Yesterday students were less collaborative than usual. This was particularly noticeable on the playground. Why were students so agitated? What can we do?
Playground games often challenge students with regard to following rules, getting along, making decisions, and agreeing to what fair play is. This year we've been particularly alert to students' games and acting as referees during the games to help students play fair. As I've refereed these games I've noticed how much learning goes on during playground games--those games are truly rich learning ground for life's many joys and challenges.
On the challenge side, students have to coach themselves to react well when teammates make mistakes on the field or when the referee makes a call they don't agree with. On the positive side, these playground games give students of all abilities and interests a chance to get to know one another and have fun together. Over the year, I've noticed quiet students with few friends become respected teammates and good ball players. This has brought those students great joy.
Yesterday's game struggles as well as the many, many tests students are taking in the next two weeks are challenging students in many ways. The tests are not only challenging, but exemplify who takes tests with ease and who is more challenged by the material. This makes some children feel like they don't measure up, and no matter how many times you tell them that in time they'll learn this well, they still notice their friends flying through the material and getting high marks.
So what is a teacher to do at this time. It's a clear sign that it's time to slow it down, provide more personal positivity and care than usual, and tighten up the rules so that everyone feels safe and there's less opportunity for raucous behavior.
I know that this same kind of situation would happen when my children were young. Family life would roll along happily until everyone was too busy and challenged, then there would be disruption. We typically remedied this with a family meeting and making some changes to the schedule. I'll do the same in school today.
