Wk 4 Comment: Cheryl

Photo Credit: Taken from Cheryl's Blog:

http://cherylmcgovern.blogspot.com/2011/08/week-4-reading.html#comments

ORIGINAL POST:

My favorite part of this weeks reading was that we need to generate a spark of possibility for others to share (hence my photo).  Chapters 9 and 12 were for me the most meaningful.  Besides the spark in chapter 9, I also liked the story of the hyper ten year old doing soooo well at conducting! My youngest son has been very active his whole life, and now he is the top order puller at his warehouse job nearly every month.  As educators we need to remember to look for what our students can excel at and help them find that level of achievement.  In chapter 12, we are told to approach all issues with "we" instead of "I".  Now that I am dealing with 3 paraprofessionals, "we" has become a favorite word in my vocabulary! The other part of chapter 12 that I loved was the story of the girl telling the lady that she knew what she wanted.  After thinking, the lady went to the store and brought back a can of beef stew.  It was exactly what what was wanted, and sometimes we need to remember to give our students and the people we work with that can of stew.  It can change attitudes and whole days.  Have a great day! Cheryl

COMMENT:

Cheryl,

Thank you for sharing. I would say that one of the strongest examples that hit me in this week's reading also included the student as the conductor. I agree with you that as an educator we need to find these students and allow them to lead and be the conductor. I think though at times some teachers use and abuse this and those that need the challenge in their lives and used as the conductor in a less fortunate manner. I know that at times I do this....I need to ensure that I am not just allowing my students to become the conductors but their conducting allows them to grow as a learner as well. I also think it's great that you and your paraprofessionals use the WE concept. This also struck me strongly in this week's reading. It sounds like you and your group are off to a great start to the school year and I hope it continues. I hope to share this reading with my other team teachers and hopefully be able to make the next step forward as a team and make it a WE team as well. Good luck this school year and I hope you are off to a great start as it sounds like you are.