Summary
Highlights
Deborah E. Brown, an English teacher, shares her philosophy that every child is a gift whose potential a teacher must help unwrap. Inspired by Dr. David Strait's challenge about high school students struggling with the meaning of life, she decided to pose this question to her own students to see their responses.
Brown secured a grant from the Charlotte Teachers Institute for a partnership project. She collaborated with Jessica Flaxman, a private school English teacher, to create a letter-writing exchange between her 9th-grade public school students and Flaxman's 10th-grade private school students. The goal was to encourage deeper communication and empathy, moving beyond quick, instant digital interactions. Students were allowed to type their letters but had to adhere to traditional letter-writing formats. Brown believes that letter-writing encourages thinking, reflection, and consideration for others, leading to increased empathy and understanding between students from different backgrounds.
Brown introduces Jacobe, a student who initially struggled with talking excessively and avoiding schoolwork. Through the letter-writing assignment, Jacobe underwent a significant transformation, discovering his writer's voice, maturity, and leadership abilities. He expressed a desire to help middle school students prepare for high school and penned profound reflections on life, showcasing his growth.
Raphael, an auditory learner, found writing challenging. Brown worked with him on his letter to a pen pal named Madison. Through a technique of whispering words as he wrote, Raphael learned to connect his auditory strength with his writing, demonstrating increased independence and proficiency in expressing himself through text.
Jordan, a student with untapped potential, often struggled with consistency. When given the task of writing letters to two pen pals, she initially showed reluctance. However, once she had a model to follow, she quickly and effectively completed the assignment, teaching Brown that she thrives with a clear example. This taught Brown about the importance of understanding individual learning styles and motivators.
Brown reflects on the lessons learned, including the importance of patience while waiting for replies through mail. The project highlighted the students' excitement for genuine connection and reinforced her belief in the power of real-world assignments to foster growth. She concludes by stating her teaching mantra: she can only provide a 'piece' of intelligence and character, which was achieved through this brass-polishing, life-changing writing assignment.