Yes, a cliche, but true all the same. Reflecting on life’s events can give you a better understanding of their significance.
I sit comfy and relaxed, enjoying my first real teacher summer off. I had to work last summer… yes, had to. After spending some time planning and budgeting last year so that I could pay my bills and feed my children; I learned from OTF that I was required to take the required credential classes from their new Practitioner Program. This meant I could not take credential classes at SFSU; which also meant I could not accept the State Grant that would have paid for my classes. Therefore, OTF required me to pay $333. per month for their classes (which were led by novice teachers). It also meant that I had very little money to live on that first year. Good times. The saving grace was that I was in a positive environment with a caring Principal. Lesson learned: when they try to pull a fast one, speak up and tell them, “hell no”!
I heard a bit on NPR this morning about how people usually can endure pain they inflict on themselves, or that they believe they have some control over, much more than pain inflicted by someone else. This is true. I’d rather suck it up when I screw up -than when someone else inconveniences me with their bullshit.
My second year went much better than the first. I was able to appeal to OPTP (Practitioner program of OTF) for a transfer to SFSU for my Clear Credential. The classes I took that fall made a huge impact on my practice. It was fantastic to use evidence-based methods. I made enough money to make ends meet. Victory.
My relationships with students were learning experiences for me. I have been amazed by the hard work and dedication of many of the students at MetWest High. There are definitely kids on all parts of the spectrum: slackers, doubters, cheaters, and then there are hard-workers, believers, and achievers – but regardless they all had something to teach me.
I’m reminded of a professional development meeting where teachers and staff discussed what characteristics were held by students that “owned their own learning.” What did they demonstrate on the daily that made them so successful? Was it something innate, was if their environment, was it the teaching, or was it a milestone/event or an ‘awakening.’ Could we duplicate their process and use it to pump life into those that were struggling?
I looked around the democratic ’round table’ at the faces of my colleagues. Most of them are younger than me, they have stress-free unfurrowed brows, they come from comfortable neighborhoods and families, they mostly come from privilege and access, school was easy for them… but they are still my colleagues – making little money and dedicating long hours to teaching in this urban, diverse, alternative school. Here they were trying to comprehend the against-all-odds successes of the achievers at our school. Good stuff.
And I thought about my point of reference. I thought about how I came to this table. What was it that made me rise out of my depths and leap over the challenges?
And I thought of my students. What did the struggling students say and do? What were there obstacles? How did those achievers move beyond the obstacles?
In one sense, its definitely habits and behaviors that make a difference. Most of the time, turning in your homework will improve your grade. But how do these kids with distracting and overwhelming homes turn in their homework?
In the end, I learned it comes from something deep inside. In comes from something called ‘ganas’ – the desire to do it no matter what. It’s hard to put ganas in someone else. Especially when they don’t trust you.
I learned that at MetWest, the teachers/staff spent every week pondering important questions pertaining to academic achievement of *all* their students. They created a safe and comfortable learning environment. They remained positive. They used evidence-based strategies, they shared their own tools from their privileged but useful tool belt, and then they believed in these kids. And when these kids learned that all that good feeling and safety was real… and they found within them their own purpose… then- they get the ganas to do the work. Good job – great work – and nice ganas.
