Is there a bad view here?

What if I lived in New Zealand for a bit?

Rangitoto Island

This weekend the ladies and I hiked the Rangitoto volcano. We went the "long way" or the "just right way" around the island and then climbed our way to the top. Four hours and 25,000 plus steps later we found a set of stairs that lead us to one of the many beautiful views of New Zealand.

This past week I arrived in New Zealand on Wednesday, October 30th. I was able to meet the most amazing host family. I have a host Mom and Dad but I am also blessed with a host little sister who is 5 years old and a little brother who is 2 years old. I can't even find the words to express how much I love this family. These little kiddos are so cute and amazing I wouldn't want to be any where else.

I hopped right into school that Thursday. How did I do that after 31 hours of travel time? I have no idea. That first day of school I was able to meet my cooperating teacher and all my students. After the very first day I learned so much about the culture of New Zealand. The Māori culture is very respected. If anyone has seen the New Zealand rugby team they do a tradition chant, from the Māori culture, before the game begins called the Haka. The students at the school I am student teaching at participate in a prayer every morning spoken in Māori and have chorus a few times a week and at times they practice a form of the Haka. Their songs are sung in Māori, and I think it is so beautiful. On my first day, I tried to focus on getting to know the kiddos names and their backgrounds. I learned that these kiddos come from rough backgrounds and it makes me sad. I learned, in just one day, that these kiddos have absolutely no self-esteem or confidence. I am going to change that.

Friday rolled around and I was ready to go. My cooperating teacher was out for the day so it was my time. I sat everyone down, after a day of hearing so many "I am dumb" and "I can't do this," in a circle and asked them to listen carefully. I said, "I think you are smart." They all looked at me in silence. For the first time all day, this was the quietest they have been. Many of the students actually started to look uncomfortable. I continued by saying again, "I think you are smart. I do not care what else people have told you but I think you are smart. When you step foot in this classroom you are smart. Outside of this classroom you are smart. When I leave and go home I will still think you are smart. When I die, I will die thinking every single one of you are smart." The silence didn't break. I explained to the students what a growth mindset was verse a fixed mindset and the power of "yet". For those who do not know what I am talking about a growth mindset is a mind that excepts the idea that things may be hard but that in time and with practice the mind will learn. The power of "yet" is probably so simple but the hardest thing for students too except. A student may say, "I don't understand fractions." The power of "yet" changes this comment drastically. With the power of "yet" a student now may say, "I don't understand fractions, yet." A student who understands the power of "yet" now also has a growth mindset. After explaining this to the students, I had them pass a ball to each other. When they got the ball they had to say one thing they were good at, and one thing they weren't good at, yet. The tone of the room instantly changed and if someone would have walked into the room I swear they would have been able to feel it.

A little later I took the kiddos outside to try an activity I learned at professional development. I believe this activity really drove home my purpose. By the way, my purpose was for these kids to go home knowing they are smart and that I believe in them. The activity consisted of one thing. The kids had to run to the end of the field and back. Once they got back I asked them a few questions and they needed to answer. The first question I asked was, "did you all run to the end of the field the same way?" They answered no. The second question I asked was, "did you all get to the end of the field at the same time?" They answered no. Then I finally asked, "did you all eventually get to the end of the field?" They all answered yes. I finished my explaining that everyone learns differently and that everyone learns at a different pace. It doesn't matter how someone gets somewhere or how long it may take, all that matters it that eventually the destination is met.