Each Thursday this spring I have been trudging through the slushy snow to co-teach a class to pre-service teachers at UNL. The students are doing a child study in their practicum settings where they are asked to do assessments of one child's literacy skills. Yesterday, my team-teacher and I asked the college students to fill out a form that looks at the whole child. It asked for the child's interests, his or her family background, social/emotional behavior, etc. In short, we asked--what is this kid like outside of literacy stuff. Who is he? How is she unique?
As many dutifully filled in the blanks on their white sheets, I saw one head hunched over, pen tapping, her other fist holding up her head. When I stopped to ask what the trouble was, she rolled her eyes, "I didn't know I was supposed to be paying attention this stuff with Carlos."
How she managed to observe and work with a third-grade child numerous times without even noticing a shred of his humanity made me want to give her shaken college student syndrome and generally forced words into my head that aren't at all professional. Just what the #$%@ were you paying attention to?
Somehow I managed to compose my thoughts.
"Well, maybe when you work with Carlos next time you should try to get to know him a bit."
"Yeah, I could probably do that."
As I trudged back to my car through the slushy snow, exasperated, I finally did smile knowing someone learned something today that mattered. I smiled thinking about her next meeting with Carlos.
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