To Touch the Future...
My students struggled this week with working in groups. They found themselves raising their voices, disrespecting one another, arguing, and trying to out-speak each other. The task at hand was lost in the confusion.
During one cooperative group time I decided to stop the activity altogether and gather my students back as a class. We discussed the dilemma that faced them. We came up with a plan for them to follow in order to complete their task while working together, peacefully.
We practiced. We practiced listening to one another. We practiced using whisper voices and above all, we practiced respecting our task, the process, each other, and ourselves.
Toward the end of the week they were once again put into groups to work on a task. This time it involved math. Any adult in the room was simply there to facilitate the process of them working together effectively and peacefully.
They did it. They made use of the time given them. They respected their task and relied on one another for guidance. They listened to one another.
Then---I witnessed something extraordinary.
They learned. They learned from each other and they learned from themselves. They delighted in this learning; it spoke to them on a level they hadn't experienced before; for the learning was a result of their chosen path to succeed. They began to more fully understand the concept they were working on. All of my students began to engage themselves in each other's plight for that understanding. The room was filled with the energy that I, as a teacher, strive for~~the energy of independence~~the moment when I can step back and they take charge of their destiny.
I easily imagined them working as adults in the world that awaits them. A world that doesn't exist yet promises opportunities for them to work with a host of others. I know they will, in some way, fall back on the lessons of this week; whether they realize it or not.
Their growth in the past few days allowed me to see the future in the present. It allowed me to know that I, too, can touch the future by what I do in the present. My students have but 3+ months left with me as their teacher. If they choose to continue on the path of growth which has been started, we will all be the richer for it. We will all have touched the future.
Copyrighted material of Michael C. Casten
My students struggled this week with working in groups. They found themselves raising their voices, disrespecting one another, arguing, and trying to out-speak each other. The task at hand was lost in the confusion.
During one cooperative group time I decided to stop the activity altogether and gather my students back as a class. We discussed the dilemma that faced them. We came up with a plan for them to follow in order to complete their task while working together, peacefully.
We practiced. We practiced listening to one another. We practiced using whisper voices and above all, we practiced respecting our task, the process, each other, and ourselves.
Toward the end of the week they were once again put into groups to work on a task. This time it involved math. Any adult in the room was simply there to facilitate the process of them working together effectively and peacefully.
They did it. They made use of the time given them. They respected their task and relied on one another for guidance. They listened to one another.
Then---I witnessed something extraordinary.
They learned. They learned from each other and they learned from themselves. They delighted in this learning; it spoke to them on a level they hadn't experienced before; for the learning was a result of their chosen path to succeed. They began to more fully understand the concept they were working on. All of my students began to engage themselves in each other's plight for that understanding. The room was filled with the energy that I, as a teacher, strive for~~the energy of independence~~the moment when I can step back and they take charge of their destiny.
I easily imagined them working as adults in the world that awaits them. A world that doesn't exist yet promises opportunities for them to work with a host of others. I know they will, in some way, fall back on the lessons of this week; whether they realize it or not.
Their growth in the past few days allowed me to see the future in the present. It allowed me to know that I, too, can touch the future by what I do in the present. My students have but 3+ months left with me as their teacher. If they choose to continue on the path of growth which has been started, we will all be the richer for it. We will all have touched the future.
Mr. Casten
Feb. 11, 2011
Copyrighted material of Michael C. Casten
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