Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Delight in Learning

at Two Writing Teachers!
I'm wiped out. We're in the midst of state standardized English proficiency testing: three days of paper tests (reading, writing, and listening) in addition to individual speaking tests that we must complete with each student throughout the week during our plan and admin periods.

Nonetheless, my "one little word" for the year has managed to sneak its way into my day. (Thank goodness!)  Delight.  Days like today are why I made it my OLW: to find delight even when I'm tired, even when things are crazy, even when I've been feeling discouraged.  And just as promised, delight shows up.  It's everywhere. I just have to notice it!

First, a student ran into my classroom this afternoon breathlessly waving Tears of a Tiger, which I booktalked a few weeks ago and recommended personally to her last week. "Mrs. M!  I woke up at 6:00 this morning to read this book! It's sooooo good!!!" Especially sweet since she's been one of my many students who insist that they "don't have time" to read.

Then this evening before dinner, I was watching reruns of The Andy Griffith Show, which to me is like snuggling into my mom's arms since that's where I first watched it.  Much to my DELIGHT, one of my all-time favorite episodes came on: the one where Helen Crump is introduced as Opie's new teacher.  From the moment Opie and his friends start calling her "Old Lady Crump," I'm cackling every 30 seconds.

In this episode, Opie and the other boys in his class have decided they hate history, to the point that they boycott their assigned reading.  The best part (and one of my absolute favorite moments of the whole series) is how Andy gets them to do their homework again with his dramatic storytelling of Paul Revere's ride:

Despite the historical (and grammatical) inaccuracies, I love the DELIGHT in learning that shines in this clip. Andy's enthusiasm as he tells the story comes together with the wonder on the boys' (and Barney's) faces to show that learning can be fun.  No, that learning IS fun, and if you don't know it yet, it's just because nobody's helped you discover it in a way that means something to you.

I love that Andy gets them to buy into learning by knowing their interests: he knows that little boys love Indians and guns, so that's how he hooks them.  Then he makes the story come alive so much that they forget it's "history" and just DELIGHT in the story.  After all, as Ruth and Stacey so often remind us, story matters.  Suddenly, history is so exciting that they're clamoring for more.

That's what learning should be.  That's what I want for my students: DELIGHT in learning. So thank you, Andy Griffith, for reminding us what can happen when we draw on student interests and share the power of story with them.  For someone who wasn't officially a teacher, you sure were a good one.

8 comments:

  1. Oh, Jennifer, I loved every bit of this. You made me think "delight" & I smiled & smiled at the video. Maybe I should be watching more of Andy Griffith. I loved hearing about the student reader too, & I could hear the delight in your words. You wove all the parts together so beautifully. Thank you!

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    1. Thanks, Linda! I think you would love Andy Griffith! :-)

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  2. Oh I love this post and the delightful clip. You have reminded me to keep the fun in learning...hard to do as we "practice" test for the "real" tests on the near horizon!

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    1. That's why I chose this word -- I don't want to ever lose the joy that should come with learning, and yet it's so easy to do in the midst of all the testing! (We are currently in our ELL-only testing, with state graduation testing coming in just over a month!)

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  3. I love how you can find your word throughout your day, even when it is an exhausting day. I think the students delight in all that you do for them.

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  4. Great how you found your word both at school and home. I'm in the middle of those tests, too. It may take forever to get finished...the stomach virus is making its way through our hallways. No matter what class I go to to get a group of students, I find one (at least) missing. I cut one session short today when a student was starting to turn green...

    Yesterday one student actualy gave the characters dialogue when she was telling me "the story you see in the pictures." A delight!

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  5. Delight in learning - I'm going to try my hardest to help my most intensive intermediate students catch a glimpse of delight while they learn.

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  6. Hi Jen - also got your note on my blog about music. My daughter has some questions about time commitments for Big 10 marching band participants. Maybe you could shed some light? (my email is readsomuch@gmail.com). Also, my younger daughter just started Tears of a Tiger and told me I have to read it. So many connections! :)

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