"You're not paid to think, just do it..." wow, that one takes me back to my
earlier days! What a sad commentary! I've heard that from many people over
the years. Is that the kind of children "we've grown"? I think the answer is
yes, and it makes me sad to think that in many schools today that's where we
are.
I am now in a wonderful school with many children from families who are very
involved in their education and provide experiences to promote learning. I
truly feel blessed to be a teacher here, but I find sometimes even with the
highest students at my school that when you really try to get a discussion or
grand conversation going... many don't know what to say beyond the surface
answers. Last year, my first year here, I started some "Book & Munch"
literature groups during the students' lunch hour. It was sometimes like
pulling teeth to get kids to think, and talk, and think and share, and
think.... and we were really some great literature! Reading can be like a fine
wine (even though I don't drink:>); it needs to be savored, held in your mouth,
and slowly swallowed. I see the wine tasters sniffing it, rolling it in their
mouths, and swallowing oh so slowly! That's what should be done with reading
and great literature.
I love when I can probe and really get a child to think and understand! Wow!
I step back and say, "That's what I want every day." But I found that I really
need to work at it and encourage students to think. It's hard work, both for
them and for me. And I have found in working with teachers that they don't
want to take the time to make the kids think... it's just so much easier to
take whatever is said and move on. It's my personality to keep it moving,
moving, moving, and I see how I need to slow down and think, share my thinking
and the process with my children. I see the need, even here at this "good"
school, to make my students do the same- think and understand... so they
don't say to their children some day, "You're not paid to think..."
Darlene Wontrop
Reading Specialist
JVES - Jarrettsville Elementary
JRead! Read! Read!
"Kids aren't interested in how much you know BUT how much you care! Teach and
love every child!
Children are our future!!" Richard Ramsey -
SoMIRAC, 2004
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