Wow, has it really been half a year since we started?! I’m literally amazed at how the time flies during the school year. Starting back the school year after a LONG break followed by two extra winter weather days was tough for me! It seemed like we needed to get back in the groove of things, but I didn’t feel rushed. We took a few days to slow down and ease back into our routines, which worked out really well for my sweet four and five year olds.
As I look back over the seemingly short month, we’ve accomplished QUITE a bit. For one, my students transitioned into doing small groups outside of centers and and that meant that we incorporated independent groups, which quite honestly, I thought it would be a HUGE disaster. It wasn’t. It was wonderful. My students were calm, produced great work, and had fun. I was relaxed about small groups and I felt less guilty because I knew each child was getting some smaller, structured learning opportunities for them.
We also had a new student, Audrey start with us in the beginning of January. She was welcomed with open arms by my class! They were so loving and accepting of her, and helped her learn the routine. She even found a heart friend that stuck close by for the first week of school. I was so proud and amazed at the class community that I witnessed during this time. I can’t help but think back to the work I did with my class using Becky Bailey’s Conscious Discipline method and how making the classroom a safe and inviting place allowed this kind of culture when Audrey came in.
Even though we’re making a lot of progress, there’s still so much to work on. A lot of my lows were interactions I had with students, or interactions I witnessed between peers. I got a little sad thinking about how there was one student who frustrated me to NO END with his arguments when I asked something of him. I wanted to avoid interactions with this kid (he’s 5!) because I had a hard time articulating my ideas to him. After reading the Assertiveness chapter in Conscious Discipline, I realized that wanting to escape confrontation was deeply rooted in my personality and came out during my interactions with my students. I wanted to do something about it and decided that if my students are going to learn how to be assertive and stand up for themselves, they needed to see me do it. Even though I’m not going to necessarily “stand up” to a 5 year old, I needed to do something about my interactions with him. Instead of ignoring his behavior, I decided to try and make a connection with him. A real relationship. I started sitting next to him a lunch, and finding him in centers to invest in his interests. I’m not sure where this is going to take us, but I hope I can establish a mutual respect and relationship between us--because at the end of the day, I don’t want to prove how right I am to him, I just want him to be prepared for real relationships the remainder of his life.
There a few other highs and lows, such as morning meeting being on the ups, and incorporating some different multiple intelligences into my practice, rushing around to have my lessons in order, planning lessons that weren’t very interesting to my students, and our class pet dying. But all in all, it’s been a great month because even though vacation is awesome, I missed my kiddos and love getting to spend every day with them and growing together!
***This post is dedicated to Mr. Cho Bing, beloved hamster of Suburban Nursery Pre-K. Mr. Cho Bing passed away on January 23, 2014 and is survived by 22 loving Pre-K students!***
Lindsey,
ReplyDeleteI am so happy that I read your blog because it really shows me that I am not alone! First off, I must say kudos to you for creating awesome classroom culture because it seems as if your new student felt very welcomed and comforted in the classroom.
Next I wanted to say that I too have a student that I've been having a difficult time interacting with and Conscious Discipline has been a great deal of help to me as well. Also, there were some really good tips in Teaching with Love and Logic that I found to be beneficial as well especially in thinking about the things within the locus of your own control. All in all, I think the most important thing to remember is the fact that they are only five and everything they're exhibited is only learned behavior thus far and they are still learning how to interact with others. I have to remind myself of this so that I don't stress myself out as well.
All in all, it seems like you are doing an awesome job & I can't wait to see what adventures your classroom takes you on for next month!
Tilifayea
Lindsey,
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree times ten about the break making things tough to readjust. I was really getting used to those four day work weeks. I am still adjusting and probably will be for a while. However, knowing how I feel, I can only imagine how my students are feeling.
I am so happy for you and all you have accomplished and are accomplishing with your students. It is always wonderful to see the fruit of our labor.
"Conscious Discipline" really helped me through this second semester. You're right our students do need to see us being assertive and they will too become more assertive. I do think that there is a difference between being assertive with children versus being assertive with adult and I find being assertive with my students more difficult that being assertive with others. I think this because as you mentioned, it's not about being right to them but we want them to be prepared for real relationships.
Um, okay first of all, I am going to need some details on the sudden and devastating passing of one Cho Bing Hamster.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love your blog. You never cease to inspire me, despite having students several years younger than mine. I can see several correlations between our highs and lows. Your reflections encourage me to think about my own similar situaiton with a student differently. Clearly I need to build a positive relationship with this kid from the ground up, to better understand where he is coming from. I am curious to see where your situation goes and how you bring about successful communication. Kudos to you for practicing assertiveness! I too scored on the passive end of the spectrum, and it's awesome to see the way you have taken this head on. You are so incredibly compassionate when you say "I don’t want to prove how right I am to him, I just want him to be prepared for real relationships the remainder of his life" and it helps me to try and see my own situation in a more patient, compassionate light.
Congrats on your many highs and the growth you have seen in your students! What a gratifying feeling! Thank you for your honest and well articulated reflections every time, it's awesome how reading your blog helps me better understand my own mind as well. Onwards!
Hey Lindsey!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading about your experiences with your class. I love that you're trying new things and taking risks! How exciting! (Sometimes, our fears can get in our own way)
I totally connected with you in the passive department. I had no idea that I was like that, and the message it sends to our students! Especially the students who have difficulty being assertive. I'm thrilled that you're tackling that approach to communicating, and would love to hear how that works out!!
One thing that inspired me about your blog was the fact that you PLAN lessons, and even though they fail, you go back and try something new. I can definitly learn something there.
Sorry about your class pet! We got one too, (a fish) and I'm hoping he dies off by the end of the school year so I don't have to take him home. :PPP (I have enough animals) I don't know, something about animals in captivity that irks me...
Take care!