Teachable Moments
Friday, June 03, 2011
Missed the Bus!
I was waiting at a major intersection in my car at a red light. I noticed an older woman flagging the city bus driver to wait for her. This woman could not cross because there were too many cars and it was quite a busy intersection.
As soon as the light turned green, she dashed as fast as her elderly legs would take her across the street to board the bus. Despite the fact that the bus driver saw her flagging him (I thought) and walking faster than her normal stride, he pulled away from the curb as soon as the light turned green, leaving her in a cloud of exhaust fumes as he drove down the street.
Now, I thought. There are three conclusions I could draw: (1) Either he saw that she was moving slowly and just didn't want to stop or (2) He had to maintain his schedule and he could not wait or (3) despite the fact that she flailed her arms to get his attention, maybe he did not see her.
I, then, thought of our students. (1) Sometimes they are moving slowly in understanding a skill or concept and classroom teachers just don't want to stop or (2) Teachers have to maintain their schedule (pacing plan, lesson plan, curriculum guide) and cannot wait or (3) despite the fact that students complain, act out, sit in silence, refuse to participate, fall asleep, check their makeup or hairstyle, arrive late, leave early, ask permission to go to the bathroom, nurse's office or to see their counselor, classroom teachers may choose not to "see" what is the real problem.
I encourage every educator to pay attention: Know what kind of bus (curriculum) you are driving...Know how many seats (students) are on the bus...Know the red lights (when students don't understand) and Know the green lights (when to move forward).
We certainly don't want our students to MISS THE BUS!!!
As soon as the light turned green, she dashed as fast as her elderly legs would take her across the street to board the bus. Despite the fact that the bus driver saw her flagging him (I thought) and walking faster than her normal stride, he pulled away from the curb as soon as the light turned green, leaving her in a cloud of exhaust fumes as he drove down the street.
Now, I thought. There are three conclusions I could draw: (1) Either he saw that she was moving slowly and just didn't want to stop or (2) He had to maintain his schedule and he could not wait or (3) despite the fact that she flailed her arms to get his attention, maybe he did not see her.
I, then, thought of our students. (1) Sometimes they are moving slowly in understanding a skill or concept and classroom teachers just don't want to stop or (2) Teachers have to maintain their schedule (pacing plan, lesson plan, curriculum guide) and cannot wait or (3) despite the fact that students complain, act out, sit in silence, refuse to participate, fall asleep, check their makeup or hairstyle, arrive late, leave early, ask permission to go to the bathroom, nurse's office or to see their counselor, classroom teachers may choose not to "see" what is the real problem.
I encourage every educator to pay attention: Know what kind of bus (curriculum) you are driving...Know how many seats (students) are on the bus...Know the red lights (when students don't understand) and Know the green lights (when to move forward).
We certainly don't want our students to MISS THE BUS!!!