This is from Sara, who, like Margarita, hasn’t been at this stuff for very long. Both of their recent reports from the field, given how they are both new to it, are to be recognized for what they are – amazing!
Here is Sara’s report:
Good morning Ben,
I just wanted to shoot you a quick email and say thank you for your advice with TPRS / CI. I have been incorporating some short stories and circling techniques in a few of my classes over the past week and I am really excited where this is going. I hesitate to even email you this because I know that there are lots of improvements that I still need to make and it may even take a year, or more, as your book suggests before I can really be great at this. I have just seen some small successes in my unruly classes with either students who never participated, doing so, or kids who have talked back being on board and I am so thankful.
A week ago I was seriously thinking that I cannot make it through this year and wondering if I should go back to my old profession in industrial engineering which I only did for a couple of years before quitting. I chose teaching Spanish because I truly believe in its importance and I really do want to work extra hard at it.
Again, I don’t really want to make a big deal about this because it’s only Wednesday and even on the good days it seems like one of the loud mouths is always absent. I just really appreciate the few email responses that you sent and your support, and the access to the PLC which I will definitely subscribe to when mine runs out. Gigantic thanks to you!
Have a great day,
Sara