A group of students were completing a fraction sorting activity. While working, one of them said, "Mrs. Brown, I like coming to your room for math intervention because I get to be one of the smart kids in here." The others began chiming in, too.
"Yeah. I get to be the first person to answer a question."
"No one gets mad when I talk longer to do things."
"I don't get embarrassed in here."
"Don't you hate it when other kids get mad at you for messing up the game?"
"Yeah. Or they just give me the answer because they don't want to wait."
"In here, I win games."
"You guys all make me feel like I good at math."
I did not say a word. I just listened and observed. Amazed. Horrified.
I am thrilled that they see math intervention as a place for them to shine. That is one of my goals --- to give them a level playing field and encouragement discuss and debate math with their peers.
And I fought back tears, hearing my students talk about not feeling smart.
These students have a wonderful classroom teacher who would be as horrified as me to hear these comments. I was a classroom teacher. It is a tough balancing act with 25+ students in a room. I am glad that some students have the opportunity to find their voice --- and their math success --- in my little room.
"Yeah. I get to be the first person to answer a question."
"No one gets mad when I talk longer to do things."
"I don't get embarrassed in here."
"Don't you hate it when other kids get mad at you for messing up the game?"
"Yeah. Or they just give me the answer because they don't want to wait."
"In here, I win games."
"You guys all make me feel like I good at math."
I did not say a word. I just listened and observed. Amazed. Horrified.
I am thrilled that they see math intervention as a place for them to shine. That is one of my goals --- to give them a level playing field and encouragement discuss and debate math with their peers.
And I fought back tears, hearing my students talk about not feeling smart.
These students have a wonderful classroom teacher who would be as horrified as me to hear these comments. I was a classroom teacher. It is a tough balancing act with 25+ students in a room. I am glad that some students have the opportunity to find their voice --- and their math success --- in my little room.