The student who read books stealthily in my class!

To new teachers,

There was this student in my class in a school outside India. He would stealthily read books in my class. He would pay attention while I was explaining something, but when I would give the students some work to do, he would hide his novels inside his notebook and read them. They were not inappropriate books, they were good books, appropriate for his age. He just loved reading and couldn't stop.

I did not know whether to get upset with him for not doing work or whether to appreciate this wonderful reading habit he had. But I just couldn't get myself to really get angry or upset with him as it was this habit that I tried so hard to develop in my students but not all of them enjoyed reading.

There was one teacher who really worked on the students' love for reading, She worked as an EAL teacher and later became a Primary Homeroom teacher. She was one of the best teachers I have ever known.

This was not an IB school, and I knew of trans-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary units (IDU) after joining an IB school, but what this teacher did in a unit was actually trans-disciplinary and promoted students reading and was a great unit!!

As a Primary Homeroom teacher, she taught a unit on slavery. As an English teacher, she had students read books and poems on slavery so they knew what happened to the slaves. As part of the social-studies class, she taught them about Harriet Tubman and how she helped slaves escape to Canada. She coordinated with the Arts teacher so that students made quilts in the Art class as some narratives had a mention of quilts with a particular patten that would be hung out to denote that it was a safe-house for the runaway slaves. Then she worked on a game where the slaves would be pursued by the bounty hunters (our school security guards) and they would run to find safe-houses that were identified by the quilts hanging outside the window. If they made it to the safe-house, the bounty hunters could not catch them, else they had to go back to their slave-owners. Students thoroughly enjoyed the unit. They read, they played, they discussed, they wrote, they made quilts, they screamed when the security guard caught them and celebrated when they found the quilt.

I do not know of any other unit that left a more lasting impact on the students. The teacher instilled the love for reading through her well planned units that students enjoyed. She was a brilliant teacher, and was kind, compassionate and loved children. She was my daughter's class teacher and my daughter loved her. In fact, all students in her class loved her. She was extremely patient with all students and I have not known her to speak in a harsh or angry tone with any child. She would welcome everyone with a warm smile and they would all gather around her and hug her.

Until I met this teacher, I had a very stereotypical conservative way of looking at anyone with piercings. To me then, any piercing except on the nose and ears (as that is what I was used to as an Indian) meant that the person was a 'hippie', irresponsible and perhaps on drugs...and this teacher had a tongue piercing. But as I got to know her better, my respect for her only increased...respect for her brilliant teaching, respect for her love and compassion for students and respect for the warm, gentle kind person she was. I learnt though experience that people don't always match their stereotypes. I have learned so much from her. 

Some of what I have learned:

1. Be kind and compassionate, you do not know what the students might be going through.

2. Make connections with other subjects as the resulting learning is long lasting - even if it is not a full fledged IDU.

3. Connect learning to real life. Let students experience what it looks like, sounds like and feels like.

4. Look for opportunities for students to read in your unit. This might ignite a love for reading. 

5. Have a reading corner with books that entice children. The library in this school had books that were award winning children's books. 'Holes', shown in my drawing is a Newbery Medal winner and is an amazing book that I read after joining this school. 

6. Don't engage in stereotypes. You will know people only when you spend time with them. So don't judge. If you have a conservative, stereotypical view of people with tattoos, piercings and unconventional hair,  think again. They may be the most amazing people you have ever met!!


Cheers!

#homework,#relationships,#behaviour,#school,#testing,#learning,#leaders,#teacher-student relationships,#myp,#newteachers,#teaching,#assessments,#students,#learning support,#ib, #books, #reading



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