Okay, the first. On Wednesdays in my elective we do W.O.W. or "Word of the Week." For this leadership-based class, I try to incorporate important words to try to get them to journal and talk as a class what they've experienced in regards to the word. Today's was 'perseverance.' It was a breaking moment... a couple of the students really opened up and shared how they've embodied perseverance in their lifetime. One guy shared how a year ago his brother was in a devastating car crash, with debilitating injuries and his brain functioning capacity not quite at 100%. You could really hear and feel the student's pain behind his words as he shared how his brother persevered through intense physical therapy, and how he had to deal with the loss of their close relationship. He was hurt at first by his brother's changed personality due to the brain injury and the complete transformation of their once-close relationship, but now there is healing both physically and mentally with his brother and their friendship. What a powerful experience...
Here's the thing. My second period is loud and all about themselves. They have a hard time monitoring the verbal vomit that emits from their mouths, but while this student was sharing his story, you couldn't hear a pin drop; they were completely mesmerized by his words. I had goosebumps the whole time as I watched them all experience true empathy for their peer... something that is not to be taken lightly with 7th and 8th graders. Another important factor was that we created an environment where this student felt 'safe' and comfortable sharing such a painful moment from his life. That, to me, is where our success as teachers lie. Our classrooms need to be a place where different youth from all walks of life can be, even if for one moment, unified by a common bond.
Another thing has been happening in Teen Leadership is that my students are noticing the things we've covered about advertising; everyday they're excited to tell me about a 'product placement' example they saw in a movie, or how they noticed gender stereotyping in commercials. One girl (who is so bright but hides behind the ditzy-girl persona that so many take on... myself included!) told me when she was playing "Candyland" last night, she noticed how there were distinct 'boy pieces' and 'girl pieces,' which she found kind of odd. I LOVE IT! I didn't want them to think advertising was evil or anything, but I wanted them to be able to notice the ways our society targets different audiences and how teenagers are the biggest market. It was pretty exciting.
Lastly, we're going over newspapers in Language Arts. I was really excited, because a lot of my students had never picked up a newspaper before. But Della posed a thought that really made me think... how can I incorporate experiences like the ones that are happening in Teen Leadership into Language Arts? What more can I be doing to ensure that my students have the same kinds of powerful moments as they can have in TL? It's hard for me to wrap my mind around managing my time and infusing (little by little) important life-skills and experiences. Like art. And culture. Up until this point it's been disconnected.... we have structured vocabulary, reading, grammar, whatever. But how can i make it more meaningful for them? How can there be an underlying, experiential purpose behind what we learn in Language Arts? We just read "Hoot..." what more could I have done to emphasize the environment, or bullying, or being a new student? I felt rushed with all the half days we had during the novel study, and I feel like I dropped the ball on what could have been done. But alas, it may all be a part of being a first year teacher. I'ms ure I'll look back on this year and laugh, realizing over the summer the ways that I can make the year phenomenal.
