I had issues finding a blog that I liked and wanted to share with you guys. I found this one that mentioned students sharing what they did at school with their parents. The blog itself isn't very "loaded," if you will, but it does bring up a valid point at the end. This was the main part that got me thinking:
A principal of a special project school of kindergardeners described some of the fabulous things going on there and I asked, “What do those kids say at dinner, when their parents ask, ‘So what did you do in school today?’“
The initial answer was, “Oh, nothing!”
But then they corrected themselves realizing that we were talking about kindergardeners. These young children are excited about school — and their parents are excited about school. So might we ever expect middle school or high school students to talk excitedly about what happened in school today?
I suspect that the answer to that question, with notable exceptions, is, “No!”
But can we help parents to instigate those conversations, to break through their children’s adolescent cool, and get them to talk about learning experiences that defy boundaries, generate curiosity, and where innovation and creativity are common and not the exception.
I wonder how a school or classroom might start that dinner table conversation by sharing everyday glimpses of teachers and learners exploring, experimenting, discovering, and sharing passionate and inventive learning.
What do you think?
I remember when I was growing up, my parents (both educators themselves) always asked my sister and me what we did in school that day or what did you learn today. This question is even asked of me now. My mother and I talk every night. On nights that I have class she literally asks me "so did you learn anything new in class tonight?" I think that this question was a very important aspect of my childhood. It not only made me feel like an important/valuable part of our family, but it made me have to sift through the information that was presented to me that day. When I was in elementary school, the things I learned were something to the effect of "I learned to write my name" or "I learned that you fall off the monkey bars when you try to go across them wearing mittens" etc. As I got older, I was a little less enthused to share the details of my day. But, I had to find something to share because that was a common supper time rule. At that point it was alright if it wasn't something that I learned from a teacher. So sometimes it would be "Mr. Padilla told us about a cathedral that is made entirely out of human bones. It kind of freaked me out, but the reason behind it was pretty cool because..." or it would be "Well, I found out that there really is some substance to the rule 'don't chew gum in choir class' because Rashawn accidentally sang his gum out into Kelly's hair."
My parents were always VERY involved in my education. They wanted to know what exactly we were discussing, what projects we were doing, how it was going, what I was having issues with, and so on and so forth. Thinking back, sometimes, I didn't even wait for the "what did you do today question" and just shared my most important experience.
As a teacher I feel we can initiate this conversation between parent and child by doing something in the day that really sticks in the students mind. I also encourage my parents to ask their kids what they are learning and if it's something they want to see first hand, they are more than welcome in my classroom at any time. Doing something in class that sticks in the students mind works really well because, sometimes the parent hasn't seen it before and it's like a rare gem of a secret the child just wants to include their parent (s) in. I know when my high school chem teacher lit the ceiling on fire, I couldn't wait to share that tid bit of information that night.
I think the big thing is encouraging not only the parents, but the students. I have even told my students "now you can go tell your parents we did this" or shown them something and told them "go impress your parents by..." etc.
I think parent involvement is important and am very thankful that my mother started my day with "learn something new today!" as I was walking out the door in the morning, and both my parents ended my day with "tell us what you did today in school or what you learned." I think that simple statement in the morning and the question at night made education that much more valuable to me.
I think you got something here. I think in order to get the kids to learn or want to they need to feel like what they are learning matters and someone cares that they are learning. It's funny that you tell your kids to go share what with whoever. I do that too. I find myself saying now you will have interesting dinner conversation. Or I tell them silly comebacks they can use when they do something. For example newton's third law (equal opposite reactions), I said now if someone hits you and says that hurt you can say newton's third law. You shouldn't of hit me. I doubt they actually say it but at least they chuckle and I think when the situation occurs they think about my comments and laugh. A few of the other teachers said the kids were doing the penny and paper inertia trick in their class so at least some stuff sticks.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post. Like you, I was lucky enough to have a supportive family that encouraged learning. To this day I always share the interesting things I learn with those I care about and who are willing to listen. However, not all students are so lucky to have families that care and support their education. I think that some parents are so caught up in their busy routines and responsibilities that they forget to reinforce their child's learning and development. As I was reading your blog I was thinking about how us teachers can target the students that have no one to share with or challenge them to consider what they are learning. So I thought that it would be a great exercise to have students journal at the end or beginning of each day to discuss one thing they learned from their day at school. This would give them a chance to reflect on what they are learning and look back to track their growth throughout the school year.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading the blog that you presented in your own blog. That teacher's post about "Next Textbooks" had a wealth of good ideas. In regards to parenting involvement, I would like to share that my mom also asked me about what I learned in school each day. She would even go so far as to ask me about each specific class. I actually dreaded these conversations, which felt more like interrogations, although they obviously helped me remember the school day and sort out important details.
ReplyDeleteBrecque, I think you picked a great piece to share. I love that you want to do things in your classroom that will stick with your kids so when they go home and are asked what they learned, it is about your classroom, not what fits down the sink in the bathrooms by the gymnasium. I also appreciate that you have an open classroom. I think that helps the parents get involved by feeling welcome and also able to ask questions. Being open to parents in your classroom also helps parents become involved and willing to help which usually is a great benefit to teachers now.
ReplyDeleteYour upbringing shows in your style now. Being conscious of what the impact of what you say or how you present today’s material makes a difference. It’s important to continue to ask our students outside the classroom when we get children of our own. It’s great to even ask your parents to ask that question of their children. It will keep you accountable and on your toes.
We can always go the next step too….when our students come back from other classes, when you’re having that bit of casual time, ask them what they learned in Computer Lab or PE or Library or Music. It may spark something in them or reinforce lessons when they retell what they learned.
Hi Brecque, as always, great post! I especially liked the listing of all the other blog links under "Blog Roll." I got lost in there for a while. I especially liked the blog called "Practical Theory: a View from the Classroom." The post titled "Debugging, Common Language, and Watching Openly" dated Nov 2 was really good. Sort of a "meta-view" of teaching through common language.
ReplyDeleteYou also got me thinking about "asking the right questions." I had never thought about it before, but you'll get an entirely different response from a child if you ask them, "What did you do in school today?" instead of "What did you learn?" My mom always asked me the former, so of course, my conversation was focused mostly on what was going on, who said what, who did what. Who was wearing what. Who got in trouble. Who brought what for lunch. Thinking back, it's sort of hilarious. Or sort of sad...