Getting to the Heart of the Matter

Getting to the Heart of the Matter: So many times we have little idea of how much difference we've made in our student's lives. Patricia Polacco gave a beautiful tribue to the difference Mr. Falker made in her life with the writing and publication of her book Thank you, Mr. Falker.

Today, we' d like to ask you to go deeply in your memories and picture your students' faces.
Who do you see? List their names in a heart you have drawn on your own paper or in a graphic organizer.

Now, choose a student's face. Write the memory that the student's face prompted. Were you able to help this child learn? If so, describe how/ Was there a learning problem you still could not solve? Describe that memory?

Write for 10 minutes.

Choose another face. Write the memory that the student's face prompted. Were you able to help this child learn? If so, describe how/ Was there a learning problem you still could not solve? Describe that memory?

Write for 10 minutes.

Choose another face. Write the memory that the student's face prompted. Were you able to help this child learn? If so, describe how/ Was there a learning problem you still could not solve? Describe that memory?


Share one of your with your group.
Point out (Elbow pp85-86) the ideas, words, or phrases which stood out.

Now:

Loop back into this writing.
What learning questions, issues or strategies does this memoire bring to the forefront.