Numbers Dropping – Week 11
One week left of classes and attendance is noticeably down. I mean, there are a handful to students absent due to various reasons, but it is a bit disappointing. I understand that students have to make choices. Students who were in my class candidly shared that information with me. Reassuring on the one hand but aggravating on the other. It’s the end of the term and students budgeting their time to get papers done and study for tests. I get that. If grades are driving the learning-train, then students are going to act accordingly to get the grades.
Stepping away from this rain cloud was the awesome IGNITE presentations and this final reading reflection. This student was signed up to do her reading reflection today and she was late to class because she got a flat tire on the way to school. Instead of giving up or postponing her reading reflection, she sent me an email to reassure me that she was still coming to class and that she might be late. During our break, she arrived. Wow. I was so impressed by her determination to come to class and readiness to present. She opted to present after the IGNITE presentations.
I would call her “the closer.” That was so bold to want to end the class with her reading reflection. What surprised me more was that she made a PowerPoint presentation for her reading reflection (she was one of two in my class of 35). What made the presentation more impressive was that the article was nothing like what she had expected (based on the title). She was disappointed and expressed that disappointment during her presentation. As a result, she delved into the article with additional research to gain a deeper understanding of “Leading from the Middle.”
She held the class for about 20 minutes. I was engaged. She pretty much hit the major points of the public education system and roles of each level of governance or government had in curriculum development. She found examples of top-down curriculum development and bottom-up examples. She got it. Her presentation was compelling and she ends her presentation/reading reflection questioning whether or not if it would be appropriate to lead from the middle in the context of curriculum development. Wow. She left me speechless. Good question. Great presentation.
Yes… I can dwell on a few missing students… or I can relish in the awesome work students are doing in this class. The student presentations were excellent and students are already handing in assignments early (even though they asked for an extension for another assignment that’s due). I appreciate student voice and advocacy. Yes, I completely understand their situation and yes, I gave an extension. I am so grateful that my students are willing to ask. I am truly honoured.