How high do you bounce?
RESILIENCE
:the ability to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens
: the ability of something to return to its original shape after it has been pulled, stretched, pressed, bent, etc.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resilience
Every day I encounter students, friends, strangers with a story of resilience. The story of people who are stretched beyond what we would find reasonable - and yet who find success -
Today I want to share these three:
1) My son: James
I happened to be leaving the high school (where I teach and he attends) to find a group from his aerodynamics class- testing an airplane. Please know that I realize sarcasm is lost on language learners, and well, most teens. BUT it is a form or humor that I felt comfortable using with my son present (just want to throw that disclaimer out there).
http://youtu.be/D6v8Mo8YGLQ
They have been working on a design (from scratch) while learning principles of physics - to create a plane that flies. There is a competition involved and it's bragging rights. Team work is extremely difficult for language learners. I personally struggled with team projects all through school. James has even asked to be removed from some work groups and advocated to work with students who were like minded and enthusiastic about this course and his project. No matter how many times this plane crashes (hopefully not into students's heads again) he will continue to work on it - stretch his learning and press on to find success.
This is just one of the many stories of resilience that he has had to face in his 4 years of being our son - and an American student. He turns 18 years old this year and we hope and pray that this attitude becomes one of his core values.
2) A new family in our community
Imagine being in the country for 2 weeks - because your mother has passed away. Now you live with your 3 siblings - you father, his new wife and their 3 younger children in a 3 bedroom apartment. You haven't been to school in 2 years (details unknown). You start school with one paper in your hand - a schedule.
You have a locker combination but no idea how to use a combination lock. Numbers are not the problem - it's the logistics or right turn - left turn twice and land on the # - then right turn to the number and open. After two days of frustration - a few emails and a teacher who happens to be married to one of the assistant principals; key locks are purchased from ACE and installed.
One problem solved!
Now you need to navigate the lunch line - and remember another 4 digit number -
Oh and the bus # (which you miss on the first day because you're not sure how to get home).....
I could fill an entire blog with scenarios from this one families first 2 days of school - not to shame them, or the school system - but to help you realize the minute to minute details of a students today that offers opportunities for them to exercise their resilience!
When I sit in a classroom of students with any degree of apathy towards their education - and a newcomer refuses to sit (while others are studying for a quiz) and goes up to her teacher and asks for the questions.... (amazing self advocacy) - I question if EL students have something others don't?
Another newcomer that I had the pleasure of working with in a small group last semester had left his family to move here to live with his uncle - for the opportunity of playing baseball. He HAD to be concerned about his grades or the club that was sponsoring him might not recruit him. While some teenagers might enjoy living away from their families for a short period of time - he clearly missed his parent and younger sibling. For thanksgiving we made this short video:
Every day I encounter students, friends, strangers with a story of resilience. The story of people who are stretched beyond what we would find reasonable - and yet who find success -
Today I want to share these three:
1) My son: James
I happened to be leaving the high school (where I teach and he attends) to find a group from his aerodynamics class- testing an airplane. Please know that I realize sarcasm is lost on language learners, and well, most teens. BUT it is a form or humor that I felt comfortable using with my son present (just want to throw that disclaimer out there).
http://youtu.be/D6v8Mo8YGLQ
They have been working on a design (from scratch) while learning principles of physics - to create a plane that flies. There is a competition involved and it's bragging rights. Team work is extremely difficult for language learners. I personally struggled with team projects all through school. James has even asked to be removed from some work groups and advocated to work with students who were like minded and enthusiastic about this course and his project. No matter how many times this plane crashes (hopefully not into students's heads again) he will continue to work on it - stretch his learning and press on to find success.
This is just one of the many stories of resilience that he has had to face in his 4 years of being our son - and an American student. He turns 18 years old this year and we hope and pray that this attitude becomes one of his core values.
2) A new family in our community
Imagine being in the country for 2 weeks - because your mother has passed away. Now you live with your 3 siblings - you father, his new wife and their 3 younger children in a 3 bedroom apartment. You haven't been to school in 2 years (details unknown). You start school with one paper in your hand - a schedule.
You have a locker combination but no idea how to use a combination lock. Numbers are not the problem - it's the logistics or right turn - left turn twice and land on the # - then right turn to the number and open. After two days of frustration - a few emails and a teacher who happens to be married to one of the assistant principals; key locks are purchased from ACE and installed.
One problem solved!
Now you need to navigate the lunch line - and remember another 4 digit number -
Oh and the bus # (which you miss on the first day because you're not sure how to get home).....
I could fill an entire blog with scenarios from this one families first 2 days of school - not to shame them, or the school system - but to help you realize the minute to minute details of a students today that offers opportunities for them to exercise their resilience!
When I sit in a classroom of students with any degree of apathy towards their education - and a newcomer refuses to sit (while others are studying for a quiz) and goes up to her teacher and asks for the questions.... (amazing self advocacy) - I question if EL students have something others don't?
Another newcomer that I had the pleasure of working with in a small group last semester had left his family to move here to live with his uncle - for the opportunity of playing baseball. He HAD to be concerned about his grades or the club that was sponsoring him might not recruit him. While some teenagers might enjoy living away from their families for a short period of time - he clearly missed his parent and younger sibling. For thanksgiving we made this short video:
3)From ELL training last year
Imagine yourself doing this exercise. In fact - I dare you to have your staff do it -
No explanation needed - !
So I ask you - what makes you bounce back? Bounce higher? Bounce at all?
Love the title Geniene! You should expand on this topic. With your EL teaching experience, your family stories, and your "connections to PLN" experiences you could absolutely write a great book. The 3 examples in your post left me thinking of how we help shape resiliency at our school as well as how could we do a few things differently especially with our students at risk.
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