For some reason, the bus stopped a couple minutes early today. She wasn't there, so it left without her. Two minutes later, Ashlee starting watching for the bus. After 20 minutes of waiting, with both parents at work, and no one to call, that is when Ashlee decided to walk to school. This may not have been the best decision, but it showed a determination to get to school.
I started thinking about all the comments we hear about kids. Things like, kids today don't have the work ethic . . .these kids today just don't . . . and all kids want to do is play video games or kids just don't care about . . .
The people who make negative comments about today's students are comparing a slower paced less challenging time with today's high speed world. They are missing the fact that success today looks different than in the past. In school, the expectations for students in this test-driven time is stressful and often stymies creativity, but students persevere.
These people are so wrong about these kids today. They are not in a classroom to watch kids day after day give their all until they succeed. Students today are smart. They are creative. They think critically. They have the courage to question. And as Ashlee showed, they have the ability and determination to solve problems.
I think the next time I hear someone talk about these kids today, I will ask what he accomplished by the time he was eleven. The students in Reading Workshop write and publish blogs that are read worldwide. I think that says a lot about these kids today.
Image from http://www.lightrailnow.org/images/pedcrossing-sign-cameo.jpg
I started thinking about all the comments we hear about kids. Things like, kids today don't have the work ethic . . .these kids today just don't . . . and all kids want to do is play video games or kids just don't care about . . .
The people who make negative comments about today's students are comparing a slower paced less challenging time with today's high speed world. They are missing the fact that success today looks different than in the past. In school, the expectations for students in this test-driven time is stressful and often stymies creativity, but students persevere.
These people are so wrong about these kids today. They are not in a classroom to watch kids day after day give their all until they succeed. Students today are smart. They are creative. They think critically. They have the courage to question. And as Ashlee showed, they have the ability and determination to solve problems.
I think the next time I hear someone talk about these kids today, I will ask what he accomplished by the time he was eleven. The students in Reading Workshop write and publish blogs that are read worldwide. I think that says a lot about these kids today.
Image from http://www.lightrailnow.org/images/pedcrossing-sign-cameo.jpg
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4 comments:
Hey Mr.McGuire,
You know how you always get on us about not spelling words right well you might want to look at your post about me again and change my name to Ashlee and not Ashley!!!I don't spell your name wrong so please fix it.
Ashlee Thank you for the help!
I love your positive attitude and recognition of the great students you see!
Although many of our schools are in crisis, we have to pay attention to the strategies out there that are working.
In November, Houston is hosting the BigTent Conference, a first-of-its-kind national positive youth development conference bringing together almost every major education voice and think tank in the country – Search Institute, 4H, Boys & Girls Clubs, America’s Promise and more.
The BigTent is a safe environment to learn, grow and make a plan to support kids in the areas you're writing about and so much more. I wanted to invite you to attend: www.BigTentConference.com.
Hey ! I remember this! That was so long ago! I just kept scrolling to see if this was still on your blog and it is (:
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