Slice of Life Story Challenge March 9 - Attitude Is Everything

Attitude Is Everything

I observed a student today who was clearly out sorts with the world. In the few times I have worked in this particular classroom, this child has presented as a learner appearing to lack confidence. I don’t much like the term reluctant learner. So often the learner is either inexperienced, anxious or possessing a clear lack of confidence. As a consequence such children are hesitant and risk averse.

Sitting apart from the group of students gathered before me the child appeared sullen and non-communicative, mostly withdrawing from participation with anyone. The child’s teacher quietly and subtly encouraged the child to engage. That invitation was spurned.  The teacher shifted her attention to the other students rather than engage in a power struggle. It is never a good idea to put your wind into someone else’s sails. So while the invitation to join in remained open at all times, the student concerned was left to consider their choices. The result being that the child chose to sit quietly on the edge of the group, while the lesson continued.  

I recently wrote this poem, prompted by a similar observation, but it seems apt here:

Attitude Is Everything

Today I won’t pull up my socks
Or improve my attitude
Today I will not volunteer to help
Today I won’t put my best foot forward
Nor will I rush to get somewhere
I won’t raise my hand and contribute to class discussions
And today I won’t be striving to do my best at all times

Today, I think I may well
Scratch my ear with a pencil
Stare out the window
Pretend to read
And watch a fly annoy Amy Gaven

Today, I feel slower than a slug in sludge

Today, I am tired
Today, I am floppy and droppy
You could say I’m moping


Tomorrow, who knows? 

Comments

  1. shogem9 March 2016 at 21:52

    Your poem was a visual reminder of those days when children and even myself want to hang back and watch the world rather than engage.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous9 March 2016 at 22:15

    This is a very apt description of many of the students I see on a daily basis. I wish I knew how to "unlock" them and help them find the confidence they need to engage. Good food for thought.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright10 March 2016 at 09:48

      It is the eternal search for the key to unlock the barrier to participation/engagement. That is why we must build trust and certainty.

      Delete
  3. Amy Warntz9 March 2016 at 22:20

    Sometimes that's the way the cookie crumbles. As adults we are more adapt to push those feelings aside but our kiddos are still working through it. Great poem! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright10 March 2016 at 09:49

      Thank you Amy. I think there is a developmental aspect to this too.

      Delete
  4. elsie10 March 2016 at 02:29

    I love the idea "don't put your wind in someone else's sails," that's a new phrase for me, but one I want to hold onto. You just never know what lies below the surface to cause the behaviors. Wise teacher to let the child make their own choices. Love the poem, who hasn't felt that way at least once in a lifetime.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright10 March 2016 at 09:52

      That expression I learned while studying Psychology. It is attributed to Rudolf Dreikurs, an American psychiatrist and educator. Like you I believe it is very apt in these situations. Thanks Elsie.

      Delete
  5. Tara10 March 2016 at 03:41

    Sometimes, we just need to give kids room to be who they are. Moping is a human need, and we all snap out of the mood eventually.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright10 March 2016 at 09:54

      Hard to disagree with you Tara. We all experience those moments. Self talk is therefore critical.

      Delete
  6. Rose Cappelli10 March 2016 at 06:23

    I think I feel like that some days, too. I like the way you end your poem on a positive note. It's good to remember that tomorrow is another day (a la Scarlett O'Hara).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright10 March 2016 at 09:56

      Ah tomorrow, thank you for noticing Rose. The sun comes up on a new day, a new beginning.

      Delete
  7. Deb Day10 March 2016 at 10:29

    Ahhh. I've seen this student too. He sits in my room many days....And I'm also not a fan of reluctant learner...your describing it as lacking confidence or just inexperienced is much more to my liking.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular With Other Visitors

Writing Opposite Poems

Image
 O pp o s ite  P oem s In his book, ' How To Write Poetry,'  Paul Janeczko presents the idea of opposite poems. Paul suggests they could also be referred to as antonym poems. This is wordplay and it's fun to try. Here are some examples Paul provides to help us see very clearly how these short little poems work. I think the opposite of chair Is sitting down with nothing there What is the opposite of kind? A goat that butts you from behind Paul Janeczko You will  notice the poems are written in rhyming couplets. They can be extended so long as you remember to write in couplets. Paul shows us how this is done. What is the opposite of new? Stale gum that's hard to chew A hot-dog roll as hard as rock Or a soiled and smelly forgotten sock You might notice that some of Paul's opposite Poems begin with a question. The remainder of the poem answer the question posed. Opposite poems are a challenge, but it is a challenge worth trying. Not every thing has a
Read more

Writing About Reading - Reading Reflection Journals:

Image
UPDATED February 2022 Writing in response to literature can be a great way for students to organize their thoughts, explore what they think, and generate ideas. One of the strengths of writing in journals is that it allows students to capture all of those great ideas that generally float off into the air during the discussion.  Journal writing can also become drudgery if students are asked to write too often, given little choice or inspiration in what to write, or if they simply don't have anything to say. While some students eagerly share their impressions about selections they have read in class discussions, others are less comfortable and keep their thoughts to themselves. In an effort to encourage all students to think more about what they read and confidently share their observations and opinions, some teachers are turning to the reading reflection journal and are gaining insights they never anticipated.  The Value of Reflection Journals   Journals assist teachers to gain i
Read more

Learning How to 'Zoom In' When Writing

Image
It is important for young writers to understand that not all parts of a story are equal. There are parts through which a writer moves quickly, and important parts where the writer slows down and lingers a while. This is where the writer might intensify the action or reveal the character’s reactions in greater detail. Young writers need to know that this is a deliberate strategy on the part of the author. The author consciously zooms in. The writer uses a magnifying glass to view a part of the story more closely; to focus on a moment and to slow down time. When an important part of the story is enlarged upon, it   is a signal to the reader, that this part of the story is important. The strategy of ‘zooming in’ goes by many names: ‘exploding a moment’ ‘magnifying a moment’, ‘hotspot’ ‘snapshot’, ‘adding detail’ or ‘slowing the action.’  What ever the name, the idea is the same. The author writes in a way that expands a significant part of the story with the intention of drawing t
Read more

Answering Questions Posed by Young POETS

Image
UPDATED, May 2020 As a frequent visitor to schools I have the great pleasure of working with groups of young, enthusiastic poets and their teachers. When I arrive in a classroom, young poets are often pre-loaded with questions, and most keen to have them answered.  I try to answer as many as I can, but we frequently run out of time, and the poetry caravan moves on to the next classroom. So I am here to answer some of those questions -right here, right now. So here goes: When you were little did you love writing? The short answer is yes. I have always enjoyed words and language. I can't recall a time when I wasn't doing some kind of writing. When did you write your first poetry book? I have had poems published over the years, but it wasn't until 2014 that I had an entire book of poems (an anthology) published. When I looked back through all my notebooks I realized I had hundreds of poems from which to choose. So, 'Searching For Hen's Teeth-Poetry From The
Read more

Slice Of Life Story-The Trials Of A Left Handed Writer

Image
Amazingly I learnt to write using my left hand. An achievement against the prevailing beliefs of the day. My very first teacher saw it as her mission in life to ‘fix’ the poor, wretched little boy suffering from what she clearly diagnosed as left handed disease. She must have thought, 'This child must be re formatted! If he remains left handed he will be forever condemned to writing in a scrawl that no one will be able to read. Ugly hand, ugly hand.' ...They tried to say it couldn't be done, it mustn't be done. They took the pencil out of my left hand and placed it in my right hand. It felt unnatural. It felt weird. It was not right. More to the point it was not left. I was not about to conform. At least they didn't try tying my hand behind my back. Watch me I said. I may be an oddball, left handed scribbler but I am a determined oddball. I mean how boring would the world be if everyone wrote with their right hand? So I dug my toes in –and my hands to
Read more