Submitted by Diane Fontinell
Library Media Specialist, Halstead Academy
Library Media Specialist, Halstead Academy
Allowing for student choices in the classroom environment requires students to make purposeful choices regarding their education and learning. Recently in the media center, a fifth grade student asked if she could sit with her friend to complete an assignment. When I asked her why she would be successful making the change, another classmate told her, “You’d better not…you’re going to just play around if you sit by her. Truth card.”
Both girls are part of Halstead Academy’s Girls with Pearls group. The mentoring group, led by Halstead’s school counselor, Ms. Michele Coleman, is growing female leaders among the fifth grade classes. Janiya, one of the group’s members, explained that the girls are learning to be accountable for their actions toward others. They want to act as though “Michelle Obama was in the room with them.” One way that they’re doing this is with truth cards, index cards given out during meetings to honestly share how the girls are dealing with peer conflicts, drama, and other issues that pop up in school. Upon hearing the news, Ms. Coleman commented, “We are always proud to hear of how our Girls with Pearls young ladies are taking steps to hold their peers accountable for their actions and behaviors within the school setting. Seeing them transfer and apply the learned skills and lessons from our club meetings to real life situations, lets us know that they are internalizing the content in a way that is meaningful to them.”
Being able to make positive choices is a vital part of creating a student-centered environment. It was a winning moment to hear the girls transferring the lessons learned in Girls with Pearls to the media center.
Both girls are part of Halstead Academy’s Girls with Pearls group. The mentoring group, led by Halstead’s school counselor, Ms. Michele Coleman, is growing female leaders among the fifth grade classes. Janiya, one of the group’s members, explained that the girls are learning to be accountable for their actions toward others. They want to act as though “Michelle Obama was in the room with them.” One way that they’re doing this is with truth cards, index cards given out during meetings to honestly share how the girls are dealing with peer conflicts, drama, and other issues that pop up in school. Upon hearing the news, Ms. Coleman commented, “We are always proud to hear of how our Girls with Pearls young ladies are taking steps to hold their peers accountable for their actions and behaviors within the school setting. Seeing them transfer and apply the learned skills and lessons from our club meetings to real life situations, lets us know that they are internalizing the content in a way that is meaningful to them.”
Being able to make positive choices is a vital part of creating a student-centered environment. It was a winning moment to hear the girls transferring the lessons learned in Girls with Pearls to the media center.
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