A Shift in Thinking, A Shift in Believing

Since my October 3rd post titled "Challenging Students to Think for Themselves," there has been a shift in my students' thinking. Making every effort to not answer any question a student asks me that he/she can answer his/herself, the students have been redirected a countless number of times since my post about this movement in my class. Some students have even come to the point where they start to ask me a question, but stop and answer their own question. Actually, it is more than answering their own question. It is that they are "THINKING," therefore they don't have a question to ask. This change is because they are starting to realize that if they give themselves a little time to think about what ever it is they are questioning, that they can actually figure it out on their own. As per many of my encouraging comments about the students believing in themselves, giving themselves a chance or even giving themselves credit, the students are now appearing to have a shift in believing. Believing in themselves and their own ability.

Taking Time to Remember the Important Stuff

Now-a-days there is a specialist for everything in a school. As a "regular" education teacher some days I wonder how will I ever get through the curriculum I am supposed to when there are so many interruptions. Between students being pulled out of the class, a specialist coming into the class, going to chorus, band, or strings during the school day, there isn't much time left for students to learn new concepts.

As I meticulously do my planning for the week, I think about how I can keep the students engaged and inspired to learn. More importantly, I try to think about how I can inspire them to make good choices, treat themselves and those around them with respect, how to motivate them to be an active learner and to take responsibility for their learning.

During the school day, I try to take time to remember the important stuff. Like encouraging the students to reflect on their beliefs, their learning, their actions, their thoughts, their choices and the world around them.

At the end of my school days, I like to reflect on what I did to remember the "important stuff." As I try to start my day off during our "moment of silence," I remind my self of what kind of teacher I want to be that day, what kind of person I want to be and who I want to be for and to my students.

Even though there are so many interruptions throughout our school day, I believe that if I remember the "important stuff" it will not matter how much time I have spent with my students. It will be how I spent my time with my students that is important in the end.