Recently, I think my inner light has fizzled, and I see a dying light in my students.
Maybe it is the end of the year. Maybe I feel a little burned out. But when I read these last few chapters, I realized, I need to make a change in my thinking. I can still make a difference in my students’ lives. I can still light that spark.
How do I rekindle that feeling of making a difference? I know myself. I need to make a change with my professional life about every three to four years. Do something different like changing schools, positions, or curriculum. This really helps me with keeping my ideas fresh and new.
However, what about the students that have that darkness inside, but don’t want to let in the possibility of light? Every year, I try to motivate a student that just doesn’t want to work with me. Usually it’s a student that just wants to goof off, play around, distract others, and try to be the “cool/bad” kid. You all know them…we all have at least one in our class. This year, I just so happen to have two of them in one class. This is how I overcame this type of behavior. I gave both students a lot of leeway.
I let them work on a multimedia project together that consisted of a rap creation they created in Garageband Loops. I saw the spark...they showed the light.
Instead of me running around yelling at them to get to work, saying, “stop this”, or “stop that”, I provided my students with endless possibilities. My students found new technology knowledge, created a content skill rap song, minimized distractions, and had fun. I was able to do my job…which is mold young minds. WE all learned from this experience.
Janene,
ReplyDeleteWow, that was an inspirational read. That is so awesome that you were able to overcome the "cool/bad" kids in class and showed them a world of possibility. My favorite sentence has to be - "Instead of me running around yelling at them to get to work, saying, “stop this”, or “stop that”, I provided my students with endless possibilities."
I know what you mean too about doing something different like changing jobs or positions every couple of years to just get a refresh. I used to work at a job for exactly 2 years and then leave to find something new mainly because I didn't like someone or didn't like the way I felt at the job. It just always ended up being 2 years. The pattern stopped after a job I only worked for one year and then changed to the job I have now and have had for almost 4 years. I almost left again though and it was up until this class that I realized I had a good job and then everything just opened up for me. It was almost as if my negativity was holding me back, or I was holding myself back. Reading about how you were able to minimize distraction in class with technology is awesome because I know difficult it can be, I used to be one of the cool/bad kids. I really like how you ended your post too - "WE all learned from this experience." Thanks for the post, really inspired me!
Comment to Janene Neal:
ReplyDeleteJanene I was very interested to hear about your experience this year with 2 of the extraordinary students within the class. I love that you found a way to take a potentially negative situation and find a positive contribution for the students. You are the spark for those students! You may actually be the first teacher who has used learning through technology to find a way to connect to these extraordinary students. You definitely applied rule number 6!
I plan to take your experience, and reflect on ways to do the same in the classroom with other students who need the spark of possibility. Perhaps this is the first time these students have been engaged and felt important. Great job! You are the difference!
Janene,
ReplyDeleteHere I am again, telling you what I know about you, and that you are an outstanding teacher. I can tell by your interactions with your FSO team members that you know how to create a wondrous classroom.
Not every day is a bell ringer. Not every year goes as planned. I've been at this for 21 years and I will tell you that persistence is what pays off. You know what kind of classroom you want. Listen to that inner compass. It does not lie.
I think I'm the only FSO student who does not like the Zander book. I have a few reasons for this, but I will say they are correct about addressing how we view our situations informs our attitude. I don't buy all the self-help, create-your-own-reality drivel, but they are right about negative perceptions. Be careful of those. You are affecting your students on far deeper levels than you can imagine. We all want to see a little evidence that our efforts are making change, but we teachers are also farmers. Often we plant, while others water, others fertilize, and somewhere down the line others get to harvest. We have to content ourselves with the knowledge we will not always get to see that harvest. But without us planters, there is no harvest.
Janene,
ReplyDeleteI love that you motivated two of your more troublesome students by having them create the content skill rap song. What a great idea and it does sound like it was quite the experience for all of you. Kudos on that! I have heard that as a teacher it is sometimes wise to change at least grade levels every few years in order to not get burnt out. I hope that you find your inner light again and continue to create opportunities for your students similar to the one you shared to ignite that same spark in them.
Hi Janene!!
ReplyDeleteI love that you have passed on what you learned here to students who needed something different! That shows that you are an awesome teacher who really cares for all students...even the "bad" ones! I also think its great that you know yourself well enough to know that you might need a change. I know several teachers that have needed a change for a long time but just didn't want to put forth the effort and make a change that would require extra effort on there part. Maybe you will land your dream job...using technology of course!!!
WOW Janene - Sounds like you were able to create relevant connections between those students and their learning. Instead of goofing off, they were engaged. I hope success stories like the one you shared here help rekindle that spark inside you.
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