greater the melancholy. Fall term I usually have at least a couple sections of the second literacy course, often with students I have already worked alongside in the first literacy course. We have been learning and laughing together for 6 – 11 months. This December I find myself deeply melancholy. The things I will miss most about my Fridays include:

·      Weekly meetings with these thoughtful preservice educators

·      Their smiles

·      Inclusion in their caring communities of learning

·      Time spent inquiring together

·      Asking “I wonder why” about the really hard questions and following up with “I wonder if?”

·      Laughing  - with one another and at ourselves

·      Witnessing the growth of self efficacy and self confidence as they “become” teachers

·      Visioning possibilities together

To combat the feelings of sadness, I focus on the joy. My end-of-term reflections bring much joy -- my faith in these fledgling teachers and their process of becoming reminds me that there are many special people who commit themselves to teaching (plus the end of the fall term brings a break and a houseful of family). The privilege of working with preservice educators is so satisfying because I know their future students will thrive. The kids will be all right.

There are just a few final reminders to leave with my latest groups of future literacy leaders:

·      CARE – all humans want to know they are cared for. Trust your children. Smile at them. You have developed caring classroom communities with each other, replicate that in your own classrooms. When you are at a loss for how to respond, respond as a person.

·      TEACH CHILDREN –Teach readers and writers, not literacy programs or standards.

·      FOCUS ON LEARNING – keep the learners at the center, not the lessons.

·      BE A LEARNER and reflect on your own learning. Share your passion for learning with your students.

·      LISTEN MORE, TALK LESS – you have two ears and one mouth. Really listen when children talk to you. When you do talk, be thoughtful about the language you learn. There is no “I” in teacher.

·      Remember LEARNING IS SOCIAL – even MORE  TALK.

·      Remember ALL GOOD INSTRUCTION IS ASSESSMENT DRIVEN – You have to know what students can do to know what they need. Your job is to meet their needs. YOU will know best about them as learners.

·      QUESTION EVERYTHING – wonder- ask why? Ask what if? Teaching is inquiry.

Questioning helps you…

·      QUIT THE CRAZY – question why and what if when you find yourself doing things you know are not good for children. Be a rabble rouser when you need to be.

·      DO BETTER.

·      BE BETTER.

Thank you for embracing me into your learning communities.   LG