As I watched "Learning from Baby George", I saw how George persevered. Every time he stepped off that bottom step, he fell. But George didn't quit. He got right back up with a smile 😊 on his face. He already knows learning is fun, so you just keep on doing it. We are told George does this same act over and over, for months, until...he masters the task. Baby George already knows, at this young age, that you must persevere in life. Wesch says that "learning is a fundamental trait".
This three syllable word, "persevere", is one of my favorite words to teach to my students, actually it's more about modeling perseverance. I'm not sure when they lose this drive to master a task, but we all know it happens. We need to bring this back and drive this belief in so that they eventually own it! Students need to believe in themselves as learners. They need to see that hard work and perseverance pays off when you make it to the top of that mountain or through that finish line.
Mike Wesch saw potential in students that thought maybe they were "stuck in a tree" or unable to learn any more new information. He realized that learning looks different for everyone. He learned, from looking through a different lens at his son, that he could transfer that drive/perseverance to his college students. Wesch acted on his beliefs by taking the time to ask certain individuals that appeared to be struggling, "What's going on?" He made some connections with students that needed a "push up that mountain". It seems like every time he made a connection, that student was able to overcome the obstacles holding him "in that tree" or "at the bottom of the mountain".
I feel like if my students know I believe in them and their abilities/potential to succeed. This could be enough for them to learn all that I can teach them. I try to give them opportunities to think critically, ask questions. I let them know if I don't know the answer. Then I suggest we look for the answer together. I tell my students that I'm still learning and that learning never has to end.
I had a group of girls in my class this year that just wanted to make connections and talk to me. I started a lunch bunch. It was great to be able to have that time and build those relationships, especially in light of how the year changed. I wish I was able to do that with more students before we got sent home. I will try again next year because this is an important piece to the puzzle of learning!
Sue, your lunch bunch is such a great example of putting beliefs into action! Thanks for sharing that -- so resonant with Wesch.
ReplyDeleteI love the lunch bunch idea and I wish to maybe fo some house visits this coming year. I feel like it shows the students you are working with/beside them and not against them or above them.
ReplyDeleteHi Sue,
ReplyDeleteI think one way we can instill perseverance in our kids is by seeing each student as an individual rather than grouping our kids together. I saw this many times when I was in high school. For example, when I was in 12th grade, I had a math teacher who made it very clear that he was not going to slow down and explain material for us. He would always say, "If you're struggling, ask someone in the class that has an A. This type of math should come easy for you". He shifted the responsibility of teaching on to his students. Some of my classmates stopped coming to class all together and the other half would say, "Why try. He's not going to help us if were struggling".
Essence,
DeleteThat must have been a terrible experience. I'm glad you feel the same, my grouping was for a different reason. If I saw a student struggling, I would ask just that one to lunch, to show him/her I care. My students are so young that usually they want/need a friend for support. Thanks for your thoughtful response.