As I was reading this book, I was pleased to find validity
in what my practice has always been with my special education class. I have
never felt comfortable grading anyone, especially special education students.
As stated in the book, “…it would be pointless to compare
one child to another.” Zander, R. S., & Zander, B. (2000). “An A
transports your relationships from the world of measurement into the universe of
possibility.” I truly believe in the universe of possibility. I wouldn’t be
able to teach my student’s that have so many challenges if I didn’t believe
that.On top of the cognitive issues my students have, they are living in an urban situation with shootings, drugs, and poverty. Most have developed emotional issues and their parents aren’t versed in parenting basics, or they may be in jail or have abandoned their child.
With all of this to overcome, I don’t want them to have to
“measure-up”. I have always started the year with telling the students that
they all are at the same place, they are on top and I view them as being great
people and wonderful students. They all get an A to start and the only way to
change that is to be disrespectful to others, curse too much, fight, not care
about doing the work, and not trying to work.
If they are all trying to do the best that they can, I can’t
make a judgment on a scale of someone else’s idea of what is correct. Even when
the students have very, very low abilities, I have to find their strengths and
build on that to improve their self-esteem. I accept them where they are that
day and allow them to be who they are and move on at their pace.
I don’t believe in benchmarks that my district has pushed on
everyone. Everyone learns at a different pace and everyone reaches different
developmental milestones at different ages. If they haven’t reached their
milestone, they are not ready to move on to the next level no matter what a
system says.
Since everyone is very unique we take pride in our differences
and strive to become an interesting little family.
Sources: Book: Zander, R. S., & Zander, B.
(2000) The art of possibility. Boston, Mass: Harvard Business School
Press.
Image: Microsoft Office Clipart; MP900385724 &
MP900431702
Debbie,
ReplyDeleteI applaud your philosophy of teaching. It sounds like the Zanders could have interviewed you for some stories to place in their book. I wish more people in educational leadership read this book and shared in its philosophy. I believe our education system would be much improved if it functioned in this regard. I don't teach "special education" labeled students all day, but I believe we are all special, with our own set of idiosyncrasies for learning and should be treated as such. I can understand your classroom through my wife's stories and experience in her career and I know what type of commitment and service you are providing to your students. Keep providing them a universe of possibility.
Hi Debbie,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that every student learns in a different way. There is not a one stop shop for student learning. Being in Sped especially has its challenges in grading ans assessing benchmarks. Raising a sped kid, has made me even more aware that everyone learns at their own pace in their own way. I tell my own kids and the ones I teach "I give you all what you need to be successful, and it won't be the same for everyone." From my experience most sped kids don't care about the letter grade they receive, but they love the high-fives, words of encouragement, and the hugs they get for trying their best. I wish all students were this way!.