Gina
First Grade Student
Context: Gina attends a public elementary school where 90% of students qualify for free lunch and 50% of students (including Gina) are English Language Learners
Behaviors: Gina is usually shy and reluctant to raise her hand or stand up for herself. She has one close friend in her class, but gets along well with most of the other students too.
Attitudes: Gina cares about her school work and tries her best, but rarely asks for help when she is confused. She loves art and looking at picture books.
Needs: Gina needs a judgment free environment where risk-taking is supported so that she can build her self confidence. She also needs opportunities to work independently in a quiet space.
Challenges/pain points: English vocabulary, asserting herself, making new friends
Goals and motivations: to learn, to make her parents and teachers proud, to be well behaved
Jared
Fourth Grade Student
Context: Jared attends an ethnically diverse public elementary school where around 30% of students qualify for free lunch, as does Jared.
Behaviors: Jared is very social and, at times, a bit of a follower. He is a creative and bright student, but often acts out and teases other kids when he's bored or frustrated. He has a strong core group of male friends who share his interests and sense of humor.
Attitudes: Jared is invested in school assignments when they capture his attention, but invests little effort in assignments he finds uninteresting or especially challenging. He loves anything that has to do with basketball.
Needs: Jared needs learning experiences that connect to his everyday life. He needs to recognize his own strengths and value as an individual.
Challenges/pain points: math, fiction reading (though he enjoys nonfiction), sitting still/focusing on one thing for extended periods of time
Goals and motivations: to gain the admiration of his peers, to have fun, to be active, get his hands dirty, and explore
Lisa
Second Grade Teacher
Context: Lisa is a third year teacher at a Title 1 public elementary school. One third of her students are English Language Learners and about half of her students are below grade level in reading and/or math. She used to teach kindergarten but was forced to switch to second grade this year.
Behaviors: Lisa is incredibly hard-working and dedicated as a teacher. Though she has more confidence than she did as a first-year teacher, she finds herself struggling to gain comfort with the second grade curriculum. She is patient and rarely raises her voice with students, but feels overwhelmed by her students' frequent misbehavior.
Attitudes: Lisa believes in public education and her power to positively impact her students' lives and educational prospects. However she is uninspired by the mandated curriculum and practices of her school and district and yearns to incorporate more of her own creative voice into her teaching practice.
Needs: Lisa needs more time. No matter how hard she works, she never seems to get everything done to her satisfaction. She also needs opportunities to follow her heart and passion instead of worrying if she's doing it "right" or "wrong."
Challenges/pain points: classroom management, motivating her students, teaching unfamiliar content, finding a work/life balance
Goals and motivations: to help her students' learn and grow as individuals, to make learning fun, to be creative, to grow professionally