By your pupils you are taught

I’ve recently become reacquainted with the song “Getting to Know You” from the King and I. You know, the one that Anna sings with all her cute little Siamese students. Well here, just watch...

I love the line- “if you become a teacher, by your pupils you are taught.” Children are amazingly observant. They also love to share what they observe (be it good or bad!). Here is my favorite example that happened just last week.

Last week was a little crazy. Lots of meetings, data study and things that had to get turned in. By Thursday morning I was having a hard time getting my head in the game for literacy small groups and was running all over the room trying to get something finished and done. By the time I finally got to my small group table and started fumbling around for my supplies Diego was a little concerned.

He looked at me and asked in a very serious tone, “Miss. Gates are you nervous or just really busy or something?” How’s that for observant!

I stopped and laughed, “Well Diego,” I put on my best explanation voice. “I have a lot to get done before we go on break and not quite enough time.” He considered this and came back with a zinger of a reply. “Miss. Gates, you always say we have a lot to get done and we always get it done. And you don’t want to waste our small group time.”

Ok, so first he’s right; I do always say, “we have a lot to do today” (they really do listen!). And second, he’s turning my own words against me. I don’t take away recess time in my classroom, I make a trade. If you waste my teaching time then I trade for some of your recess time to catch up. And yes, I reteach whatever I was doing when the “trade” was made during recess (because I’m that nice of a teacher and want to make sure you learn it all!). Time is very valuable in our classroom.

Thanks for reminding me Diego. It will all get done sooner or later and I should use the time I have for what is most important (in that case a lesson on contractions). Lesson learned!

Oh, and I totally want a dress like that to teach in someday!