The Night Shift
In the world of freshman interventions, I’m working the night shift tonight. Right now it’s 5:45 pm, and 17 students are in eight different classrooms. Five of those students are tutors. One freshman is sitting 20 feet away. The light of his screen illuminates his face in the now darkened hallway. It was difficult to get him here, yet he works quietly and with a great deal of focus.
Down the hallway another freshman boy is working in a room by himself. The last time I checked in on him, his back was to the door. The room was almost dark. The sun was almost gone through the window he was facing. He handed me a completed assignment. A rarity for him, and he went right back to work. I left.
In the center of our hallway, we have a fishbowl of a conference room. One girl was very excited to sit in this sealed bubble. She is insulated but able to see what’s going on around her. Earlier this evening, I wheeled in a teacher's chair because she said her back hurt. She smiled at me and went back to work.
I sat with a girl a bit ago. She also requested a room by herself. I asked her if she wanted a tutor. She started to cry. I asked her to explain the tears. She feels dumb, wants to just do it herself. I was able to talk her into receiving a tutor. They didn’t know each other so I introduced them. I complimented the girl being tutored. I talked about how hard math is. They began to work together. When I checked in later, the tutor was having difficulty with a topic. I needed to get the math teacher in there; it could not have been a better situation. The girl saw the tutor struggle. It was likely a gift to be stumped together.
The environment is important. The structure is helpful. Participating in an event is priceless.
It was a good night tonight! Students did an amazing amount of work. Here are eight things to know about this event:
Time: 3:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Pizza is from 7:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Set aside a defined area that has one room for about every three freshmen.
Get good tutors!
Students and parents sign a contract beforehand.
Students can’t leave early unless the parent is contacted.
Box up all the phones at the beginning of the evening.
Walk around a lot . . . sometimes with small pieces of candy.