Heather McCracken

Practicum #4 – May 21st, 2019

Observation
Today one of the first things that happened in class was an opportunity for students to share
with the class what they had done over the weekend. It was the Tuesday after a long weekend,
and I noticed the excitement and increased level of chatter as the students began to stream
into the school. They had just spent four days away from their friends and classmates, and had
lots of stories to share about what they had done. They sat down in a circle on the floor at the
meeting area in the classroom, and Mrs. X gave one of her helpers for the day the talking stick
to start off the sharing. Each student had an opportunity to share two things about their
weekend, but they could also pass if they didn’t feel like sharing. Only the student with the
talking stick was allowed to speak, and after each student shared there was an opportunity for
questions or comments. Mrs. X was quick to speed up students who were taking too long, and
held firm on the rule of only sharing two things. She and I also shared what we had done that
weekend, and the entire activity was done in about 20 minutes.
Reflection
Participating in this activity with the class, I was given a sense of déjà vu. I can remember doing
something similar at my school, and the feeling of excitement I had to be able to share
whatever I wanted, and to have all my classmates and teachers listen to me respectfully. In fact,
this is something we have even done in my university classes. Superficially, it may not appear to
add a lot of value, but I can think of several reasons why it would be important to have this
activity. First, it alleviates the sense of urgency that many students may feel to talk to their
classmates as opposed to doing their work. Their sense of time is vastly different, and in the
span of a four day weekend, a lot could have happened. This prevents them from interrupting a
lesson with an off-topic comment, and allows for distractors to be aired and dealt with before
lessons begin.
Making the sharing circle a weekly activity creates a sense of routine for the students. They
know they don’t need to interrupt morning announcements or talk to all their friends on the
playground because they will have a chance to share. It fosters a sense of community in the
classroom – throughout the year, I can imagine they learn all about each other through these
glimpses into their lives outside of school. Having the teacher share makes her seem a little
more human and less scary. Lastly, it helps foster good listening skills. The students know they
will have their turn, and as such, there is no need to interrupt someone else when they are
speaking. I think it is important that each student is given that time to say whatever they want
and receive everyone else’s undivided attention. Sometimes kids can get brushed off by other
people, especially adults, who can with one comment diminish the entire experience that they
were going to share. I think we need more of that excitement and joy in our world, and instead
of brushing it off, we should recognize its validity and encourage children to embrace instead of
keeping it inside all the time.