Being in the classroom this semester has been an amazing learning experience for me. I enjoy learning from my students, but for the first few weeks of school it seemed that I was not reaching one of my students. He was trying so hard, but he just couldn't understand everything that we were teaching him. We decided to try some scaffolding techniques with him and have had success. This particular student never hesitates when he needs to ask questions, but he still struggles. I will never forget the day when we found a strategy that worked for him.
The Light
bulb
That moment
when that oh so familiar hand goes up
His brow is
furrowed-he’s perplexed
I think to
myself, “Crap, he didn’t get it.”
He looks at
me with concern in his eyes when he whispers,
“I don’t
get it Ms.”
I try to
help, I try to answer his question
He doesn’t
understand
Even after
I explain it the first time
So I try a
different explanation
He begins
to get frustrated
I can see
the look in his eyes
That deer
in the headlights look
He is
overwhelmed, he takes a deep breath and lets out a sigh
He and I
both know that I am trying to help
I just
can’t seem to get him to understand
I try yet
another way of explaining
He asks a
few more questions…
“Wait, what
was the word you used for the main character?”
“If this is
the resolution, wouldn’t this be the conflict?”
Yes he
still has that look on his face
But his
brow is not quite as furrowed
He asks two
clarifying questions
They were
relevant and coherent
“If he is
the main character…, what was the word you used for him again?”
“His conflict
is inside himself,… so that makes it…internal conflict?”
He has it!
It finally
“clicked”
He really
seemed to be struggling, then – BING
His eyes
grew wide
His
sheepish grin grew wider
His face
lit up
“Thank you
Ms. That really helped.”
Dear Mary, 10/8/13
ReplyDeleteI believe this is a familiar experience with teachers everywhere. Your poem is so real and relateable, I know I have personally struggled with explaining a concept in a way that the student understands and then I get the thrill of the "Light bulb" moment when they final get it! Thank you so much for this poem. It captures both the frustration and the joy of being a teacher.
Sincerely,
Kelly
Thank you for describing this situation in your poem. I have moments like this all day. And in fact, sometimes I think they tell me that they get it even if they don't, just so I'll go away. The feeling I get (and I'm sure we all get as teachers) when we realize that a student understands and finally "gets it" is amazing. I loved reading your poem (and everyone else's) because I don't feel alone in my struggles. You let me know that we all feel the same and experience lots of similar things. Thank you for that.
ReplyDeleteLauren
Dear Mary,
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for year heartfelt poem. I especially liked the line "His sheepish grin grew wider." Not only because I have always liked the word "sheepish" (it's a pity no one uses it any more; but I really felt "you" come across in it. Thank you very much for your thoughts and insight.
Sincerely,
Jarod
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDear Mary,
ReplyDeleteThank you for “The Light bulb.” I love the honesty in the teacher’s voice (“Crap, he didn’t get it.”) as well as the slow, methodical recognition as the student articulates an understanding of plot. I can see his “sheepish grin” as he realizes that he’s getting it, and I can hear the gratitude in his voice as he thanks you for your help. Thank you for capturing this experience for us, Mary.
Katie