Soccer
Had the greatest exchange a week ago with one of my kids, Z. He first joined my 7-10 class last year and was a little too excited. He interrupted me constantly, was always challenging me, and I had to put him in his place a few times (politely but firmly). He was with me all last year and was in the middle of the pack, as far as ability.
He came back this fall and had obviously been practicing. And he stopped interrupting me, and in subtle ways kind of championed me to the rest of the class. Not trying to be teacher's pet or anything, just you could tell he had bought in, as it were.
I'd been watching him during the scrimmages and he's one of the two best in the class now. Last week we played 2 v. 4--he and I against the other 4, and I couldn't score. (Whenever I play against the kids I don't score.) He was still able to score against 4 kids, only able to pass to me. I pulled him aside and said how much he'd improved, how I could see the hard work he'd been putting in and it was paying off. He said: "Well, it's also due to having a good teacher."
What a sweet thing to say! His mother is always at class and she seems really solid, it's obvious the parents are doing a great job. But what a kind thing to say! I'm still glowing.
He came back this fall and had obviously been practicing. And he stopped interrupting me, and in subtle ways kind of championed me to the rest of the class. Not trying to be teacher's pet or anything, just you could tell he had bought in, as it were.
I'd been watching him during the scrimmages and he's one of the two best in the class now. Last week we played 2 v. 4--he and I against the other 4, and I couldn't score. (Whenever I play against the kids I don't score.) He was still able to score against 4 kids, only able to pass to me. I pulled him aside and said how much he'd improved, how I could see the hard work he'd been putting in and it was paying off. He said: "Well, it's also due to having a good teacher."
What a sweet thing to say! His mother is always at class and she seems really solid, it's obvious the parents are doing a great job. But what a kind thing to say! I'm still glowing.