Taking Ownership in Each Other

When I was in my second year of teaching, I almost hung it up. I had a class of kids who were tough. I naively thought that they would be so excited to have a new, young teacher leading them each day that they would buy in to what it is we were learning in class. Wasn't I cute? 

They didn't buy into learning. They didn't buy in to that new, young teacher. And they sure didn't buy into each other. It was after this class, that I realized the problem did not lie solely with them - I was part of the problem. I didn't know how to fix our classroom problems. From that point on, a safe, respectful learning environment has been my most important goal each year.

I try my best to get to know my students, to foster a language of respect, to create a classroom that thrives on collaboration and conversation. But Friday, I realized that I still had work to do in one of my classes. As much as I hated to admit it, I didn't think that this hour felt the same about coming to my class as other hours. So I asked them, "What word or phrase comes to mind when you think about coming to class." I asked them to be honest. They were.

Their responses: 

• Relaxed
• What are we going to do with the research paper today? 
• I hope classmates don't yell.
• I can't focus. 
• Rats - I have English.
• Reading
• Hard working
• A little bit scared of some of my classmates
• Work
• Long
• Oh boy
• AND ugh - everyone I sit with is going to be loud.

Talk about a gut check. But I'll be honest, it wasn't anything that I didn't already know. I just didn't know how to fix it. Over the past few weeks, I have spent a lot of time on the road traveling as Kansas Teacher of the Year. This particular hour has never been far from my mind. I have a new teacher in my classroom who is doing an amazing job getting to know these students and make this class her own - and she was having the same concerns that I did. These students had taken ownership of what makes our class different - flexible seating, 10 minutes of independent reading a day - just to name a few. It dawned on me Friday that I had forgotten one thing: THEY HAD NOT TAKEN OWNERSHIP OF EACH OTHER.

It was so clear to me. They had not bought into this class as a family. They had not bought into the fact that we are better together. And then, I had an idea. I showed this video: 

Every time I watch it, I am amazed at how the magic in this room just happens. Hugh Jackman doesn't have to ask anyone to start singing - they let it happen. The young lady isn't self-conscious about raising her hand while she sings - she just does it. The young man in the hoodie doesn't ask to stand on a chair - he lets the energy in the room take over. No one tells them to clap their hands. No one tells them to laugh or smile. These singers have taken 100% ownership of what they are doing because they believe in each other and are working toward a common goal.

This is what my class was missing. Ownership. So, I asked them to buy in. They got in groups with individuals that they don't normally work with. I asked them three questions:

1. What actions can no longer take place for this to be the type of class we want it to be.
2. How will you show respect to others and what will you do if we get off track?
3. At the end of the year, how will you know that you have successfully changed our classroom culture? What does a healthy, successful classroom environment look like?

You see, it dawned on me that I have done almost all that I can to create a safe learning environment - the real work is up to them. So this has become our new class goal. We are going to purposefully lift each other up. We are going to keep our goal of being part of a respectful positive learning environment as our #1 goal. If that happens, we will do amazing things in room 209.

Before they left on Friday, I asked them to share affirmations with each other. I started; I shared an affirmation with a student who moved in the middle of the year. She chose another student. He chose another student. One student affirmed the new teacher in my classroom and thanked her for the job she has done while I have been gone. We made our way around the room - sharing one compliment at a time. No one left class without a smile on his or her face. I'd say that is more important than any grammar lesson or short story that I could have planned. So Monday, they will keep building trust and respect. Monday they will get back to English. I can't wait to see what happens as they take ownership of our classroom culture. It will be so awesome to watch them lead.