LOVED reading your comments about the personal connections you've made with some of your students. This is what it is all about. You can't even begin to teach your students anything if you don't FIRST "know" them. There was a study conducted in California back in the 60's where researchers followed a group of students from their elementary years into their adult lives. These students came from all different walks of life. Some were from single parent homes. Some were from homes where there was abuse. Some were from homes where a parent was in prison. Some came from homes where a parent had an addiction. Etc. I think you get the point.
When the researchers studied the same group many many years later, there were two distinct groups that emerged. One group of these students followed the same patterns as in their youth. They had broken homes of their own, being addicted to drugs themselves, in and out of jail, in abusive relationships, having children who followed the same patterns as they did, etc, etc, etc. The other group that emerged was a group that broke the patterns of their youth. They had successful lives, good jobs, loving families, higher education degrees, etc. etc. etc.
What was the difference? Exactly what you were talking about in Mod 2 with the stories of "relationships."
The "successful" group in the study who created meaningful lives for themselves had ONE person in their life who loved them unconditionally. That one person could have been a parent or could have been a relative or priest or friend or aunt or uncle or neighbor or grandparent OR TEACHER. In many cases, you will be the one person in their life who makes the difference.
Don't make any posts in Module 3 until I provide a focus question. Thanks, Splichal
