Nov
22
Spanky and the Gang
November 22, 2009 | Tagged listening, observing, spanky, the gang | Leave a Comment
thanks to www.tvparty.com
I am sitting in a fourth grade classroom sandwiched between two fourth
grade boys at pod of desks listening to an awesome interactive lecture
on the first colonist to America. Eight flat desktop desks are pushed
together face to face to make a working group. I am listening and enjoying
the visuals Mrs. S was using and in awe with the interaction from the
kids. Not only were they answering questions the teacher was posing they
were sharing inferences about why the colonist came and offering insight
about their difficult life. Mrs. S wonderfully got the kids to think
about the explorers as their background knowledge. I enjoyed the
conversation and how intelligently these fourth graders answer and
discussed the topic. And this was their introductory lesson. The Images
she used made the difference as she told stories about the people and
places. This is what social studies is about! The kids enthusiasm was
refreshing!
I liked most the part being on the student level in a student desk and
listening to their back channel conversations. Yes, kids have those
conversations as well. But in amazement they were so connected to the
content being presented. The kids would make comments to me and I found
myself whispering back as well with my comments. They would whisper a
comment to me and I would pose a question to them. From the onset I
thought how rude, but for the moment I got caught up in being one of the
fourth grade boys. I forgot about my manners and just enjoyed being a
boy. I caught myself raising my hand to answer a question and quickly
put it down before Mrs. S saw me (or anyone else).
The young man beside me who was the perfect Spanky from the Little
Rascals was sitting there quietly. Now let me remind you that Spanky was
a genious and probably knows more about history than me. Constantly he
had the last say in whispers to me as Mrs. S taught. I notice Spanky
was inconspicuously eating a bag of CheZ Its from his desk. I noticed a
few other kids eating so I thought it was okay; therefore, I kept my
mouth closed. Moments later Spanky- my new pal- punched me in the
shoulder. Holding a ChezIt in his hand and holding it toward me! “Have one! Are you hungry!” I
froze in time as I starred at it because I don’t like to turn down food
and the word “yes” started surfacing. I caught myself and reality sat
in again. I was back to being a classroom observer.
Later in the day I ran into Spankie in the hallway and he stopped.
“Hey, Mr. G, Isn’t Msr. S a wonderful social studies teacher! She
knows how to make learning fun!”
“You know, you are right!” How amazing this kid!
