I have been spending some time learning and sharing with the wonderful people over at #kinderchat. While I don't teach kindergarten I am constantly inspired by what they are doing with their little people. I love how they are keeping things developmentally appropriate for their students, yet they too are pushing the limits on what little people can do. I LOVE it. Anyhow I love it so much that I have been following their blog and this summer they have created the Kinder Blog 2012 Challenge. Each week a topic will be posted and it is my job (and everyone else that's in the challenges job) to respond with a blog post. Here is this week's topic.
What did you learn this past (or, for our southern hemisphere friends, what ARE you learning this current) school year that you couldn’t have learned any other year, from any other students or colleagues or administrators or parents? What lessons did this particular year, this particular setting, these particular children bring into your life?
posted by @happycampergirl for #Kinderchat #Kinderblog2012 Challenge
So here goes...
I could say it was getting connected, or getting my students to blog but both of those had more to do with me learning through twitter, than actually learning from my students, or colleagues or administrators or parents. For me one big theme that stood out with this bunch of students is working towards a goal with out giving up, in other words perseverance. I had several students with learning challenges yet not one of them ever complained about school being difficult. And no I didn't make it "easy" for them. The word "can't" was seen as a naughty word and was not used in our classroom. Every one applied themselves to the best of their ability day in and day out. It was a little piece of heaven really because some of them really did have a lot to complain about. But complaining didn't happen and instead they achieved so much.
My student who struggled with letter sounds was keen to blog and share his story . My highly anxious students were able to speak in front of the class. My limited English speakers took risks daily trying to improve their oral language skills. They all wanted to be the best that they could be yet they wouldn't let their challenge get in their way. But the one student that sticks out the most from this year, the one who stuck with it even though her challenge was so great, was my selective mute. She was a very special little girl.
For the sake of this blog post we'll call her Kayla (although that's not her real name). Kayla suffers from pretty severe anxiety enough that she will not speak at school. But Kayla came to school every day with a smile and always did her best. Although Kayla never spoke she was a very popular member of our class. She made her friends giggle, and would lend a helping hand when ever she could. Kayla was, and is a very bright student.
But Kayla was afraid to write in her journal at school. She kept a nightly home journal so we had writing to conference with. She always took my suggestions to heart and her writing improved dramatically over the course of the school year. Kayla was also an avid blogger. Blogging truly gave her a voice when her anxiety kept it from her. Blogging allowed her to express herself freely for all the world to hear. It also allowed her to communicate with her friends through the comments she left for them on their blogs.
But Kayla never let her anxiety stop her. She knew about our school's Musical Theater program and made sure that she was involved with it. Did I mention that she was the only student in my class that got involved with it? I'm very certain that she knew every word to the songs and that every night she practiced those songs until she could sing them perfectly. And on the day of the performance Kayla was up on stage with the rest of the choir. And she sang! (We'll no voice may have been heard but she moved her lips to the music which is HUGE for her).
Kayla reminded me that I must never under estimate the desire of a child. That even if there are obstacles along the way to achieving goals, goals can still be achieved. Kayla had the strength to persevere and step out of her comfort level to get what she wanted. She wanted to be on that stage singing her heart out, and she did.
Never let a "label" define a child. Let the child define who they are. My class this year, and particularly Kayla, reminded me of that over and over again. I'm glad I listened.
