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The fifth grade class had a lunch celebration for having 98.2% attendance during the month of September. Congratulations fifth grade!
For most of us, “recess” means kick ball, swinging on monkey bars, and running around in the sun. But fourth-graders Annelise and Rylie see it as an opportunity for something out of the ordinary: a time to make music with friends. For two years, the creative duo have devoted their free time to hone their musical craft. “We don’t care to be famous. We do it because we want to help people open up,” says Annelise, who lugs her guitar toward the playground while others play catch or jump on balance beams. “We’re trying to start a little community for people who like music but don’t open up to sing because they’re shy,” says Rylie. Indeed, they have started a community. Groups of friends join in to sing as the pair lead cover songs and share original compositions. “She’s really stuck with it,” says Rylie’s mother. “She’s so excited about it.”
The joy is contagious watching them sing with passion on their faces. More join in and others watch on as Annelise and Rylie sing as voices of hope and perseverance for their classmates. Walking into Lynn Shannon’s classroom, you’d think the students ran the class. Children are constantly talking, but not in a chaotic way. They speak with the purpose of sharing their learning, because this is what she expects Mutual respect and risk-taking permeate throughout Mrs. Shannon’s classroom. These eight-and-nine year olds don’t talk over one another. Each student sets their full attention on the person sharing. “Zachary has the floor,” she says. “Everybody track him,” the class responds in unison. Eyes fixate on Zachary as he explains his understanding of mimicry after completing an activity in their natural adaptations unit. After tasting samples of blue Kool-Aid and Sprite, Mrs. Shannon then gives students a third sample: seltzer water that is clear like the Sprite, but not as tasty according to their responses. Students get to choose their fourth sample: blue Kool-Aid or a clear beverage, that may or may not be seltzer water. Unanimously, the class chooses the blue. Students take turns analyzing how, as a predator, the blue Kool-Aid would be more appealing than the clear liquid because “you don’t know if it’s Sprite or nasty water,” one student quips. Another compares mimicry to camouflage, a defense mechanism they studied earlier in the week. The children build on each other's conclusions, running their own classroom discussion, while Mrs. Shannon merely observes and takes note of their accuracy. Mrs. Shannon has a knack for drawing out her students’ determination.
“She makes me feel like a superstar,” says Ali. “She makes me feel confident, like I can complete more than I think I can,” adds Carson. Mrs. Shannon even reaches reaches those who normally avoid the spotlight. “I have a hard time standing out. I hide,” Says Leah. “She inspires me to be myself. She’s helped me stand out.” As students line up at the end of the day, you’d think they just had a celebration rather than an exhaustive work day. There are hugs, smiles, and proud-of-you's. And in fact, the students are celebrating. They’re celebrating their learning. Mrs. Shannon prompts a reflective discussion of the day’s academic goals, to which each student has a unique and genuine response. The bell rings. “What makes a good learner?” Mrs. Shannon asks. “Keep trying and trying again,” the students say as they walk out the door, more empowered than the day before. |
AboutStories from Satilla Marsh Elementary in Brunswick, GA. Archives
December 2019
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