cc licensed photo by shuttermonkey
Want to know why I teach? Read the next few paragraphs and try to imagine the scene.
Today during my Kindergarten and 1st grade music classes, we were singing songs about animals and the sounds they make when they wake up in the morning. I have large cards with pictures of the animals, and there is a curved line on the cards that visibly depicts the “shape” of each animal’s sound. For example, a cat’s meow is in the shape of a “U.” (Take your finger and draw a “U” in the air as you slowly say meee-oooowww… you’ll get it.)
The very last card is an owl. I asked my students to put on their thinking caps. I said, “Boys and girls, I think we might have to change our song for this one. Please put on your thinking caps. What do you know about this bird? Are there words in the song we might have to change? Think for a little bit, and then raise your hands if you think we might have to change something.”
A lot of kids knew the answer right away, but a few took a little while to come up with the answer. My favorite part about this was watching the very VISIBLE thought process on their faces. Their brows were knitting… their eyes were looking up and from side to side… and then WOW! The look of surprise when they realized what we had to change!
“Owls are nocturnal!! They can’t wake up in the morning and make a sound! They wake up in the nighttime!!”
(I didn’t even know that brand new kindergartners knew the word, “nocturnal!”)
I had goosebumps on my arms, because I saw my students getting excited about their thinking. It was such an incredible feeling… for ME. After today, one of my new goals is to be able to help all my students have light bulb moments every time we are together.
Watching those light bulbs go off today was priceless. THAT is why I teach.
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That is wonderful! (and yes, ‘nocturnal’ is a seriously sopphisticated word for them to be using)
Today I showed yr3s how to use bubbl.us, this week I taught some Yr7s how to use a spiral binder, last week I taught some yr8s to knit, next week I’m showing a prac teacher how to use wikis – in each activity the best bit is seeing them “get it”.
Oh and this morning I helped yr1 figure out the joke in a gorilla being named ‘Hugh Jape’ (Willy & Hugh, by Anthony Browne) – watching their eyes pop was such fun!
Keep switching on those light bulbs!
Thanks for your comment, Kate! I love “Hugh Jape!” I’ll have to order that book and have the kids write songs to accompany the book! Sounds like you’re helping a lot of light bulbs! 🙂
Teachers always talk about the thrill of kids “getting it” and watching light bulbs go off, but I don’t think I’ve ever really felt the way I did today… it almost felt like it was happening for the kids and for me in in slow motion. It was so great!
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Matt, Pernille Ripp. Pernille Ripp said: Light Bulb Moments: http://bit.ly/aIQZha via @michellek107 […]
I love this post, Michelle…
And I LOVE the lightbulb moments!! It definitely is at the top of my reasons for loving teaching! 🙂
Great story… thanks for sharing!
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by April Brown, Michelle Honeysett. Michelle Honeysett said: Great post by @michellek107 "Want to Know Why I Teach?" Lightbulb moments… http://bit.ly/d94RYN […]
Outstanding, Michelle. I’ve worked mostly with older kids, and yet what you’ve captured from your work with the wee ones is the essence of why I too have found teaching so gratifying. And I love the nocturnal anecdote–reminds me of my blog post Talking to Students Like You Talk to Peers: http://ginsburgcoachingtt.wordpress.com/2010/04/11/talking-to-students-like-you-talk-to-peers/