Recently I had a student who was just sitting there in class and not showing his work. The problem was, he wasn't sure how to completely do the entire problem. So he did nothing. He kept doing this even though I talked to him and the entire class about how to proceed when working a problem. The key is to start with what you know and keep asking questions you can answer until you have answered the question. You also need to be organized and label what you are doing so you don't get lost in the midst of the problem. I have him twice a day, so when he was in my other class for the day and doing the same thing, I reminded him and the entire class about how to proceed, but he kept showing no work. In his mind, he was working. But in my mind, he was not following directions. After about 15 minutes I noticed that his paper was blank, I lost my patience and rudely told him to get out. I was frustrated. I was rude and impatient with him. He was wrong for not following directions, but I was wrong for how I treated him.
The next day, I apologized to him and the entire class and used my failure as an opportunity to teach a very important lesson about reconciliation, responsibility and forgiveness. I get so caught up with wanting my students to learn that I struggle with my patience. When I do, I can feel it inside and I know I have crossed the line from hope to expectation. I need to continually remind myself of my goal which is to love, encourage, exhort and challenge all of my students relentlessly and unconditionally.
