You never know what gets through sometimes (teacher stuff)
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The Hammer thumbnail was clickbait, sorrynotsorry.
A little background. I teach middle school in a fairly wealthy town, but I work on the poor side of that town. My school has a sizable population of children for whom English is not their first language. This is a challenge under normal circumstances. While we'll fully remote ... oye ... It's not going well. I really feel for those kids. They struggle so hard. Many of them had little to no schooling in their home countries. They often don't speak their native language particularly well, nor can they read or write in it very well (or sometimes at all).
One of my classes, a 6th grade class, spent a month learning to use an online 3D modeling program called TinkerCAD. (Brief review: very easy to use, not particularly capable or precise though. It's good for the youngins to get started with.) This class has a bunch of the ESL kids in it. They are often grouped together, because we only have one bilingual aid. One of those kids missed most of that month, because she didn't have reliable internet at home. She also speaks almost no English.
About a week ago we moved onto another unit. Since these kids won't be in the building at any point during my class, I have been showing them videos of different skills. Today I showed them a video we made of how to change a bicycle tire inner-tube, for example.
As most of the class is watching the video, I'm watching their chromebooks on a monitoring program we have to make sure they're all doing something. And I was stunned to see what that particular girl was doing. She was not watching my video, but she was on TinkerCAD.
She was not modeling anything I had assigned in that month she missed most of. No, instead she was building 3D models of furniture, and doing a damn fine job of it! I was blown away! It's the little things like that, that keep me going. That kid may have a lot of struggle in front of her, but she is one that I know for sure is going to succeed.
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She can succeed, if no one crushes her joy of learning and nurtures her talent. These are the kids we need to make sure definitely don’t get left behind.
Curator, Kia enthusiast, dad joke specialist
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@shop-teacher Wait a second, I thought you were supposed to call out the student for this kind of stuff and make them pay attention.
But in all seriousness, I think her working things out on her own is going to be a bigger help in the long run.
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Ah, this is awesome. We've been teaching remotely since Thanksgiving, two more weeks to go. Some of the kids have totally surprised me with their motivation and engagement. None quite like that though! Some, however, are struggling, and these aren't kids who should be struggling with anything.
Most importantly, it's amazing to be pleasantly surprised by your students and even though I've only been at this for 3 months, it's easy to see that that is what it's all about. -
@shop-teacher said in You never know what gets through sometimes (teacher stuff):
They often don't speak their native language particularly well, nor can they read or write in it very well (or sometimes at all).
Quite often their first language is a minority, unofficial language in their home countries, so if they happened to attend school there at all it'd have been in the official language.
"I drank what?" -- Socrates
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That's awesome! Some people just take to those sort of things, if she can keep it up she'll have a great career in front of her. I'm sure you already are, but do what you can to encourage her (not that you don't have enough on your plate). One thing I did to help a coworkers kid get into 3d modeling and design was to print some of their creations. This was back in the before-times though so I was able to sit down with the kid and explain some of the physical constraints of printing but then taking back them a physical incarnation of something they designed - it was amazing to watch that mind of theirs both be blown and start cranking on the possibilities.
I used to lead intro to Arduino workshops and really miss that. Can't wait for this crazy fucking world to stop killing us when we get together in groups so things like that can happen again.
Former hoarder of motorcycles, recent CA transplant, nerd.
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@Shop-Teacher Glad to hear you have some rays of light. I’d like to think my kids are that sometimes, but honestly it can’t be often. Twin 10 year old boys are just tough. They are good kids and smart, but normal boy idiots as well.
My girls are interesting, the grading term for both was really tough. Since then though they have been doing really well with remote learning. I guess i should say grades are good, I’m not sure how much they are actually learning.2015 Suburban 4WD / 1988 BMW 535i (manual) / 1988 Suburban (#squarebody)
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This kind of thing is just wonderful.
Yes, I might be a little jealous that kids can pick up 3D modeling - and that you're able to teach it to them! - when it took me months to become basically productive way back when.
So one of my common old-man complaints is that young people come out of school with little-to-know understanding of the physical world. Even mechanical engineering graduates don't know basic mechanical things.
Knowing that there are still shop classes, and that there are still young students that take to this stuff - like the girl on TinkerCAD - makes me feel better.
TL;DR
Well done. Please keep it up.2015 F-150 Super Crew Long(ish) Bed, 3.5 EB, HD Towing Package
2009 VW CC 2.0 T, 6 Speed
2005 Regal 2400 350 SBC, B3 -
@Shop-Teacher
That’s good!My kid is having a hell of time, but it’s mostly because her teachers are being completely useless (I’m trying to be nice really). She’s getting 15-20min of instruction/class max, usually 2-2.5hrs/day total. Sometimes they don’t even show. Except math, math teach is doing great, stays 35-45 min answers q’s, doing a wonderful job. It’s not been a good time for her and we’ve been fighting with the school a bunch. The remote plan apparently is just hang in there until remote is over. Sigh. Sorry for the rant.
Just thank you for caring. It is appreciated and keep it up.
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@chariotoflove For sure.
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@Shop-Teacher Thanks for a nice story. Maybe I shouldn't feel bad for your pay and treatment by politicians (j/k, /s). You do get some non-monetary rewards. I know that doesn't feed the family though.
I can't imagine what that kid is going through not knowing English. I can't imagine it now as an adult at least.
I have no real memory of being five but I was exactly her age when I came to the US not knowing a word of English. Evidently, I picked up English quickly and it wasn't traumatic at all? Like TinkerCAD, everything comes easily at that age?
...meh...
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@cb Exactly. There would be zero benefit to me making her watch a video in a language she does not understand. She's creating her own learning opportunity, and that's just awesome.
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@functionoverfashion Oh believe me, I have plenty of kids who should not be failing, who are failing big-time. Some of the kids who do not have a parent over their shoulder, cannot handle the freedom of remote learning. That said, there are definitely some who are thriving and doing amazing things. Like this girl. I can't wait to actually meet her someday.
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@aremmes said in You never know what gets through sometimes (teacher stuff):
@shop-teacher said in You never know what gets through sometimes (teacher stuff):
They often don't speak their native language particularly well, nor can they read or write in it very well (or sometimes at all).
Quite often their first language is a minority, unofficial language in their home countries, so if they happened to attend school there at all it'd have been in the official language.
Ah, that makes sense. I didn't even think of that. The deck is really stacked against some of these kids. It's great when I get to see some of them grow and thrive.
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@jminer Oh, I definitely will be encouraging her. I have been 3D printing some of the student's things, and sending them home. I brought one of my school 3D printers home.
I can't wait to be back in school for real. Some genuinely good innovations have come out of this, but I'm so sick of not making things!
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@houstonrunner Remote learning is really really hard, and some kids are taking to it much better than others. It's been tough to watch kids who are successful in the building, flail (and fail) remotely.
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@engineerwithtools One of the positives of the STEM movement, has been a refocusing of the need for people to actually be able to build things. There aren't many middle school shops left, and I'm damn proud of the program we have in my district. We've been working continually to make it better and better.
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@looseonexit That is tough. My classes are only 31 minutes long, so they're getting probably 10-15 minutes of instruction a day too, with the rest as work time. I have found it far more effective to deliver that instruction in a pre-recorded video. This way kids who are late, who drop out with wifi issues, etc don't miss any instruction. It's always there for them. It allows me to spend the entire class focusing on the kids who need help.
I wish more would reach out for/accept my help. So many of them are content to just sit there. Without anybody in the room looking over their shoulders, they have no motivation or will to even try.
I'm sorry to hear that your childrens' teachers are largely doing a shit job of it. A lot of us are working our ass off to make things as good as we can, but it's still no replacement for being in school. I know a buddy of mine who works in another district, apparently multiple teachers didn't teach a single minute after we all got sent home this spring. That blew my mind.
My children are in kindergarten and 2nd grade, and I have to say their teachers are doing an amazing job. That said, it's a good thing my wife is home with them, or I don't know what the hell we'd do.
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@vincentmalamute LOL! It can at times be a very rewarding job. I am fortunate to work in a district that pays a reasonable salary, and live in a place with a relatively low cost of living. My income is the only money that comes in, and that is enough to support our family of four. We have everything we need, and some of the things we want. I'm good with that.
It is true, that often times the kids pick up English remarkably quickly. It is often amazing to see how much they learn and grow and change between 6th and 8th grade. Being remote is certainly delaying that and making it more difficult.
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I really really appreciate teachers in general (my mom was a prof for awhile), and especially who strive hard when things are crazy (like now lol). It’s hard to watch her struggle. High IQ, in all AP courses, but super ADHD, and now her gpa is down about 20pts. Her classes are supposed to be ~50min long. We’ve asked to have them post vids (like you!), schedules, lesson plans, centralized hw posting (some use email, some use the school software, some both - makes it hard for her to keep up) something/anything to help her. Just a lot of she’s not failing and her teachers don’t complain so everything is fine.
Enough shitting up your thread. Thanks again for doing the hard work and encouraging the future generations!
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@looseonexit I'm only seeing my students half the amount of time I'm supposed to and we have very solid remote learning plan. Many of them, when they turn on their mics, you can hear bedlam at home. Others are supposed to be attending my class but are also responsible for younger siblings because parents are at work. (8th grade math)
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@shop-teacher Great story.
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@vincentmalamute kids have incredibly plastic minds at that age. It’s the perfect age to learn languages.
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@shop-teacher That's awesome... Make sure to write her name down so you can look her up to see what's she up to in 15 years. Is there a way to reach out the family to let them know about her affinity/gift?
manual . RWD . LS3 . MagneRide . Brembos ... 4 doors + 5 seatbelts
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@davesaddiction Her name is unique enough that I'll recognize it. I'll have to reach out through the counselors, because the family does not speak any English.
