Dear colleague,
I've written lots re: moments of genuine connection (MGCs), and bit by bit I see the idea infiltrating the broader educational conversation. It's basically a classic example of what I write about: stupidly simple ideas (stuff we all do) combined with stupidly simple systems (stuff we often neglect) to produce profoundly powerful changes in student hearts (stuff we all want).
The thing is, MGCs can be exhausting. But there's one kind of MGC that is just fun and easy.
For me, it happens when I'm doing the dishes. I'm sitting there, scrubbing grime away, and I find my mind wandering to school. I say to my mind, “Hey, what's something cool about today? Something I appreciated?” And my mind starts searching.
- Michael's friendship with Jaden and how the two of them look out for one another in the hallways
- John's TV Production class project, which I watched on YouTube during my lunch period
- Kaylin being the first person to stand up in today's Pop-Up Debate with startling confidence
As stuff like this comes up, I dry my hands real quick and make a note for myself. The next time I see these students, I'll pull them aside and say, “Hey Kaylin, I was just thinking the other night about how cool it was that you stood up first in that last Pop-Up Debate. I've known you to be a fairly quiet student in class, but when you stood up with all that confidence, it just made me smile. Respect, Kaylin.”
Sometimes, you do just have to force yourself to attempt MGCs with students — you have to will yourself to value, know, and respect the student and pull them aside to try to let them know.
But when you let your mind wander toward things that you appreciated in your school day, usually there is a person connected with those things and usually just letting them know will send a powerful signal of care.
Plus, it's fun.
Teaching right beside you,
DSJR
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