Yesterday afternoon, I got an email from a student asking for help. I get emails from students all the time. Unfortunately, I didn’t check my email until this morning when I read it.
Here is the email:
Mr. Watkins, I don’t have a ruler at home to work on the worksheet about measurement. What should I do?
The email was sent at 4:48 PM and it is clear that the student had gotten home and was starting their science homework and discovered they didn’t have a ruler. And they realized they couldn’t finish the homework and were worried about it, so they sent me an email.
In science homework isn’t graded. The expectation is that it is practice, and I want them to finish it at home so we can have a conversation about the topic or concept in class the following day. I do try to provide time to get started on work in class, but sometimes students don’t finish and need to complete the assignment at home.
When I assign homework, I try to balance how long it will take along with the assignment’s value to learning in class. Homework should take no more than 15 to 20 minutes. I also assume that students will have the tools needed to complete the assignment. That’s where the breakdown occurred, the student didn’t have a ruler – I didn’t anticipate that.
This is one of those times when I want to share the email anonymously with all my classes. Today, I can’t because it’s my last day of FMLA leave. I did share my response with Mrs. Nickelman and I asked her to talk to all classes about asking for help. This is a practice I do occasionally, but today I am going to go one step further and share it through Semper Sharkus, because it is an important lesson our kiddos need to learn.
It’s about the power of asking for help. Here is my response sent at 7:17 AM,
Dear student,
First of all, thank you for reaching out. I didn’t see this until this morning, so my response won’t help you.
You should worry about the learning. There’s a lesson here and we are going to talk about it in science classes today, but we’ll leave your name out of it.
You showed courage reaching out and asking for help, that is one of the hardest things to do in life – asking for help. We all need it, and we all give it, that’s what makes our world a kinder place.So, the question is what could you have done? I didn’t anticipate a home without a ruler or any measure for that matter. But in your case, it happened.
Just so happens we live in the world of the internet and there is an option – Google!
It just so happens that if use Google and the search term, ‘printable ruler,’ you will find one and can print it! Can’t print, sorry I can only solve one problem per e-mail! https://www.avery.com/resources/avery-printable-ruler.pdf
6th grade science is about MORE than science stuff. Yeah, we’ll learn about ‘sciencey’ stuff like science skills, light, particles, and energy but along the way we’ll learn about resilience, persistence, critical thinking, questioning, and asking for help when you need it. You and your classmates will teach me more than I will teach you – because the smartest kid in the room is all of us. We just have to be listening.
Thanks for the lesson in critical thinking this morning. My wife is doing much better, and I’ll be back next week. I can’t wait. See you then.
Semper sharkus,
Mr. Clay Watkins
Scullen Middle School
Team 6-1 Sharks
6th grade Science and Social Studies
I am glad that student asked for help and while I wasn’t able to help them right away, I believe when they need help next they’ll ask or maybe, they might be able to help themselves.
NOTE: I spoke Mrs. Nickelman after school and she shared the student WAS able to find a ruler to complete their homework! Persistence!
I’ve needed help these past couple of weeks and Mrs. Nickelman and the team has been there for me and my students. While I’ve been gone, Mrs. Nickelman has been teaching about science safety (last week) and this week about measurement. Measurement is an important science skill, and we will continue to learn more about it next week and throughout the year. Students have also been working on developing their science notebook and this week I posted a sample notebook on Google Classroom so students can see what their science notebooks should look like.
It is hard to believe we’ve reached the midpoint of the first quarter, this weekend we shift from summer to fall with the autumnal equinox on Sunday morning at 7:44 AM. Time marches on.
Sharks know when to ask for help. Once a shark, always a shark.
Thank you for sharing this. And this is absolutely hit home for us. Sometimes our children is either reluctant/afraid to ask for help, they thought asking for help could be perceived as a weakness, or they did not even know/realize that they can and should ask for help. I am thrilled that our son is in your class, as children don’t go to school ‘just’ to learn the subject in class, but more importantly learn the life lessons, and this is one of the most important one to have!
Thank you. The teachers I remember from middle school were the one’s who taught kids, not content. I am sure they snuck the content in when I wasn’t looking. I am excited about the school year and I look forward to sharing more as the year progresses.
Exactly what I needed to hear and read! Mr. Watkins, it’s truly an honor to have you as our kids’ teacher. I’m so glad you genuinely value teaching and learning. The Pandey family is your biggest fan!
Thank you. I appreciate your support as a parent.