November - noticing

A moment. As teachers, we have so many moments. It is the moments that stay with me, it is the moments that shape me, and it is the moments that often make me a better Teacher. This one popped up in my memories. Noticing. The power of noticing. Sharing a moment from my 3rd grade classroom experience.

We confer at the table, we walk about during work time, we notice, we comment, and we support. There is cardinal time. Time to catch up on work, get extra help, practice what we know. My friends had completed their unit 1 math assessment. As I am reviewing their work, a few stand out. It is more than just how well they did on an assessment, I see the same skills during our math block. During our Cardinal time, I decided I would meet with them individually and share my noticing. I call the first friend to the table. She sits, a bit nervously. I slide the assessment toward her and ask if she knows why I asked to speak with her. "Because I did something wrong?" she quietly replies. I silently page through her work. We notice together. I ask her if she likes math. Not really, but we have to do it is the reply. I tell her that surprises me because I can see how good you are at math, I notice you have a strong understanding of number concepts. I share a few more noticings. I share that I hope she takes an interest in math because she is really good at it. I do this with 3 more friends. Each responding the same, assuming they have done something wrong. Each leaving the table knowing they are noticed, noticed for greatness, sprinkled with the confidence to own that greatness. I end cardinal time with a bit of sadness that because I did something wrong is often the reality, but I recall their expression, their change in posture, that moment they recognize that I am good at this and I remind myself to keep noticing.

Keep noticing my educator peeps, keep noticing.