Day 88- Students Following Directions
Not every student will get an "A"
or be totally and completely aware,
Which is why it can be so exciting to be met
with more than a blank stare.
What I really want the most some days
is just for them to listen.
And to see that they're completing their work
instead of having assignments missin'.
Sometimes I smile as light bulbs go on,
and students make connections.
While other times I jump for joy
when they simply follow my directions.
Today I worked on commas with my students as part of a revision lesson for their research papers. I showed them how commas can save lives (think "Let's eat Grandma!" vs. "Let's eat, Grandma!), discussed examples of comma usage possible in popular song lyrics (they liked the Ke$ha example in my PP the best), and started them on the path to "comma sense" (like common sense... get it?). I spent a lot of time crafting the lesson, and I was worried that all of my cheesy jokes and efforts to make grammar interesting would be met with crickets and blank stares. However, I was both suprised and pleased to have most of my students laughing, particpating, taking notes actively, practicing the material, and FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS! If you've ever dealt with students or teenagers in any kind of capacity, I'm sure you know how meaningful the following of directions can really be. I may or may not have danced a little jig. If for no other reason than that, I think it was a good day for my students too :).
Thank you, students following directions, you made my day.
or be totally and completely aware,
Which is why it can be so exciting to be met
with more than a blank stare.
What I really want the most some days
is just for them to listen.
And to see that they're completing their work
instead of having assignments missin'.
Sometimes I smile as light bulbs go on,
and students make connections.
While other times I jump for joy
when they simply follow my directions.
Today I worked on commas with my students as part of a revision lesson for their research papers. I showed them how commas can save lives (think "Let's eat Grandma!" vs. "Let's eat, Grandma!), discussed examples of comma usage possible in popular song lyrics (they liked the Ke$ha example in my PP the best), and started them on the path to "comma sense" (like common sense... get it?). I spent a lot of time crafting the lesson, and I was worried that all of my cheesy jokes and efforts to make grammar interesting would be met with crickets and blank stares. However, I was both suprised and pleased to have most of my students laughing, particpating, taking notes actively, practicing the material, and FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS! If you've ever dealt with students or teenagers in any kind of capacity, I'm sure you know how meaningful the following of directions can really be. I may or may not have danced a little jig. If for no other reason than that, I think it was a good day for my students too :).
Thank you, students following directions, you made my day.
Comments