New Students and New Challenges

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New Students and New Challenges

  • April 15, 2020
  • Posted by: Caitlin McCallum
  • Category: Wow Story
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Every new school year brings new students and new challenges. This year is no different, even before school closings over health concerns and the new distance learning that teachers and students have transitioned to.

One of our teachers shared a few students that stood out to her after the first half of the year.

“The student that has been the most fun for me to plan for and to work with is my new Kindergartner. She is having a very difficult time learning her letters. Because she loves to do crafts, we have made a simple project to represent each letter and sound Reviewing these each day has given her a picture to reference for the sound of that letter. She is making good progress.

The student that has been the most challenging for me is my new first grader. She is selectively mute. It has been challenging for me to come up with questions and activities to get her to talk with me, another friend, and then in class. The time and effort I put into planning for this student is well worth the reward of her little successes in being brave and talking, however small the amount, with other people.

My most encouraging student is my seventh grader with a language disability. He has come so far since I began working with him in third grade. Most of the work he did with me was quite challenging, and he was always working near his frustration level. However, he always works hard and gives his best effort. During one session recently, he was having a difficult time with summarizing and note taking. He looked up at me and said, “This is really hard, but I know it is very important for high school.” What a rewarding statement for a teacher to hear!”

LSEM teachers work hard and use whatever tools, techniques, and tricks they can until a child has that “Ahha!” moment. Our teachers do amazing work and the time they spend with these children makes an incredible impact on their lives and futures. We are so proud of our teachers and our students, who inspire us to work hard and be innovative.