Too, Too Fast
Much of the time, these days, I think that the world and my walking in it, are moving much too fast. Opportunities to stand back and take stock of myself and the world I live and move in are precious. These gifts, no matter how long they last are vital to my keep on keepin' on.
I've spent the past week with 3rd and 4th graders as a substitute teacher. I learn many things from being with young people. Yesterday was a particularly difficult one for several of them. There were little skirmishes that broke out intermittently during small or large group activities. Usually, when folks were focused on the task in front of them, they were fine. When it was time to work with a partner or in a larger group, we'd have to stop what we were doing and I'd have to ask the people who were pushing or pulling one another, talking when they needed to be listening, or jumping around when they needed to be in their seat, to turn their behavior around. Eventually they'd work it out, and we'd all move on.
I wonder what would happen if I applied my classroom management strategies to adults. I'd ask them, "Can you two step out into the hall and work this out?" I wonder how often people would really work things out and how often they'd choose to walk away, harboring hurt feelings and resentment.
Yesterday, I saw three 3rd graders work things out in a matter of minutes, at the request of their regular classroom teacher. Their disagreement involved misunderstandings, hurt feelings, hearsay and words that needed to be further explained, taken back and apologized for. They got through it, got over it, and moved on. The disagreement was forgotten in a matter of minutes.
What's up with the adults?
I've spent the past week with 3rd and 4th graders as a substitute teacher. I learn many things from being with young people. Yesterday was a particularly difficult one for several of them. There were little skirmishes that broke out intermittently during small or large group activities. Usually, when folks were focused on the task in front of them, they were fine. When it was time to work with a partner or in a larger group, we'd have to stop what we were doing and I'd have to ask the people who were pushing or pulling one another, talking when they needed to be listening, or jumping around when they needed to be in their seat, to turn their behavior around. Eventually they'd work it out, and we'd all move on.
I wonder what would happen if I applied my classroom management strategies to adults. I'd ask them, "Can you two step out into the hall and work this out?" I wonder how often people would really work things out and how often they'd choose to walk away, harboring hurt feelings and resentment.
Yesterday, I saw three 3rd graders work things out in a matter of minutes, at the request of their regular classroom teacher. Their disagreement involved misunderstandings, hurt feelings, hearsay and words that needed to be further explained, taken back and apologized for. They got through it, got over it, and moved on. The disagreement was forgotten in a matter of minutes.
What's up with the adults?
posted by Unknown at 8:01 AM
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