A bright, articulate student spoke these words in class to me today. Of course, I've heard this many, many times over my career. However, today's utterance baffled me. You see, I knew my lesson was spot on. Heads were nodding, mouths were smiling. More importantly, this student, let's call her "Molly", is super bright, super curious. Her work ethic is excellent. So, I was, well, befuddled. Confused. Concerned. Tired.
As I advised, Molly came back after school for some extra help. She was great with her notebook and highlighters ready to go. It turns out, Molly's confusion was not caused by the new material on inverse functions in Trig. I breathed a sigh of relief. Rather, it was an old bit of Algebra confusion that can commonly rear its ugly head. No problem. Now it was my turn to say, "I get it." So, we backed up, stepped through some problems and hopefully, fixed it for good. We smiled and laughed. Then, at last, I saw it.
Molly was nodding her head. She was smiling. She had the look, that look. It's the look that says, "I get it, Mrs. Fitz. I get it."
Such a sweet, sweet moment. Teaching victory.
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25 comments:
You go girl! I'm really enjoying Trig. -Julia DK
SO glad! It really is so good to know. "Never leave home without it!" - Mrs. Fitz.
Mrs Fitz is it too late for me to have a "Molly" situation? I feel like I'm not really getting all of the trig stuff. -Becky [F]
Mrs Fitz, is it too late for me to have a "Molly" situation? I'd really like some help understanding the trig work.
-Becky (F block)
Hi, Mrs. Fitzpatrick
It is so good to know that you are able to spend extra time with your students if they need it.
Thanks!
Ms Schneider
(Becky's mother)
I feel like I have had the same problem as "Molly" but with simplifying radicals! I'm so glad I came after school for extra help because I finally get it!
Nicole Block B
Sometimes a little extra help is all we need. Good for you for recognizing this in one of your students and for taking the extra time out to be sure the content was understood.
Sue Algeri (Nicole's mom)
Hi Mrs. Fitz!! this is Ben from block F. I know the feeling you are talking about. That feeling when you know you finally understand a concept and can fully frasp it with your brain. I just love getting that feeling when learning something new in math. It ensures me that I know what I am doing and that I don't have to worry and I can relax. It was very nice of you to help Molly!!
I'm really enjoying trig too! Like "Molly" though, I've made a few silly mistakes because of algerbra confusion. But going over the problems in class really helped clear that up!
~Delaney (Block B)
Hi Mrs. Fitzpatrick, That is so great when you can help someone get to that "Ah ha " moment. It feels so good to really and truly understand something. A great story!
Mrs. Oakes, (Ben's mom)
It is good to know that students have an opportunity to "figure it out" with you when they don't understand something. I hope that more of them take the time to do this!
-Maria Higgins (Delaney's Mom)
Hi Mrs. Fitz,
I think I know where "Molly" was coming from. When we first started doing trig I was a little confused, but when we went over the homework I realized that I was getting confused because I was doing the algebra wrong. I fixed it and now I'm ready for the test! -Jen Green B Block
Oh students and parents,
It is so rewarding to hear you check in and relate to "Molly's" experience. You know, even as adults, we teachers and parents have our moments where we need clarification. Remember: your goal is to be a life-long learner -- and teacher. Always pay it forward. What does this expression mean to you, to "pay if forward"?
Mrs. Fitzpatrick
I could not agree with you more. There is always more to learn in life. "Pay it forward" to me means, "Reward yourself with the joy of helping someone else." There is nothing like the feeling you get when you give to someone in need. So in the "Molly" situation, I believe those who "get it" should now help the students that don't "get it" yet.
Awesome input! Thank you!
I feel like I too have those moments were I screw up on the simpler part of the problem and that messes up my whole answer. Then when know you get it wrong you wonder why because all the steps in your problem look correct. But in the end after giving it a close look I will almost always notice what I did wrong whether it is algebra or some other careless error.
Matt C. - Block F
I know what she means when she says that she just doesn't get it. I know how it feels and I know that it kills you when you know that everybody else gets it but you don't. I know that I can easily fix this problem if it happens by just visiting Mrs. Fitzpatrick when she has free time.
-Kevin Coccoluto-Block A
Hi Mrs Fitz.
I know as a student i have these moments where i just dont get something. I stop what i am working on and step back to think about the problem or get help from a teacher. Much like "molly" it is rewarding to finally understand why you are struggling. I bet as a teacher you feel the same feelings but in a different way.
-Cristina C. Block A
Mrs. Fitz
It is awsome that you actually helped this girl and I love the "I get it now feeling" I know I was having trouble with trig until I finally got Soh-Cah-Toa ahaha. It is great that you can help us and we thank you.
Matt O
Block B
Students and Parents,
It means so much to me to have you check into this blog and leave your comments. You have now inspired me in return.
Students, always, remember, PAY IT FORWARD, ok? If I help you, you then go ahead and help someone else tomorrow, or the next day, etc. If I explain something to you after school that really works for you, you can then explain it to another student who needs the help. That's one of the things we're called to do as a community of learners.
Tour teacher, Mrs. Fitz
Hey Mrs. Fitz
I might be the person you are talking about in this, maybe, I don't know, but if it isn't me, me and "Molly" have a lot in common. This trig just seemed too difficult for me, because I didn't understand it as quickly as I did with other concepts. It frusterated me and I felt defeated. When I came after school for help I realized that it was just a bit of algebra that I did not pick up on. Maybe I would have seen it and noticed it before if only I hadn't given up so quickly. I had a preconceived notion that trig was too difficult for me and that the answer must have been completely foriegn, but the answers were so obvious I thought it couldn't be that simple, but it was. Thank you for showing me what was right in front of me and not giving up, and I do get it now Mrs. Fitz
Megan P ( Block F)
I feel like I have a lot in common with "Molly", as well. I had trouble with radicals when we first learned them. I thought I would be ok after we took the test, hoping we wouldn't need to use them again. I was wrong! It was really helpful to get some extra practice in with you, because we see radicals a lot now in the new material we learn. Thanks!
~Erin McGovern, block F
Mrs.Fitz
You're completely right sometimes I just want to give up because I don't understand and I feel like I never will. But I went after school a couple of times, and knowing exactly what I was doing wrong and exactly how to fix it really helped me a lot. Knowing that I can always get help on things I don't understand makes me feel a lot more confident in my work.So thank you Mrs.Fitz!
~Lucy CG (Block F)
Mrs. Fitz,
I also know what it is like to not get something. When you don't understand something at first and everyone else seems to excel, it can be really hard. Even though I am a lot better at proofs now, I found them extremely hard at first and never wanted to do them. All that it took for me to understand was copying the proofs and doing them out on paper. I finally got them.
-Matt A (F Block)
I love the fact that you are so happy to figure out why this student can't get it. It shows what a caring teacher you are and you want to see students understand it.
-Kathy A (Matt A's mom)
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