How special you become depends on how special you feel you are. I thinks it's a teacher's and parent's job to nurture this feeling inside a child until it becomes a reality in their lives.
It's not enough to simply tell them they are special. We must work with them to develop their gifts and prove to them there is absolutely no doubt that they are champions at something.
What they do with that proof is up to them. For a teacher the time to do this is short, usually just one year. We must do all we can in that year to not only boost their confidence and self-esteem, but help them develop intellectual gifts that prove to them they are smart, and perhaps even the smartest in the world.
Ironically, this has a better chance of happening when the student is talking and the teacher listening. Instead of trying to force "knowledge" into their heads we allow them to construct meaning and make sense of this knowledge. It takes more effort and alot of skill and patience to "sit in their 'shoes'" and listen to them. You have to know what questions to ask and what their answers mean, but to understand how each child learns is to become empowered on how to teach them. You simply can't do this for every student if you're standing all day in front of the room, preaching how to read, understand history, and "do" math and science.
Grown men and women coach athletes trying to make champions out of them. Teachers can do the same thing.
The three students highlighted here are champions. Jessica, Amanda, and Serena discovered this on a recent nationwide reading test. Their entire class did well, with 100% of them predicted to pass the end-of-year test and therefore pass the 5th grade.
These three scored in the very top, Serena in the top 5% of the country, Amanda in the top 4%, and Jessica scoring in the top 1%.
They know they're champions and no one and nothing can tell them otherwise. Now it's time to get all of their classmates to that same level of confidence and ability, and to take Jessica, Amanda, and Serena to new international heights.
Every person has beauty and genius inside of them. How sad it is for these gifts to lie dormant, or locked up by self-doubt, fear, anxiety and worry. Do not allow this to happen to your students or children. Do not allow this to happen to you.
Little eyes watching you
Take their cue for what they can do.
DREAM BIG.......DO BIG........BE BIG
2 comments:
Jessica Amanda Serena
reading gives you passion be proud of your accomplishments having a openheart openmind will give you the tools to seek out about life and always the true meaning of living your life to the fullest
Read Big Always
Jenny in Davis Ca,
Dr Stuart,
Quote, “Every person has beauty and genius inside of them. How sad it is for these gifts to lie dormant, or locked up by self-doubt, fear anxiety and worry. Do not allow this to happen to your students or children. Do not allows this to happen to you.” How true, how true. You have hit the nail on the head.
Adam, I have read all the articles you have written this week end. You really do have a special gift and I’m so glad that you have not let anyone put a damper on it. You are amazing with your writing. You touch so many with it. Don’t ever stop.
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