| Commentary and Philosophy Non-Fiction posted April 4, 2024 | Chapters: |
...6 7 -9- 10... 
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When you know a student Gets it.
A chapter in the book I-Teach
That Spark
by davisr (Rhonda)
| Background This book is designed for writers to share their own experiences with teachers, students or teaching in general. |
If, like in H.G. Wells' book, The Time Machine, I could journey back through another dimension, what might I notice about myself as a younger teacher? What should I discover about my students?
Putting the two together, what lessons ought the past teach me?
Putting the two together, what lessons ought the past teach me?
In a huge puff of smelly smoke, a time machine appeared out of nowhere.
It turned out to be a tricky little gadget with a bit of a mind of its own. With great ferocity, it zapped through time and space at light speed, at least, then hovered over a random day in my first year of teaching. I didn't get out, but peered at myself through a large screen-like window.
Thin, innocent, bespeckled Rhonda looked fearfully from behind a science-book laden desk. She watched a myriad of high school students, like specimens in a shark tank, ready to devour her if she stepped from behind the safety of the work bench. My observation? Survival instincts in full swing.
I sighed deeply as the sounds of whirling dials assaulted my senses once more. A rocky landing, complete with a jarring thump, took me to a different time and location. Creaking shutters opened to reveal a new scene.
A more matured Rhonda ambled among her students as they completed a lab. She smiled often and paid attention to who was finished and who needed extra time. She watched as they turned in papers and returned to their respective seats.
My observation: Growth? Surely that, but meaningful? Not so much.
Watching my students with nostalgia, I hardly noticed the window shut and the machine crank back up.
The vehicle eased to a stop this time. I watched as an even older Rhonda walked among her students as she lectured. She didn't inspect papers to see what they were writing, and she didn't listen to occasional chatter. She was focused on eyes.
Her voice no longer had a sing-song tone to it and her face didn't look tired and worn.
"If I drop a book and a paper wad at the same time, which will hit the floor first?" she asked.
Hands went up around the room, and answers were called out. "The book... the paper wad... neither.. both..."
Rhonda wasn't trying to find the student with the right answer, or even the one who screamed the loudest. She was searching for that spark. The light shining behind a student's eyes when they discovered something new, something understood.
She held up a book and a paper wad. Whop! They hit the ground at the same time. She expected it. Most of them did not.
Oddly, there was a multitude of expressions in those oval lamps around the room. Some were angry because a belief had just been shattered. Others were confused. Some hadn't seen because their eyes had shifted away at the last moment. But, there were the ones with the sparks. The ones that told Rhonda she'd gotten through.
What had I learned from this encounter? Wait a moment, one more trip in H.G.'s machine.
Rhonda sat in a chair in front of her Principal's desk (that's the boss-guy for teacher's, too). They were going over her plans for students passing the local State Exam, called STAAR in Texas.
"Well, Mrs. Davis, what are your plans for getting the kids to pass the Biology STAAR?"
"To start with, I plan to bring Shipley's Donuts for the kids in the morning."
"I mean, what will you do to prepare them?"
"A good job all year long," Rhonda said with a nod and smile. She looked around the office at all the familiar Principal's Office trappings. There were books on shelves, pictures of family members on the desk, and even an old football helmet from when he'd played on the team in high school. She sighed and turned her head to her young boss.
"I'm pretty sure you're missing the point, Mrs. Davis. I want to know how you'll be certain the students understand the material covered by the test."
Rhonda's face grew serious. "As I review each topic, I search the room for lights."
Tony Hernandez sat with a blank stare. He didn't seem to know what to say, giving Ms. Davis the impression he was about to leap over the desk and give her the Zombie bite of doom.
She shrugged... different tactic. She'd just have to tell him what he wanted to hear.
"I'll provide them a series of practice tests over each objective, plot their scores on a graph, compare it to the scores earlier in the year on the benchmark, and develop an individualized growth plan for each student."
The spark ignited in his eyes, the self-same spark she had just tried to explain.
The spark ignited in his eyes, the self-same spark she had just tried to explain.
It was all about that spark!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I turned from the scene and lightly caressed the control center on the time machine.
"Take me home, please."
With a fancy twist of its own, the control panel in H.G.'s machine let off a little spark.
"Very funny," I said. "At least the time machine gets it."
 Recognized |
A special thanks for the lovely artwork, Little angel by CorbyLinda on FanArtReview
This chapter has a bit of fiction mixed with memories, all designed to point out what I look for when seeking to see if the students understand material. I listed it as nonfiction, but there's clearly a bit of blarney mixed in. I'll invoke poetic license even if it isn't a poem.
STAAR stands for: State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, which is an end of course exam students must pass at certain grade levels, or in certain secondary courses.
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. This chapter has a bit of fiction mixed with memories, all designed to point out what I look for when seeking to see if the students understand material. I listed it as nonfiction, but there's clearly a bit of blarney mixed in. I'll invoke poetic license even if it isn't a poem.
STAAR stands for: State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, which is an end of course exam students must pass at certain grade levels, or in certain secondary courses.
Artwork by CorbyLinda at FanArtReview.com
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