The words
“disjointed anecdotal notes” popped out at me from paragraph one and I
immediately knew I could relate to the article’s author. Images came to mind of painstakingly gathered
data stacked in piles of files, all intended to aid a teacher in the process of
formulating purposeful instruction, yet in the end become a big conglomeration
of much ado about nothing.
This different
term, kidwatching, coined by Yetta Goodman, is more my style and makes sense.
Here’s why I believe this is true. How
children learn cannot be oversimplified on paper. It comes from both an intrinsic understanding
of what motivates them as well as an ability to streamline that knowledge in
such a way that students are receptive to the invitation to engage. Hence, as a child’s is made to feel valued,
the reward is not only transcribed within but is imbued to influence the
learning community as a whole.
The process of
kidwatching is still record keeping, and there are still tools needed to keep
tract of progress. It is simply a different
approach, because it is one that focuses on knowing students deeply rather than just by a
number or a dreadful score. My favorite
quote, found in the last paragraph, solidified my initial favor of the author.
“Sitting with a child and watching and listening carefully may be the best
thing we can do to get to know our students as readers.” Thank goodness for reminders such as this that
when we take the time to value a child first, the process of transcribing data
is not only easier but also has more meaning.
Amen! I've commented similarly on recent posts. Numbers scored on tests are not the best way to determine the needs of a child. Knowing your students helps motivate them and gives teachers the best information on how to meet their needs.
ReplyDeleteReflecting more on this, I can see where your students feel valued. Seeing you using Daily 5 and working to meet with each of your students shows that you are getting to know them as individuals which better equips you to meet their needs in your classroom.
Delete“Sitting with a child and watching and listening carefully may be the best thing we can do to get to know our students as readers.” You are so right about about this quote and article. I found it to be a restatement of what we always do. We may not write it down but it is in our mind.
ReplyDeletePaula,
ReplyDeleteI loved how you have embraced kidwatching as a simple way to not only capture what our students are doing when they are doing the hard work of making meaning with independent reading and writing but what how we as teachers, and our students can benefit from us taking time to learn about them and to consider what they can teach us about what they need next as learners. I love the quote you cited at the end. Powerful and reaffirming of how we don't need more templates or binders, we need to make time to watch, to think, and to plan in response to our students. Thank you! Dawn