365 Days Of Love. Day 144

I believe everyone wants someone to tell them they can to do more, can do better. Today, I had a 5th grade student write me a note in which she said, "SSLANT changed me, I love SSLANT" 

For the non-teachers, SSLANT is a acronym that establishes behavior expectations. The first S stands for smile, the second S for sit up, the L for listen, the A for ask and answer questions, the N for nod yes and no and the T for track the speaker.

By the middle of last week, a girl smoked a boy in my class and the two jetted to the hallway to hammer it out before another teacher separated them. I was horrified and thought it was a sign of my absolute failure in the realm of public schools. The next day, I implemented SSLANT, some fancy guided notes, and the promise of a party for good behavior. My class transformed. Students were raising their hands, kids I didn't know had voices were volunteering. The girl who, days earlier, said, "we're stupid Rez kids" was literally bouncing out of her chair to answer questions. 

Hopelessness runs deep here, distrust is defense, but we can do more, we can be better. We, my students, their families, my friends, myself, we just want someone to tell us we can do better, we can do more.