"Today you have a choice. You may choose to share your voice in front of your classmates, your family, or you may choose not to. If you choose to share, you have two options. If you need the spotlight, come to the middle of the classroom, under the spotlight, and sing. If you still need the comfort of the shadows, sing from the edges of our arena."
"If you decide not to sing, stand up and say the following: 'Profe I'm coming with you this year, but not yet.'"
More than two-thirds of every class chose to sing solo, in front of their classmates, during our ceremony. The rest have made it a goal to try later on in the year.
By giving the students a choice, by empowering the children to be masters of their own decisions, fully aware of the outcome of either choice, students are more inclined to take a responsible risk...though at their own discretion.
I'm proud of the students' ability to stand up in front of their class and take the risk of proclaiming where they stand. If we know where we stand, we stand a much better chance of figuring out where we're going and how we'll get there.
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Another cool beginning to our year...