Sunday, April 17, 2011
Katy's student Majid...
Katy, this question is directed toward you... I wonder how much Julia conferenced solo with students after school, when they didn't have to worry as much about their reputation and saving face. I know Julia and David had conversations (about James-- were there others)?, but did they talk one-on-one about his progress and where he wants to go? I wonder if you could conference with your student Majid after school, so he is less preoccupied with being with his buddies.
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Yep, I wondered the same thing (about David/the other kids). It seemed like Julia did a lot of informal meeting with kids who chose voluntarily to stay after school (mostly girls though). At the same time, she and David seemed to have a close relationship so that must have occurred at some time, I would think.
ReplyDeleteSpecifically about Majid, I think that's a good suggestion...I have talked to him privately a few times about what's going on with him, what his goals are, etc. And he's much more willing to express, for example, that he wants to get really high grades, in private (although he and his closest friend do like to maintain high enough grades -- they remind me of David somewhat, they want to test the boundaries but not enough to appear not-smart). He often says stuff that he thinks I want to hear (I think). I'm not sure if it's any more genuine that what he might say in front of his friends.
One other thing about Majid -- on Friday his closest friend who I believe influences him this way was absent. The kids were talking in small groups about the themes in a novel we had read, and I overheard him having an actual argument with a group of boys about the theme he was putting forward, which was "Life isn't a crystal stair" (referencing the Langston Hughes poem which we also read). I was so impressed to see him take the lead academically that way, and so impressed with his response. I wonder how much that had to do with this one particular friend of his being absent.
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ReplyDeleteI think it's super important to be aware of students like Majid, and how they fluctuate in class depending on their friends and their proximity to their friends. I remember how Maya (my best friend throughout elementary school) and I would hem and haw if a teacher moved our seats or if we were not in the same group. I cared much more about being with Maya than I did about anything academic. But then again, it was not as imperative that I learn how to do school because I was more of a "Maintown" student, and I imagine Majid is not. So this is not a super helpful comment, but I guess I'm trying to say as teachers we can only influence who our students are influenced by to a some degree, but much of it is out of our control.
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