Leadership in the Classroom

It's just that time again to start planning for another week at the middle school to work with our kiddos. Of course, Mandie gave feedback on how we did the other day. The main comment of feedback she gave us was to better involve our adult volunteer, Pattie. I had noticed that we had not involved her so much in our activities the other day. She spoke with us afterward about how we did a good job and gave her suggestions for next time. However, my goal for next time is to get her more direct interaction with the kids.

Probably one of the meaningful parts of ID 315 that we have done outside of actually working in the classroom was reading the journal entries of the 6th graders and responding to them.  Personally, I love writing letters because I find personal expression so much easier on pen and paper. I liked how the students could write about the theme we gave them and how they drew a picture of something they liked or remembered. The drawings were adorable! Additionally, it was interesting to see the various perspectives of the students and which specific activities they really enjoyed. Then, we can keep in mind what they liked and try and incorporate it into future activities. Across the board we received positive reviews which really excites me. The students were also very interested in what we are going to be doing for the rest of the semester or what we are going to do with the organizations that we talked about the other day. I really enjoyed reading about their enthusiasm though. I am looking forward to spending more time with them this week.

The triangulated learning article did reflect what we are trying to do in Community Builders. For example, when we defined the words "community," "service," and "learning" in class last week, that took a more traditional approach. We were their teachers, reminding them of what those words mean by definition and in context. We take the peer learning approach by being role models for the 6th graders. They are going to learn from our actions and how we behave. They will learn lessons of leadership by how we as Wartburg students conduct ourselves. Finally, the students are going to learn through service-learning activities that we will do with Self Help International. Even though we won't get to see how the hygiene kits we use directly affect the area, we will be able to see the conditions the people live in through the presentation that Self Help will be giving at the school. By actually creating the kits, the feeling of service is more tangible because we can see and count how many hygiene kits we made. I am hoping that we can make sure to emphasize how small steps such as making a box can help someone.

I am aware that there are going to be challenges when working with the students or with being a leader in general. What I am most nervous about is having the 6th graders doubt who I am or what I am trying to share. Sometimes they are not going to be as excited about some of the issues or activities as I am - it's inevitable. I don't want to lose control of them or lose the importance of the issue with a lack of control or interest. Now how I do that - that will be the challenge and the experience!