May I Have Seconds?

Have you received a compliment for something that others perceive you have done well?  Maybe you have received a compliment because of your outfit or handbag.  Perhaps you have received a compliment on the behavior of your children or on the demonstration of athletic ability.  Mark Twain said, “I can live for two months on a good compliment.”  You may have heard things like, “You look amazing!” or “I love your shoes – are they new?” or “That color looks great on you.”  (A guy once told me that he knew something that was brown and black and would great on me – a Doberman Pincher) or “I like your new haircut” (never uttered to me).  What would you say to the cook of a great meal that you ate?  Would you say, “That was delicious.”, “That was tasty.”, “You’re a fabulous cook!” or “That was out of this world!”  After limited thought, I think the best compliment that you can give to a cook is simply this – “May I have seconds?”  There is something about asking for more of what you found so pleasing to your taste buds that it would warm the heart of any cook.  If you want more of what people have worked at and express that to them; well, how does it get better than that in terms of validation for the receiver?

Think about that in your own teaching.  Did a student ever tell you that they loved the lesson that you taught that day?  Did any of them let you know that they couldn’t wait for the next day?  Did a student ever tell you that no one ever taught me this before?  Did any of them ever express that they never understood the concept until you showed them how?  Did a student ever tell you that they hope they get you as a teacher next year or wish they could?  Do any of your students stay after class ends because they want more of what you are presenting?  How about “You made make boring stuff come alive!” Do kids actually run to your class because they don’t want to miss anything?  Do you have them so engaged that the end of the class period is just a guideline?  Do you leave them thirsty for more?  This list may not have an end. What does have an ending is the time that we get to spend with groups of kids.  They move on to the next class, to the next grade, and eventually to the next school.  We need to get students to the point of wanting to be here because of the people in the building.  We need to get them to mindset of “May I have seconds?” That’s what you want your students to express as we begin the second semester.