I joined the 3-6 grade teachers from the district this morning as they learned about the new guided reading series. The very first activity was to read a book and share information with your neighbor and then the group. The consultant made sure I was on task and told me I would be involved, not that I would be multi-tasking. The book she asked me to read was about a young man who bullied students in the school and did not like the teachers or principal. The principal noticed this young man looking out at the courtyard one day. He was curious because he had been so confrontational the many times he was in the office. The principal learned the boy was looking at the birds in the courtyard. He was still short with the principal but he thought there may be something there. He called him in another day and the discussion continued and that his grandfather has taught him about birds and he really enjoyed learning about them. The principal used this relationship to not only inspire the boy but to build a relationship with the boy and his grandfather.
Each year we have students come in to our buildings ready to learn. We also have students come to our doors that need to be shown the staff is worthy of their time and energy. My goal this year, as in every year, is to work with the whole student. I challenge the staff at AlBrook and Cotton to continue to work to get through to their students. I challenge students and parents to work hard to understand their classmates and be a friend. Being a friend can just be checking in with someone with a friendly HELLO in the morning. Being a friend is not making fun of someone, laughing at them, or even leaving someone out. Next year we will be trying to get to know our new classmates, let's spend this year getting to know our current classmates.
Summer is coming to an end . . . keep reading, start adjusting your clocks to "school time", and get ready for a great school year!
