-
Describe a recent time when you’ve been discouraged with a student’s progress. Have you witnessed a change in the student’s life, or are you still waiting for that change to occur?
-
This year I had a student that always had a bad attitude when it came to school work. The student would chose to skip doing the work, tell me “I can’t do this,” or waste the work time doing anything else he could find to do. A few months into the year it became evident that the student had excellent critical thinking skills and that they excelled in math and anything that required logic. It was a struggle with reading that kept this student tumid and unwilling to work. Once I identified that, I was able to change how I approached my instruction, and this student grew so much throughout the rest of the year. The reading was still a problem, but by gaining confidence in the other areas the student began growing in reading AND was even brave enough to read aloud occasionally.
-
This year, we had a student come to our school with significant trauma and learning disabilities. I have training for students with these characteristics, but the school had no program. After meeting the family, I told them what I could do for him and what I could not. I also found out that the parents are divorced and did not at present attend church. It was slow going with this student and the family circumstances and at times, I forgot my purpose. Three-quaters through the year, he began to ask deep questions. He was also consistently on his ADHD medications. During chapel one week, I asked him if he wanted to pray with me for salvation. He did and I believe that God planted great seeds that I likely never be able to see how they are sowed. I am grateful that God allowed me to be part of this journey.
-
There were several students in my course this year that were struggling with either phonics or math concepts. I had a meeting with one of the parents and said I think your child would benefits from some tutoring after school. I was willing to provide this for the student. The parent was on board. So I started tutoring and it took a few weeks and then I started noticing a difference in her learning and understanding of the concepts. The student was getting it. She was asking a couple times a week to stay after school for tutoring. Moments like these want to make a teacher smile and think that all of this time was worth it in the end.
-
There was a little girl that was sweet, but also very spoiled. She thought that everything/everyone ran on her schedule. I’m still waiting for that change to occur.
-
There is a student in my 7th grade course who will be returning next year for my 8th grade course that I have consistently been worried about. However, this student is a believer in Christ and truly understands the value of education. They work hard, and I know that because we share a common understanding of Christ’s role in education, I believe this student will one day succeed academically.