Malcolm Gauld
Once a school (or after-school) program implements the Discovery Process, it will inevitably seek ways to communicate with parents. One school sends quarterly comments to parents, sometimes accompanying the report card. Here are a few sample comments teachers have written:
X has brought great energy to our Discovery Group. He started the year off ready to be a leader. This fall, X took a risk to join the cross-country running team and has challenged himself to be more self-aware this year. During the coming trimester, we encourage X to branch out his social circle and bring his leadership to a wider group of students.
X has taken Discovery Group meetings seriously and sets a good example for the rest of the group. Even though he was unfamiliar with the Discovery program, he has embraced it and strived to learn about himself. X has been a leader in the community, at school assemblies, and on the soccer field. He has also put put genuine effort into his college application process and is working hard to secure the best options for next year. Looking to the next trimester, I encourage X to examine the routines of his comfort zone and maybe tackle some new challenges for further personal growth.
X has had her ups and downs in Discovery Group. Some days, she eagerly shares her challenges and successes with the group, and others, she is more closed off. We have seen her bring great energy to our meetings. She is often a cheerleader for others but sometimes doubts herself. Looking ahead, I encourage her to focus more on self-awareness and embracing her strengths and less on what others think of her.
X participates in Discovery Group meetings with some prompting. Although this is his 2nd year, he has yet to step into a leadership role in our group. X has a wonderful sense of humor and always makes us laugh. We hope that X will begin to challenge himself to open up more with our group and put more effort into our meetings, not only to set an example for others, but for his own benefit as well.
The purpose of these comments is less about assessing and judging and more about encouraging students to engage with each other. Not only are both parents and students encouraged to have follow-up discussions with the Discovery Process teachers. Sometimes these discussions prove to be more meaningful than the comments themselves.
Onward, Malcolm
