Little Tiny Belonging Phrases: A Highlight From My Visit to University Prep

Great visit to University Prep Middle School in the Bronx today where I had the pleasure of watched several English lessons. It was my first visit to University Prep and my notes describe the culture over and over in words like positive, warm and upbeat. At the same time instruction was rigorous and efficient.

(This for example is always a very good sign in a school):

 

On net, University Prep students worked hard, were attentive, learned a lot, took pride in their work and seemed very, very happy.

Kudos to ED Andrea D’Amato, Principal David Patterson and all of the staff.

That said it was Spencer Davis’s class that took the cake for me.

In addition to Spencer’s commitment to knowledge and precision–he was always pushing students to develop their peers’ thinking–I was struck by the tiny belonging phrases he used at moments when he set expectations or established accountability in particular.

For example:

Giving a direction. Not just “Pencils down,” but  “Pencils down, guys,” with warmth and a smile–but clear scanning for follow-through when he said guys.

Or Cold Calling: “What is an anomaly? Take it away, Issa!” That little playful phrase “take it away” made it seem fun and playful. And like an honor to be Cold Called.

When a student was stuck and couldn’t answer: Singing: you can read it from your pay-ay-ay-per

Another cold call: “I’m Gonna pick someone with my eyes closed because I know you can all do this.” 

Or this Turn & Talk: Turn to the bestie beside you and discuss for thirty seconds. [Beeping of the stop watch] Go!

He didn’t use little phrases like this every time… just sometimes…and he wasn’t over-the-top and sing-song-y and too sweet. He kept his voice pretty modulated. He just constantly used little phrases to  make his students feel connected and cared about even as he used every tick in the book to make them think about every question.

Then there was the constant use Cold Calls to socialize listening and to cause students to show they values their peers’ comments: “Please build off of X’s comment” or “Who can develop Y’s definition of ‘nonlinear narrative’ even more?”

These tiny little reminders: I care about you. You are important here. At exactly the time he was enuring an efficient and productive learning environment jumped out at me.  Both are acts of caring and they worked better in synergy… each was more effective because he was doing both at the same time.  The little belonging phrases were better because he so clearly took students learning and achievement seriously. When he pushed students to go further with an answer it felt supportive because of the warm upbeat tone.

Here’s Spencer with his students reading (and loving) the book Wonder.

 

 

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