Well, he's actually listed as Master Samuri Brent and exhibits more of the traits of an overly ambitious Australian pre-teen ninja/gym member than anything else...
Anyway, as it turns out, Master Samurai Brent is now 16 years of age (he was 12-13 when he made this video) and one of my new students. Between literacy tasks on Trade-Lit, he was on YouTube looking for a new music track to play through his headphones while he went on to complete the next literacy task, and he recalled this video he'd made years before. He asked me politely if he could show it to me.
I watched it and absolutely howled with laughter. A few of the other fellows came over to see it as well, and some laughs were had all round.
In the aftermath I found out quite a lot of interesting information about Master Samurai Brent, like who the various family members in the video were and how the scene where he does a flying kick off the garden retaining wall actually resulted in him breaking his leg!
But mostly, I just got to know this young person a lot better. And he got to know that he has a teacher who is willing to get to know him, via windows he can choose and contribute.
Some people ask me what it is I do that seems to make teenagers comfortable, cooperative and productive in my classroom. I'm not entirely sure what it is that makes things work, but I daresay a little time and room for appearances like Master Samurai Brent makes a difference.
Is Master Samurai Brent (or your local version of him) welcome in your classroom?
I think he should be.
:-)
