"There are numerous techniques to get kids to perform, but none is more effective than simply being enthusiastic yourself. When you show that you really care about something and that it means a lot to you, even the most challenging of individuals will tend to get on board and help achieve the goal you have in mind" (Clark, 21).
Reflect on that statement. Please give your thoughts on either
a) How you have seen enthusiasm transform a kid/class (your own or someone else's)
OR
b) How will you commit to being more enthusiastic as we face the rest of the year?
With this class, I have faced more trials, frustrations, tears, and anger than I have ever thought possible with a group of 10 and 11 year olds. They have (and continue to) challenge EVERY SINGLE belief I have ever had about teaching and this calling.
ReplyDeleteWith that said, I began to reflect on this quote and you know, even this bunch responds to my enthusiasm. They do get excited and embrace a topic that I truly "sell." Yes, there are those who won't and don't (like Emmanuel in the book), but it is my DUTY to keep on, keeping on.
Last week, The Lord reminded me of a parable and I have been holding on to it for dear life. Basically He said to me: You are a seed sower. It is your responsibility to sow seeds. You cannot control if those seeds land on fertile soil, if they land on rocky ground, or if they allow weeds to rise up and choke them out. It is your job to sow seeds.
It is exhausting and takes all I have, but I know I am called into this profession and I have to keep sowing... ENTHUSIASTICALLY!
FROM MS. SIMON...
ReplyDeleteI think it means it's all in your attitude and how you sell it. If your enthusiastic about a topic even if it's not your favorite subject your kids will learn more and nine out of ten so will you. The conversation that you will get from your kids leads to other ideas(projects,etc) that enhance the learning. I love the way that Ms.-Bag-of-Flour was handled. In the end she loved the idea of being a student throwing paper from the desk and it probably changed the way she taught from then on. ENTHUSIASM IS CONTAGIOUS! 👍
When I found out I was teaching Kinder, I immediately revamped my wardrobe. I knew that I had to be just as bright and cheery as the surroundings. It made me excited as well as my students. I found out along the way that I had been suppressing my inner self the whole time and now was my time to SHINE!!!
ReplyDeleteI also love the spontaneity of teachable moments. Whether it's in the school garden, or a lesson on the human body stemming from a discussion on snot, my students are so engaged when we are talking about something that just springs up in a moment and catches their attention. I love that look on their faces when I have their attention and I can see the wheels turning in their little minds!
Enthusiasm is absolutely contagious, and I have learned that if I show my kids my own passion for something, they will get on board even if they aren't sold on the idea at first. One of my go-to pep talks is that time goes by much faster when we are excited about what we are doing, so we look for ways to be excited. Our attitude becomes the ATMOSPHERE. I want the atmosphere around me to be positive and energetic!
ReplyDeleteI think all children respond to enthusiasm. Even Colter (at 17 months) is more likely to brush his teeth without pitching a fit if I make it sound like a party. The way we introduce new concepts in the classroom and the excitement in our voices can totally shape the way the lessons go. If they see that I'm enthusiastic and excited, they're more likely to feel the same way.
ReplyDeleteEnthusiasm is absolutely needed throughout the classroom! If students think that you are excited about what you are doing in class, then they are way more likely to actually care and get involved and even excited about what they are doing as well. I even remember in school being bored to death learning new concepts with certain teachers and then doing almost the same things with other teachers and being very interested in what we were doing, and now looking back I realize it was probably the tone and enthusiasm of one teacher over the other!!
ReplyDeleteI have always thought in education you are on stage and your class is your audience. You set the tone for the class. If the students see your enthusiasm then most of them will become interested. Also, when we are enthusiastic about something we give it our all and we give it our best. Students respond to that. None of us want to be Charlie Brown's teacher (noise in the back ground). We want our students to learn and remember.
ReplyDeleteThinking back on my own teachers I remember having one teacher in particular who sat in her chair through every class, barked orders, and that was about it. We learned absolutely nothing in her class other than how much we disliked her and our workbooks. She was the one teacher that I knew I wanted to be nothing like. I do remember wanting to be like my teachers who were so enthusiastic about learning that it was fun! I remember a few years back when I was doing a leave of absence, there was a class that I told to get their math books out. They got their books out and immediately started moaning and groaning about how much they hated math. I told them that I didn't want to hear that because math was my favorite subject, and I wanted them to say, "YES! It's math time!" From then on everyday they celebrated when it was math time, and their grades greatly improved also! I still see some of these kids around town today, and they always mention something they learned in my math class!
ReplyDeleteNothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm! After reading this chapter I was both encouraged and discouraged!!!I think enthusiasm pairs well with passion and I have a great deal of both. The chemistry of my exuberant personality and that of my class this year can be overwhelming at times. I constantly feel that I have to keep my energy in check because the balance is so delicate with this volatile group. As I reflect, I think that energy and enthusiasm are connected and difficult for me to regulate!!! Everyone that has visited my class or worked with them comments on their "energy". I am going to strive to be more enthusiastic and encouraging over the next few months without tripping a breaker:)--especially with my students that need more encouragement and praise. I feel that their 5th grade experience has been shortchanged by the behaviors of many of their classmates and that is simply unjust. It's almost like "fight or flight" in room 19. Iam determined to hang in there like a hair in a biscuit!
ReplyDeleteEnthusiasm is one of the vital key to a productive classroom. Even after teaching forever, I hope that I still show it to my students. I remember my teachers who showed their enthusiasm for learning. They are the ones who inspired me to be a teacher. We teach in a world where it is hard to be enthusiastic all the time. Our students need it more than ever. They live in a world that they rarely see any one being enthusiastic towards them about anything.
ReplyDeleteEnthusiasm is vital in the classroom and everyday life. What I've been challenged with since I returned from maternity leave was trying to instill confidence and excitement back in my students. They were beat. They would cry and throw fits. They mumbled under their breath how dumb/stupid they were. It took weeks for some and months for others to understand the reason we come to school- to learn. If we already knew everything we would have no reason to go to school. It was exhausting. Building confidence when children have none is difficult. [Page 14- text evidence, Bev ;)]
ReplyDeleteDaily I make sure my students know how proud I am of them. I make sure I praise them and encourage them.
I yell, scream, holler, and praise a child when they learn all their letter sounds, or when they make a 100 on a diary of the wimpy kid AR test. I fail. Often. But I do try my best to be enthusiastic about my kiddos individual successes.
Kids are not going to be excited about something school related unless YOU, the teacher, are excited. I try to be enthusiastic about the most important things. If I am not enthusiastic, I try to at least fake it.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that has been a learning process for me is AR. This is only my fourth year doing AR, and truly only the last two years have I been successful with it.The first couple years I was still learning how it worked, and I wasn't sure about it. Therefore, I wasn't super excited about it. Last year and this year, it is going much better for me. I know the reason is because of the change in my enthusiasm.
I have seen this in a greater form this year than ever. I have one student in particular that enthusiasm makes a world of difference with. Most students feed off of their teachers energy or expression. Especially in the younger grades, if a teacher is enthusiastic about a certain thing, the students tend to show the same enthusiasm. This year I have had several students who struggle on a totally different level than most of the students I have taught at WJES. However, one stands out more than others in that he completely shuts down when he feels like he can't do something or that his teacher has become frustrated with him bc he can't figure it out. I have found that the one thing that I can motivate him with is AR. The excitement he has when he makes a good score on a test, is something that I longed to see for the entire first semester of school. My enthusiasm in encouraging him and helping him find books that he can do well on has encouraged him to desire to read and to challenge himself to become a better reader.
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