One of my Math classes today was booked into the Gym to participate in a ropes/rock climbing course that had been rented by the Phys. Ed. team for the week and set up for all classes in that grade to participate in.
In addition to the Phys. Ed. teacher and the fellows who worked for the company, I was also to be on hand to supervise (and was invited to participate if I wished).
The ropes involved considerable perseverance and problem solving ability -- students had to use knots and various procedures as well as body strength and agility to climb and descend -- and I was interested to see how particular students in my math class would fare.
In addition to the Phys. Ed. teacher and the fellows who worked for the company, I was also to be on hand to supervise (and was invited to participate if I wished).
The ropes involved considerable perseverance and problem solving ability -- students had to use knots and various procedures as well as body strength and agility to climb and descend -- and I was interested to see how particular students in my math class would fare.
I found to my amazement that the same students who tended to give up easily rather than persist with a problem or new work in math were also the students who struggled with limited success on the ropes!
"OMG, I can't do this!" whined one girl repeatedly who issues the same complaint while rolling her eyes in my math class on a fairly regular basis. Two boys who struggle to stay focused during independent work in math required frequent encouragement, guidance and redirection on the ropes, too.
One student had just basically given up entirely, and was sort of just "sitting"/hanging there on his rope. Kind of the way he just sort of lounges around in math class, not really doing much work of any consequence.
And the gals who stuck with it, even though it was hard work, trying different approaches, considering what they were taught, applying various strategies, and whose efforts were rewarded when they found themselves at the top of the ropes, gazing down upon those less perseverant? You guessed it! The same kiddos who work at a math problem in my class and don't give up when the solution is not immediately apparent! Amazing!
Apparently they have two more opportunities this week to work on the ropes.
I really hope someone coaches OMG girl to get to the top. It would be such an accomplishment for her, and once she believes in her abilities as a climber, I am confident that attitude will transfer back to my math class when she returns thus and begins to see herself as a mathematician-in-training!
"OMG, I can't do this!" whined one girl repeatedly who issues the same complaint while rolling her eyes in my math class on a fairly regular basis. Two boys who struggle to stay focused during independent work in math required frequent encouragement, guidance and redirection on the ropes, too.
One student had just basically given up entirely, and was sort of just "sitting"/hanging there on his rope. Kind of the way he just sort of lounges around in math class, not really doing much work of any consequence.
And the gals who stuck with it, even though it was hard work, trying different approaches, considering what they were taught, applying various strategies, and whose efforts were rewarded when they found themselves at the top of the ropes, gazing down upon those less perseverant? You guessed it! The same kiddos who work at a math problem in my class and don't give up when the solution is not immediately apparent! Amazing!
Apparently they have two more opportunities this week to work on the ropes.
I really hope someone coaches OMG girl to get to the top. It would be such an accomplishment for her, and once she believes in her abilities as a climber, I am confident that attitude will transfer back to my math class when she returns thus and begins to see herself as a mathematician-in-training!
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