February 21st-April 1st
Loving me some cha-cha distribution slide...Even found that song and added it to the Esme playlist I created for all of you last week!
The way Esme has established roles and reading circles in her classroom is quite similar to what I used to do. I loved literature circles and the roles really free up the teacher to make some powerful connections with students, sit in on small groups, and even pull individuals for remediation.
The other things in this section that stick out to me...
The success of the conflict resolution as well as choices she gives for assessment are moments that allow me to regain my respect for her.
The whole creepy moving furniture situation and the lady basically admitting she plagiarizes...well...I guess since Dr. King did this it makes it okay huh?
April 15th-May 22nd
WOW! The entire conversation with Mr. Turner this time over why he's not doing his job and the lack of hope, expectations, or even respect he so obviously has for the children in this school is beyond troubling.
This conversation snowballs into the scene with his mom beating him in the hall and Esme trying to comfort him mere minutes before he's to take the standardized test showing what he's learned in 5th grade this year.
This whole section gave me chills and upset me probably more than any other in the book. To know how hard she's worked to establish trust, high expectations, and PRIDE in her classroom this year...regardless of her attitude...she's connected with her students in powerful ways and this whole situation is sickening beyond words.
Now your turn...
Reactions:
From either or both sections...What is something to which you find yourself reacting emotionally? What emotions were evoked and why do you feel this situation brought this out in you?
Connections:
From either or both sections...What is something you can connect back to your EDEC courses from this section? How does it connect for you?
Extensions:
From either or both sections...
You select from the following quotes to respond/react to...
pg 124
"He's mad because I let this happen to him. He's hurting. He's hurting, but he's going to be accountable now."
pg 150
"You don't understand. They're black."
Well...this whole section really
pg 158
"I'm so proud of their successes. I know in the face of the wide world these are small victories, but sometimes a little song is sweet to hear, even if an orchestra is more accomplished."
pg 160 & 161
her whole description of 'teaching school' and what they Don't tell you
pg 165
"I really do feel proud of myself. I feel good, like I did something I wanted to do and it turned out like I imagined, and in life that doesn't happen too often."
For next time we'll respond to May 22nd up to but not including June 28th.
I know you're all spending these last few days of freedom doing wonderful things and storing up all that energy and rest so that you'll be in prime form come August! Let me know if you need anything!
Love ya!
Mean it!
Dr. VW
Reaction: In the beginning of the second section, Esme talks about wanting to react to Latoya being late, and then being so grateful she didn't after learning the back story. Teachers have a lot of power to hurt or help students. I still remember my first grade teacher yelling at myself and a handful of other students for being late when it was our bus, which was delayed because of ice. I was too stunned to argue that he was being unfair, but children remember injustices. I didn't learn a thing that day, that much is certain.
ReplyDeleteConnection: When Esme said school isn't what it used to be, where students learn about Columbus and 2+2=4, she meant it in a negative way, implying she worried about being shot. However,I initially felt the connect could be that our classes have taught us how nuanced teaching is, and to approach teaching holistically. Also, the storytelling approach to helping students read connects to helping students achieve prosody.
Extension: pg 158- Most people want to change the world or do something that will have them remembered in the great halls of great people..etc. However, few accomplish such dreams and those who do may come to realize that their successes do not define them or satisfy them. The small victories, the silent victories, when a student overcomes a fear or puts someone before themselves, those are the things that have a lasting, rippling effect. Those are the beautiful things.
Reaction: It is so hard for me to understand that other families treat each other horribly. I think a lot of times, people hear stories and feel sorry for them, but it doesn't affect their lives. Living in a situation, such as being a teacher, and seeing it first hand makes it much more real. It makes me so sad that parents beat their children unnecessarily and no one does anything about it. Even if the kids are horrible, they don't deserve to be beaten and humiliated in a school setting.
ReplyDeleteConnection:I really liked the story telling section where she helped kids get out of their comfort zones. Establishing confidence in certain areas can help them feel more confident in life and to approach learning knowing that they can succeed. It shows that teaching should not be cut and dry, but creative and engaging. They would not have learned nearly as much just sitting and reading a book.
Extension:I really liked the quote on page 165 where she talked about how things don't always go as planned, but it is nice when they do. There are soooo many lessons that have not gone as I had intended. It is always interesting to see how they change and what the students learn from them. It is so nice though, when everything goes as planned. It is a rewarding feeling that makes you feel accomplished. I'm glad that for once, things went Esme's way.
WOW Megan...you are so right...our words and the tone in which we choose to speak those words have more power than many of us could ever imagine. It is nice to be reminded of that.
ReplyDeleteElise...It does feel that Esme has had a run of 'bad luck' and experiences here for a stretch of time.For her to have this moment shine and to feel reconnected to what it means to be a teacher is very much needed for her at this point in time.
Reaction: I really loved in February when Esme wrote about the conflict resolution circle they had. Two students addressed a conflict with maturity and understanding. It was great to see that the students were progressing both in their knowledge and their attitudes. I was so surprised as was Esme when one of the students said "It doesnt matter what you think you did, It matters what Zykercia thinks you did." Such simple words were so powerful and yet so true. I cant count on my hands the number of times that this advice would become useful in situations where I have to deal with children on their age at camp.
ReplyDeleteConnection: One thing that really made me think of our creative expressions class is not only the cha cha for distrubution but also the quilt that the students were able to make representing each state flower. This was a creative, different and fun way to get the students involved and created a more concrete way of remembering something as small as a state flower. I would love to do this one day!
Extension: I was absolutely appauled by what Mr. Turner said when speaking to esme about the students on pg. 150 It is underestimations and stereotypes like this that keep children from exceeding. While it may seem that it is the "black" children that will never make it this stigma is only perpetuated because of teachers and faculty like Mr. Turner. And to find out that he is a black man as well just broke me heart. To me any and all children are at risk if we continue to have people think in the ways that Mr. Turner does. While I know I cant control the way a person may think, I hope that by reading this that my generation and the ones to come will see how important it is to have faith and hope for each and every child in a classroom.
Reaction: The part I was most touched by this week was when B.B's mom was beating him in the hallway. If I had been in Esme's position, I would have been a mess. The way that she held herself together enough to comfort him before his test was something that would be very difficult. I think that I would have been able to get the mother off of him and I definitely would have held him, but I would probably be crying myself. Just the thought of the situation made me sick and I'm not sure I would have handled it as gracefully.
ReplyDeleteConnection: When Esme chose the students to perform in the storytelling festival, she was very deliberate in her decisions. She knew the students personally, and knew which students would benefit the most from the experience. This type of personal connection with her students reminded me of development and the importance of knowing the students as individuals. I liked when she said that she lived thirty one days each day because she lived a different day with each student :)
Extension: I agree with Megan, although I'm sure I won't say it quite as eloquently. The quote on page 158 exemplifies a wonderful attitude. If we all celebrated the small victories each day, life would seem so much more positive and manageable.
Jessica...I think your comment regarding the lack of faith Mr. Turner has in his students is exemplified in the recent episode of rampant cheating in the Atlanta Schools. When even your teachers and administrators dn't believe you can do something...and believe it so heartily that they feel they need to cheat to make you look better...why would you EVER believe in yourself?
ReplyDeleteEmilie...I agree 100% with you...not at all sure I could have pulled myself together to even give the darn test much less calm down a kid who HAD to take it. Truly amazing to even consider being in such a situation.
Reaction: It really affected me reading about the different students and the way they were treated by their families in this section. For instance, I do not know what I would have done in B.B.'s situation. I felt so bad for him! I also really liked how Esme reacted to Latoya being late. She chose not to yell at her and instead really talk to her to see what the problem was and she was so glad she did. I think as teachers we should always give the students a chance to explain themselves.
ReplyDeleteConnection: When Esme got the storytelling workshop students to perform in front of other classes, most of them were nervous and did not want to do it. Esme, however, made them do it anyways and gave them the encouragement they needed. She pushed them through it and in the end, the students were so proud. We are taught in our classes to always encourage our students and give them the confidence that they might be lacking to do things they didn't think were possible.
Extension: When Mr. Turner said, "You don't understand, they're black", it really bothered me. This man, who is a principal, has no hope for his students. He does not even believe in them. A principal should be there to push his/her teachers through the challenges and help them become better teachers. It sounds as if Mr. Turner is giving up and doesn't really care about his students' success. I really feel for Esme having to deal with this man as a principal.
Great connection Caylin...the storytelling workshop where she chose students to perform because of something she felt they needed. I love that she pushed them so far beyond their comfort zones as well! She knew what they were capable of even when they didn't. What a testimony to truly knowing your students.
ReplyDeleteReaction: I felt myself reacting the most, just as Emse did, to Mr. Turner’s comment on not punishing the students for their actions because “It’s just the way black people are”. I do not think it is fair, nor correct to not punishing one person for something but punish someone else just because of their ethnicity. Wouldn’t you call that racism? However, Esme hit it right on the money when she shot back and said, “children rise to meet our expectations, good or bad”. The more you push children, the more you tell them they can do better, the more you raise the bar and not hold them to a stereotype- the more they will succeed in the end.
ReplyDeleteConnection: I found that the Storyteller’s Workshop made me think back to Literacy, Creative Expression, and my own GACE review. She said she “specifically picked our children who are particularly shy or challenged in reading or speaking”; this is exactly how we learned to help students “use language naturally as they role-play a variety of roles” (GACE Book). This helps to not only improve their language skills, but it also builds their confidence in their reading skills.
Expansion:
pg 158
"I'm so proud of their successes. I know in the face of the wide world these are small victories, but sometimes a little song is sweet to hear, even if an orchestra is more accomplished."
I chose to respond to this quote because I think that it is very important to the things we are going to have in our classroom. We have to realize that we cannot help every student and their home lives especially if we may not know exactly what is going on, but if we have the opportunity to make them smile, allow them to feel accomplished in something they weren’t sure about then we are allowing them to get away from what they may be experiencing in the outside world. It is so important to give it our all and show appreciation and praise to our students everyday because we never know what is going on outside of school. Little things, little instances can go a long way.
Krista...I've often wondered the very same thing...is it truly racist when someone of the same color has the negative and stereotypical thoughts and ideas about people in their own ethnic group? This is a question we could all ponder once we're back together. Thanks for bringing it up!
ReplyDeleteReaction: Yet again I'm fed up with Esme's attitude towards her students and teaching. She only wants to be a good teacher, but does she not see the many roles that one word involves? And she doesn't want to know so much about their home lives because it's depressing, but how can you teach and love them for all that they are if you don't know all of them? I'm so tired of her, all she does is whine.
ReplyDeleteConnection: I loved the story telling festival. It reminded me of literacy and creative expressions, and I especially loved how she purposely chose the at-risk students to perform. I found out that this year I'll have a few tier-2 students in my class, and this kind of activity would be wonderful to use on my students (if I didn't have kindergarten that is). It was wonderful to see her make an effort to give extra help to those who needed it.
Extension: p.150 quote: Ugh! Ignorance towards his own ethnicity! This section was vile and disgusting and I have little to say about it except that attitudes such as Mr. Turner's make me sick and I hope to never have to teach under someone with a similar mindset. Who hired this man?