"Remberto, can you take the heavier wheelbarrow?" I urged.
"Sure! No problem." he agreed, as he wrestled it out of the shed. "Hey guys, remember to spread out so our shovels don't hit." Off they wheeled, like ducks in a row, each one taking their places at the wood chip pile, as before.
Several minutes later, Eyob joked, "Hey, is mine ready yet?"
"Your wheelbarrow is only half full!" Remberto's monotone reply hid any amusement as he worked steadily to hold his edge on the other two boys. Soon they were all off towards the garden in a jagged line, heading for the dumping place.
"Do I have time for one more load?" Efren wondered aloud.
"Yes, if we help you fill it," Remberto assured him. And so he did help to fill it, after completing his own third and final load for today.
In only twenty minutes time, at the end of seventh period, my three eager Life Skills students transferred seven wheelbarrows full of wood chips into the garden, and they couldn't have done it so efficiently without Remberto's emerging leadership. Not only did he set the pace, but he kept the other boys encouraged and on task
This has been an ongoing project. One more session ought to finish off the pile. Every great team has a strong leader, and this crew is no exception.
It is good they are working as a team under the leadership of one person.
ReplyDeleteThat garden nurtures so much more than vegetables, doesn't it?
ReplyDelete