My students are restless, are yours?? I've noticed a trend in my student write-ups and a certain day of the week. That's right people, Friday. Most people hate Mondays, I'm starting to dread Fridays. This past Friday I decided that we were going to end the week on a good note no matter what. I declared it a game day. Tabletop games that is...
I understand why families initiate a game night. It's a way for family members to connect with one another. I never really noticed this though because my family and I are very close. There was no difference if we were playing a board game or anything else. But I notice a huge difference in some of my students while playing a board game with them. Our students want to open up to us but it's difficult when we are plowing full steam ahead with the curriculum. Some days I don't even have a chance to ask them how their day is going.
But back to Friday. There were two students in particular who I played a board game with that could have made this Friday miserable given the opportunity. But instead they played a game and talked with me. Isn't this part of our job too? It's in the Charlotte Danielson model about getting to know our students. I always feel guilty about days like this; where I declare that I'm not going to teach any math today, I'm going to play board games with them (a.k.a get to know them).
Here is my suggestion to you. Play a game with your students. Not a whole class game, a board game. Watch them open up. Watch them trust you. It's an amazing thing.
I understand why families initiate a game night. It's a way for family members to connect with one another. I never really noticed this though because my family and I are very close. There was no difference if we were playing a board game or anything else. But I notice a huge difference in some of my students while playing a board game with them. Our students want to open up to us but it's difficult when we are plowing full steam ahead with the curriculum. Some days I don't even have a chance to ask them how their day is going.
But back to Friday. There were two students in particular who I played a board game with that could have made this Friday miserable given the opportunity. But instead they played a game and talked with me. Isn't this part of our job too? It's in the Charlotte Danielson model about getting to know our students. I always feel guilty about days like this; where I declare that I'm not going to teach any math today, I'm going to play board games with them (a.k.a get to know them).
Here is my suggestion to you. Play a game with your students. Not a whole class game, a board game. Watch them open up. Watch them trust you. It's an amazing thing.
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