Reflections from the Sidelines
As the research gatherer/observer, I had
the chance to talk with many of the participants in this
project, as well as collate their responses to the various
narrative questionnaires they completed. There are
several significant things that stand out for me.
First, the
amount of out-of-school time the teachers invested in preparing
for these lessons. This included adapting the lessons to
their specific course material, making models for students to
use, finding and/or purchasing books for examples or materials
for the students to use.
Second, the
enormous pride the teachers took in their students’ work.
At every workshop there was story after story of specific
students who showed interest in schoolwork after weeks of
apathy. They couldn’t wait to show the latest drawings or
writing samples. And as for the smiles and even tears of joy
when they held the finished books in their hands, knowing the
effort that the students had made to produce that work, my only
response was to say that these men and women are educators in
the truest sense of the word; i.e. they brought forth the
treasures that lay hidden in their students, rather than try to
impress their student with their own brilliance.
