Throughout the month of March, I am participating in the annual Slice of Life Story Challenge, and even hosted by the team at Two Writing Teachers. Every day in March, I will share a story and comment on the stories of other participants. Please join us in writing, sharing, reading, and commenting!
Leah's post on Friday is about how she played a game with her students, identifying each of them by their voices. My comment was something along the lines of what they'll remember about elementary school when they are looking back on it one day. And then it got me thinking about the memorable moments. I once heard a speaker say that school plays and getting in trouble form some of the strongest memories. It's funny; I do have strong memories of getting in trouble. My second-grade teacher was one of my least favorite-- no my LEAST favorite teacher of all time. She kept a daily tally of the minutes that were wasted because she was waiting for students to settle down. I remember feeling constantly annoyed with Rodney who smelled and was -- in my seven year-old mind--one of the main contributors to that rising tally. I wonder if there were SIT teams or behavior plans back then. I doubt it. In any case, when Mrs. B. got to 60 minutes, she kept the whole class after school. We had to write apology letters to our parents for inconveniencing them because they had to come pick us up. I wonder how that would fly today. Any ideas?
I must have been in fourth grade when a more complicated incident happened. This one would be/could be/should be an entire post. Maybe I'll expand on it tomorrow. But wow, I remember vividly how Mr. C. confronted me about bragging about a program I was in and how devastated I was that my friend had made up stories that not only got me in trouble, but also made me out to be a terrible person in the eyes of one of the favorite teachers of the building.
When I was in middle school I got my first detention from Mrs. S. She was the home economics teacher, and there was an alcove next to her room with a full length mirror-- actually it was one of those three-mirror set ups where you can see parts of yourself you usually can't. One of my friends and I met there every day before the bell rang so that we could check out reflections in those mirrors. As soon as the bell rang, we'd race to our seats. Bodies sliding into places at the buzzer must have been a pet peeve for Mrs. S. I think I got a warning or two and then a detention. Devastating for my almost-perfect seventh-grade self. For the record, I had a 100% average in her class (I'd guess that also annoyed her), and I got the only 3 (not good) for conduct in my pre-high school career. I must have really liked those mirrors.
As I write this, I'm aware that I could go on and on with moments of reprimand or of other negative memories (people getting hurt on the playground, throwing up in the hallway, trading lunches in the cafeteria). I could also talk about some core memories of being a munchkin when I really thought I should have been Dorothy. (I shouldn't have been!) But I don't have a lot of memories that Leah's students are likely to have twenty, thirty, forty years from now. A hangman game in Mrs. J's room... brainteasers from Miss G... Mr. L. crawling across desks pretending to be the main character in one of the final scenes of The Pearl...
I'm a big believer in the power of purposeful play. This trip down memory lane makes me even more committed to bringing experiences into classrooms that become positive core memories. Kudos to Leah and so many of the SOLSC community members for being teachers who create positive memories.
I was thinking about Leah’s post too after reading it. I enjoyed where it took you and now I’m thinking about some of my core memories too! ❤️ Jess
ReplyDeleteAn hour after school??!!! Wowzer! Our schools plaid is this week/weekend and every year I say/think this is what they’ll remember from school. It’s a grand reminder to, as you said, try to create time experiences that just might become positive core memories for kids.
ReplyDeleteYou have me thinking back to my own school memories as well, and more importantly, to how I'm creating (or not creating) positive ones for my students. It's too easy to let curricular demands drive the bus, and put games and fun in the back seat. I'm off to read Leah's post. Thanks for pointing me in that direction and sharing your memories. (I have an unfair detention story too!)
ReplyDeleteI can't believe a teacher kept you after school and made your parents pick you up! What a memory! I did laugh at the mirror experience, and maybe you would have made a great Dorothy! You have me thinking about the experiences we are creating for kids at school.
ReplyDeleteAlex and I were just reminiscing about the horror of having to change our card from green to yellow or red. Bet they don't do those now-a-days. Don't think I'll ever forget having to move mine after I told a girl I wasn't sure I could carry her when she wanted to piggyback off my idea.
ReplyDeleteI agree wholeheartedly with your belief in the power of purposeful play. The students WILL remember these times in Leah's class - the way you contrast this with your own memories is powerful. I am reminded of a book, The Power of Moments: Why Certain Moments Have Extraordinary Impact. Something all teachers should read and take to heart. Like you, I have a lot of elementary memories, but they're not all so positive. Too often, I fear, teaching is something "done to" students like PD is "done to" teachers (!!!). Thank you for this thoughtful lens today.
ReplyDeleteNot a surprise, but I’m also a big advocate of purposeful play. The thing I love about this piece is that yes, many things have changed (social media would eat the teacher who keeps kids after school alive!), but there are so many moments from our school years in childhood that are just timeless. Thank you for the reminder to keep helping kids make those memories.
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