Growing Girls

I drop by a third- and fourth-grade room to see how two lively girls are doing. The teacher says that the first girl is very observant, ready to offer a pen when she sees the teacher needs one. In fact, the girl tries to direct everything, and the teacher has encouraged her to let other people lead.

I say that’s another advantage of our Family Group program. Yes, we often think of younger ones growing into leadership roles as they mature. But in this case we can ask her to learn to follow since she’ll want that from her Family Group members when she becomes a leader.

“What about the second girl?” I ask, knowing that she has a serious problem staying on task.

The teacher tells me that one day she assigned a project for the class and the students asked if they could sit together. She responded with, “You can sit any place that will help you focus and be successful.”

The students were getting settled and the teacher had begun her own work when the second girl plunked down right next to her.

Surprised, the teacher asked the girl, “Is this a place where you can focus and be successful?”

With a weary sigh, the girl replied, “I hope so.”