Growing and Blooming

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Growing and Blooming

  • March 30, 2022
  • Posted by: Caitlin McCallum
  • Category: Wow Story
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I recently heard someone say, “Just because you aren’t blooming doesn’t mean you aren’t growing.”  I was reminded of some of my precious students.  Yes, some of my learners are making great gains and it shows.  Their test scores are showing significant growth.  A few of my students are even ready to transition away from me and back into a general education classroom setting.  This makes my heart happy and I am excited to watch them blossom into the successful, confident students that I knew they could be.

But what about the students that I teach the same thing to in different ways, multiple times, and they still struggle? What about those who had less than optimal test scores? The ones who seem to understand today, but will forget tomorrow? Aren’t those students growing?  These are the ones who keep me up at night, wondering, “Am I doing this right?” and “What can I do differently?”

Yes, these students are growing, but they aren’t blooming – yet. Their roots need to grow a little deeper. They need a bit more water in the form of explicit, direct instruction than others do. I need to continue to till their soil with the patience that only God can provide. But they are growing, believe me. They will bloom in their time. And when they do, they will be the most beautiful flowers in the garden.

~written by Andrea Hicks, LSEM Teacher at St Peter Lutheran School in Macomb, MI