As educators we all strive for our students to have an “aha” moment. It is so unbelievably rewarding when a student is struggling with something then all of the sudden it clicks! I find that 9 times out of 10 this moment is induced by a single sentence. A magical analogy or example that just resonates with a student and all the sudden the world makes sense. These are the sentences that I am always trying to put together for students, and when they land, its the best feeling. Ive been known to shout very loudly.
What works for one student does not always work for the rest. Of course I have a full arsenal of tips and tricks to help a student better understand how something works. But naturally every student has a moment with some technique, song or concept that we just cannot get past. That’s when I start riffling through the list of things that have worked for other students, sometimes with no luck. Then eventually the magic words come out. The student lets out a loud OHHHHHH, then they know exactly what needs to be corrected. Then we celebrate usually with yelling and drumming as loud as we can.
These are the moments when I realized I was meant to teach. Seeing a kid go from frustrated to elated is amazing. It really is the best feeling to see a child so unapologetically proud of themselves.
Hilary