I hope this was ok....I wanted to blog on the very last pages of the book - the "drive it home point" - the "take away" - the "final word of encouragement"......ENJOY! Routman states that "without human caring, the best science is minimally effective". Here, in the final pages of her book she tells a little story about her father. How through a medical crisis and family tragedy she was reminded of the true spirit that we should all live our lives by everyday - "ENJOY!"
Enjoy your family!
Enjoy time with your children!
Enjoy our world!
Enjoy our creator and Lord!
Enjoy a walk!
Enjoy a talk!
Enjoy a friend!
Enjoy a great meal and a great glass of wine!
Enjoy your work!
Enjoy your students!!!
Enjoy your life!
While she was spending day after day after day helping her father recover and regain his quality of life, she began to think a lot about teaching and children. She though about "how quickly we give up on students, how we fail to celebrate the very small gains, how low our expectations are, how critical LOVING KINDNESS is, and what it means to have a deep, abiding patience." She continues to say what I have been saying and believing for years...."The science of learning that dominates instruction and programs mean nothing without a teacher who cares deeply about each and every student! It is WE teachers who determine whether or not our students succeed!" Enjoy!!!
Especially in my classroom with students that struggle to do most every simple academic task, who struggle to hold a pencil, who struggle to write their letters, who struggle to write their numbers, who struggle to count, who struggle to pay attention, who struggle to make eye contact, who struggle to find the words they need to express themselves, who struggle to problem solve, who struggle.......When those very special, GOD-made children, that were sent my way for a reason enter our classroom - we ENJOY! We celebrate every tiny gain...every tiny victory...every tiny accomplishment....every tiny achievement....because they are all improving their confidence, their thirst for learning, their joy for school and adding JOY to their life! Enjoy!
Teacher and student relationships are at the heart of what we do. One of my favorite quotes from Maya Angelou is “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I think this is especially important for our students with learning disabilities. Everyone needs to feel important and respected. God did not create what society deems as "normal." All of us have strengths and weaknesses. We all learn things in different ways, and at different rates and it is up to the teacher to help uncover the way each student learns best. I love that you are providing your students with an environment that fosters their confidence and a quest for learning!
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle,
ReplyDeleteI loved the way Routman chose to end this book as well! It had me cheering because like you and Nicole, I didn't enter into this profession because of what I teach, but because of who I get to teach and those relationships and the sincere desire and joy of learning with them has made all the difference. Sincerely, Dawn