Only ONE Chance to Have an Impact...Every Opportunity Matters

This summer I am blessed with the opportunity to teach summer school in a district outside of where my full time teaching position resides.  I've been assigned to teach HS Chemistry, both semesters, each class 2.5 hours per day, for 20 days, where each student has a unique story as to why they're there.   The district I am working in is composed of four different campuses, along with a few out of district students that have joined us.

What I found extremely eye opening was our "getting to know you activity" on the first day of class.  We did a "speed dating" activity.  I did not introduce it as speed dating, rather I assigned students the responsibility of writing a question to get to know their peers around them.  I emphasized that we would be working as a team over the course of our time together and that it was extremely important to get to know one another. This activity was a huge success, as students took ownership and had great conversations.

What I was really impressed with, was the quality of the questions that students came up with.

"If you could have one wish, what would it be?"

"If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?"

"What are your life goals and how are you going to make them happen?"


And then there were the ones related to the task at hand.

"What do you believe placed you into this class, yourself or your teacher?  Why?

"How did you struggle in chemistry?"

"Why did you fail chemistry."


What I failed to mention, is that many of these students were taking chemistry for the first, second, and some the third time.  The eye opening part to me, was that each student had a different reason as to why they were taking the class.  Whatever their previous experience may be, I had ONE opportunity to help each student build confidence, and then find success. What this made me do, was reflect and revisit each interaction that I had previously with all of my students.  Was I coaching them and trying to build them up, especially during the times that they struggled?  Did I take advantage of every opportunity possible to help them be successful?  How am I going to be sure that I don't miss any of these opportunities in the future?

While we are down to five more wake-ups, I am anxious for the five days that lie ahead of us and the opportunity and impact that each one of them provides.  We also have a much warranted celebration, that needs to be planned for the last day!