Adjustment Can Be a Plant of Slow Growth
At a recent staff meeting, we were asked to give consideration to transitioning new students into the classroom.
Working at an international school, I often have students added to the class not just in the final term, but throughout the entire school year.
We shouldn't sell the process short. Transitioning a new student and getting to know said student-- their passions, their temperament, and their social and academic capabilities can be a lengthy process.
When we get these students, we often hurry to speed the transition along. Hurry up and learn everything. Hurry up and make friends. Hurry up and become familiar with all our routines. Hurry, hurry, hurry. We hurry to make the day to day easier--to make the experience of school more enjoyable, to give children this magical "Disneyland"-esque experience of education. Myself? I'm guilty as sin of hurrying.
Some children do adapt easily. Some children slide right into the routines, transitions, friendships, and the academic setting. Others though, may need guidance, patience, and most importantly time and acceptance.
No matter what a student is like in your classroom--it is up to us as teachers to accept and allow time for their journey. It's okay to have students who function on different timelines. It's okay to have students who respond differently to the schooling transition. It's okay to meet a child where they are at and allow them to guide the pace in which they are comfortable settling in.
Perhaps a coincidental meditation I've found this term is in growing seeds with my class.
As we were planting seeds one of my four-year-olds exclaimed in a frustrated trill, "THEY AREN'T EVEN DOING ANYTHING YET!"
No, I responded. Seeds take time.
Two days later, the same student became exasperated that all seeds were not growing at the same pace. "WHY ISN'T THIS ONE DOING ANYTHING?" they asked--poking a stubborn bean accusingly.
Seeds grow when they are ready.
And by the fourth day, the same student exalted, " WOW! IT HAPPENED! HOW DID THEY GROW SO FAST?"
In what seems like an overnight it will happen--a student will click, find a friend, discover a new learning concept, come into the classroom confidently, or speak their first English sentence. You will find joy in their accomplishments no matter the size or nature.
It's up to us as teachers to be patient gardeners and to care for all seeds--no matter their rate of growth.
Adjustment can be a plant of slow growth--and that is okay. Sit with the journey and allow it to grow.
Working at an international school, I often have students added to the class not just in the final term, but throughout the entire school year.
We shouldn't sell the process short. Transitioning a new student and getting to know said student-- their passions, their temperament, and their social and academic capabilities can be a lengthy process.
When we get these students, we often hurry to speed the transition along. Hurry up and learn everything. Hurry up and make friends. Hurry up and become familiar with all our routines. Hurry, hurry, hurry. We hurry to make the day to day easier--to make the experience of school more enjoyable, to give children this magical "Disneyland"-esque experience of education. Myself? I'm guilty as sin of hurrying.
Some children do adapt easily. Some children slide right into the routines, transitions, friendships, and the academic setting. Others though, may need guidance, patience, and most importantly time and acceptance.
No matter what a student is like in your classroom--it is up to us as teachers to accept and allow time for their journey. It's okay to have students who function on different timelines. It's okay to have students who respond differently to the schooling transition. It's okay to meet a child where they are at and allow them to guide the pace in which they are comfortable settling in.
Perhaps a coincidental meditation I've found this term is in growing seeds with my class.
As we were planting seeds one of my four-year-olds exclaimed in a frustrated trill, "THEY AREN'T EVEN DOING ANYTHING YET!"
No, I responded. Seeds take time.
Seeds grow when they are ready.
And by the fourth day, the same student exalted, " WOW! IT HAPPENED! HOW DID THEY GROW SO FAST?"
In what seems like an overnight it will happen--a student will click, find a friend, discover a new learning concept, come into the classroom confidently, or speak their first English sentence. You will find joy in their accomplishments no matter the size or nature.
It's up to us as teachers to be patient gardeners and to care for all seeds--no matter their rate of growth.
Adjustment can be a plant of slow growth--and that is okay. Sit with the journey and allow it to grow.
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