"Beyond Expectations"

I  recently received a quick note from a former professor, Dr. Rodney Muth, which read, "Lots of work to do to make sure future schools really do the work that they should so that all kids learn beyond expectations!"


I love this for so many reasons, and I thought immediately of a student who taught me many lessons one year.  


This student was legally blind.  


They had limited eyesight in one eye and read using Braille.  They often used the computer as they could read and write in English as well as in Braille.  (Perhaps they would have been considered trilingual since they spoke another language as well?)   Thinking back, I'm just astonished by this learner.  Since they could see a little, they occasionally wrote with a paper and pencil, usually during math.  When writing, they used a Braille writer.  I worked along side an amazing teacher who was paired with the learner and a few other students in the district to help in our communication barrier since I have no idea how to read Braille. 


There was a game I used to play with students called Digits and Places.  If there was 5 minutes left before lining up for lunch after wrapping up a lesson, we would play Digits and Places.  I drew a T-chart on the board. with a D on the left top and a P on the right top.  I would start with two digit numbers and increase the difficulty to 3 or 4 digit numbers as it became too easy for the class.  There are many benefits to the game, and most of the students enjoyed playing it.  The game is played as followed:  


I think of a number, let's say the number is 21.   


Students take turns guessing what my number is.


Student A says 33, I write down 33 and then write 0 under the Digits column and a 0 under the Places column.

Student B says 52.  I write down 52 and then write a 1 under the Digits column and a 0 under the Places column.


Student C says 73.  I write down 73 and then write a 0 under the Digits column and a 0 under the Places column.


Student D says 15.  I write down 15 and then write a 1 under the Digits column and a 0 under the Places column. 


Guessing can go on for a while, with varying degrees of understanding, but eventually, someone figures it out and we all rejoice.  


Well, when I introduced this game to my classroom for the first time with my student who was legally blind, I could not figure out how they would be able to follow along out without sight.  So, I suggested they take out a paper and a pencil to draw their own T-chart to follow along.  They respectfully declined my suggestion saying they'd prefer to just listen. 


And they solved the first Digits and Places game that year.


Now, I taught a number of exceptional students over the years, but I must tell one more story about this student.  


I became very excited teaching children how to write more creatively using the Six Traits of Writing.  I used the book I Love You the Purplest written by Barbara M. Joosse, illustrated by Mary Whyte for a lesson.  (This lesson idea and strategy is not my own creation, but I really enjoyed teaching writing this way.)   It's a wonderful children's book full of metaphorical language.  A mother tries to distinguish her love of her two children when challenged by them whom she loves more.  One she tells, "I love you the reddest..." And she goes on with a beautiful description of love rich with figurative language and metaphor.  The other she tells, "I love you the bluest..."  And, again, she goes on and on about her love.


Well, again, my learner raises their hand and says, "And red and blue make purple."  


Yep, I totally missed that one myself.  I was so wrapped up in the lesson and the language, rich with wisdom for writing instruction that I completely missed the big picture, obvious point of the book.  Red and blue make purple.  I love you the purplest.  But my student who was legally blind didn't miss it.  


That student (teacher) sure taught me a lot that year.



edited 2/26/23 6:48 PM 8/10/23 11:05 PM MST