Role Models

Sometimes its hard to fathom that there is someone always watching. I can see myself reflected in my two-year old. I never realized how much I say "ok" when I am stressed until he started doing it. To most people, ok mean yes. Its an affirmation. I say "ok" as a way to reassure myself that things will be ok. He learned that word from me in that context. So now whenever he gets frustrated, he says "ok ok ok" It helps me know that how he is feeling.

We model respect of student's ideas, failing forward, fairness & justice, and if we have done it right. We'll find it reflected back at us:

One of my students wrote a nice note about our snow trip yesterday: We all had fun (play in snow) even the second grade. From T. 

- The students will correct me if I mispronounce something during reading, which I do sometimes. Its only fair, since I do the same.
-When we can't agree on something, the students will call for a vote and respect the outcome of the majority.
-When its time for them to select something, we will use the "wheel of destiny" to determine who gets to pick the book or the role first.
-We talk about problems and solutions. They take an active role instead of me giving directives. Sometimes we think up consequences (like jumping jacks for getting a wrong answer or forgetting to put up your chair at the end of the day) or sometimes we think outside the box. We had several students keep losing their pencils. We were trying to brainstorm how to make it so that it didn't happen anymore. One student decided to bring in 24 extra pencils, so that we had an extra pencil jar for anyone who might have misplaced theirs.

They didn't want to do the Christmas Play that I was planning on doing for the show and decided that they wanted to write their own. They each picked a role that they wanted to do and helped craft the dialogue. This ensures that they will be doing something that THEY want to do. As a teacher, I have learned to let go of what I want to do and help them achieve something with a similar outcome that they want to do. And it is way better than what I had originally planned. They actively creating their own costumes and sets and writing dialogue. They have ownership. I can't  wait to see it.

They give back what we give them... Its an important fact. If you just demand compliance, that is all you will get. Give them autonomy and they will surprise you.