Sh...Did You Notice That?

This morning, I rose early intending to simply submit a new entry.  Over the past several months, life has been crazy and has not allotted the time to capture my “world problem solving ideas.”  In three short months, I have

• Moved from elementary to middle school as an interventionist,
• Completed a condensed graduate level course in Coaching and Mentoring,
• Sent a son to Germany on exchange, moved another into an apartment, and
• Pretended to stay caught up around home and have a social life.

When I actually sat down at the computer, all those wonderful insights I had planned to write disappeared.  I felt like one of my students who always has something to share, but when it is time to write, nothing.  After procrastinating with a few games of backgammon, I realized, I have re-experienced a variety of feelings, multiple times, in these past few months.  Recognizing these feelings allows me to connect with my new colleagues and students at a new level.

Two days before school began, I accepted an interventionist position, moving from elementary to middle school.  Being the new kid on the block re-opened my eyes of being the new student in a new culture.  I needed time to explore, and I’m still finding my way.  Just like a new student, I am not totally lost, I have resources to fall on, but it is the small things that trip a person.  I have found myself listening and asking more questions.  While a new student listens and watches, are they asking questions?  Their transition doesn’t occur within a week; it can take months until they become embedded into their new surroundings. How are we supporting them?

Besides changing schools, one of my new students doesn’t speak English.  For those who have been trained, have experience working with ELL students, and have the resources, no problem.  However, this is a brand new experience for me, and my bag of tricks is empty.  Don’t get me wrong, I excited for the experience, but I’m afraid of the cost while I experiment.  I understand the costs of having a poor teacher for just one year.  Each day, all within one class period, I feel excited, nervous, and disappointed. I feel like a brand new teacher again when the first few years are about experimenting.  Wishing I had a coach, I am reminded that teachers truly need support of an excellent, trained coach.  The cost is too high.

Old news? How can we help? One can complain or be resourceful and creative. The first step, I believe, is to listen.  Truly understand what our students and colleagues mean when they speak or don’t speak. Then, we will know where to begin.

As a course assignment, I presented on the importantce of listening for understanding. Catch the presentation:  Sh...What Did You Notice

(And for all of my math friends, yes, there is a mathematical error in one of my stories. Correcting the mistake is further down on my to do list.)