And then I raided my chocolate stash

We were starting our personal narratives project by writing a list of important people in our lives. I modeled for my first graders on chart paper, and then supervised as my four students got to work.

I sat very close to Leo, who struggles when it comes to writing (well, everything). He wrote:

Mom
Dad
Mr. B-

And then I stopped him because I realized he was just copying my list. "What about your brother?" I asked. "What's his name?"

Leo: "Ahhh I dunno."

Me (thinking he did know but was confused about the meaning of question): "Let's ask Adam. Adam, what's your brother's name?"

Adam: "He name Marcus."

Me: "See Leo? Adam's brother is Marcus! What's your brother's name?"

Leo: "Ahhhhh... Marcus???"

Me: "Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh."

4 comments:

Amy @ Juice Boxes + Crayolas said...

reminds me of my conversation last year when I was asking a fifth grader what 2-2 was. Her answers included (but were not limited to) 11, 17, 25...

...and then I banged my head against the wall for an hour.

Anonymous said...

Or maybe he doesn't know his brother's name. Believe it or not, it is common for deaf child not to know their siblings name due to no communication at home.

Jill said...

I have a student like that. He copies everybody's papers - he even writes their names on his name line. I asked him the other day what sound "lion" starts with. Someone yelled out "Z" so he answered Z. Ahhhhhh!! I think I have said a hundred times, "I want to know what's in YOUR brain, not anyone else's!!"

Marvelous Multiagers!

Anonymous said...

imitation is how I learned when I was in public school (K-12th) and I was diagnosed severe to profound deaf since birth (can't hear a thing without my hearing aids but I did have some access to speech with them along with speechreading). I wore an bodyworn FM system in elementary school

I copied everyone's paper in elementary school. The school probably felt that is the best way to learn as they never really say anything to me. BTW, I did not some of my cousins' or aunts' name. I just knew they exist and I see them often.

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