Last week I shared a simple thought via Twitter and LinkedIn: even though it is pretty tough to quantify, I can't help but feel as though many of my students are experience a type of learning and growth they would have never fully realized without experiencing our current situation. Thankfully, I received some positive feedback, along with a common addition: tell me more about that - what are you seeing?
So, after thinking about it a little more over the weekend while watching the Vikings fritter away another road game, here are some skills and/or areas I have seen kids grow, learn, and overall rise to the occasion:
Self-Advocacy
I can tell you as a 6th-grade teacher one of the most crucial skills for middle-level students to learn is the art of self-advocacy. Every year, it is one of main growth goals for our students, one of the main talking points with parents at the beginning of the year and at conferences, and one of the universal, transcendent skills all of us educators are looking to foster. In some ways this year is just like any other...some students are further along than others; some students need more support than others; some students will continue to struggle and grow in this area all year and beyond. But what's different this year is more students are developing this skill - growing & learning - at a more rapid pace.
Flexible Thinking
With so in life being tossed upside-down and all around, students are forced to become more flexible, pliable, dynamic thinkers and problem-solvers. Now, they're not alone. Parents are doing more and being challenged in more ways than ever before; juggling work, raising kids, being support staff at home, and managing their own lives! Teachers are adapting, honing, changing, modifying, and updating what we deliver and how we deliver it every day. What's impressed so much about so many of my students is how they have absolutely risen to up to meet the moment. While I do still have a handful of students I worry about and know need support, it's been so incredibly energizing to see the resiliency of so many young people.
Problem Solving
This is connected with the first two categories. There are so many ways in which my students are demonstrating efficient and effective problem-solving strategies. Organizing their daily schedules to know when each class starts, along with Google Meet information. Working with partners and groups for school work and still completing assignments at a high level of return and quality. Communicating with teachers with any issues/questions/concerns they may have during the day. Navigating digital platforms to find and interact with content. Yes, teachers and staff have put in a ton of work to help with all of these things. Administration and district-level technology and media have done exemplary work as well (ours are amazing!). As stated above, parents have been unbelievable partners throughout everything. That said, I truly need to tip the cap to my students in this area!
Collaboration & Communication
Most kids love to talk. Middle school students are especially gifted at this...especially in loud voices! But meaningful, productive communication can sometimes be hard to come by when we're talking eleven to fourteen year-olds. These past eight to nine months have really forced students to become better email writers, more purposeful speakers in class, and more efficient with their time when working with others. It has challenged me as their teacher to develop more opportunities to not only leverage these skills, but to also practice and build up these skills. It has been very enjoyable to watch students grow in their communication. In some ways it might be unfair they've had to 'grow up so fast' with some of these things, but I know that they will be way ahead of the game down the road. In terms of collaboration, students are constantly working with others, even when it may not seem like it: waiting to speak in a virtual class, listening intently to others so they can add something meaningful to the conversation, understanding the purpose and Why of different roles within groups.
There is much more I could add. There are also students who are struggling with (very real) issues around mental health, isolation, and barriers around language, unstable home situations, and inequity. For this post, however, I wanted to take a minute and share some sincere appreciation for all the hard work, growth, and real learning so many students are experiencing in the midst of all this madness.
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