Sunday, October 1, 2017

Waiting to be Called On (Genre Reflection #1)


Dear Heather*,

            I am sorry I did not give you a chance to talk in class today.  You have such amazing ideas in your writing but you seem shy when you are sitting in class.  When I walk by and you are working on partner work I have noticed that you are actively engaged in your conversation because you are usually talking to your friend.  I would love to hear you give your insight to the rest of the class.  Is it because you do not like speaking in front of others?  Do you not want students to comment on what you are saying? 

            When I was in middle school I did not like having to speak in front of other students unless I was asked to do so by the teacher.  I did not really come out of my shell and feel confident to answer questions until high school. 

            I hope to make you feel more confident about speaking up during discussions.  Today we talked about the first chapter of Freak the Mighty and you looked actively engaged in what your peers had to say.  I wish I had called on you so you could have been a part of the conversation.  It is still early on in the year so there is a chance you may become more comfortable giving your opinion. 

You came up to me today in the hallway and asked me a question.  That made me really happy!  I like that I am starting to build a relationship with you and I hope that also makes you more comfortable.  I look forward to working with you and helping you become more comfortable in the classroom.

                        Best Regards,

                                    Ms. Jewell

*name was changed

3 comments:

  1. Madison, thank you for writing such a thoughtful letter to one of your students. I can really see how much you care about this individual student, but beyond that, all of your students. Thank you for bringing in your own personal background, something that I think will help your shy students out, knowing that their teacher struggled with the same issues. Your empathy for your students shines through, and I know that will make you an amazing teacher. Hopefully Heather* will speak up in class soon, and you may be a big reason why she does!

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  2. Dear Madison,
    Thank you for sharing your letter to Heather with us. I enjoyed the vulnerability and reflection in your teaching and I think that is what is going to make you stand out from the crowd. It is evident from the letter that you truly care about your students and I believe the world needs more teachers like you in this profession.

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  3. Dear Madison, thank you for your letter to Heather -- I think it's incredibly important to take note of the Heather's in our classes and attempt to engage them in the class dynamic and finding a way to bring them in. Who knows what great perspective they may bring! I think you're doing an amazing job thus far and I'm sure you will get her figured out in no time at all.

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