This blog post is serving double duty. I’m linking up with Jasmine over at Buzzing with Mrs. McClain for her You Oughta Know blog hop. I am also posting the second topic in a series about teaching in low income communities.
The first lesson without a doubt is getting to know your students. This is probably a “duh,” but I wanted to include it just in case (wink, wink). Knowing students means not only their interests, but also what motivates them, how they receive feedback, things that anger them. Below are a few of my favorite resources to use to get to know your students.
Other Ideas: Attend an extracurricular event, do a home visit, eat lunch with students
I purposefully used the term “influencers” versus “parent” because in my experience I’ve found it helpful to know the adults that students look up to. That might be a previous teacher, extracurricular coach, older sibling, community leader and/or everyone in between. When I prioritize getting to know the people who know the people who are important to my students, it proves that I care, and provides another support link for students. SHAMEFUL PLUG- I’ll be doing a full blog on “Working With Stakeholders” that will include resources…I hope you come back.
When students feel valued as individuals and connected to a community, it provides the framework for a strong classroom culture. A safe and nurturing classroom is something that is intentionally built and maintained by the classroom teacher. From rules and procedures, to the classroom layout and student pairings… EVERYTHING BUILDS (or destroys) CLASSROOM CULTURE. Below are a few resources to assist with building relationships and creating a safe class.
Personal relationships with students take time…and consistency. A lack of consistency creates a slippery slope when it comes to building trust filled relationships with students. Students have to know teacher expectations and these have to be followed through every time…without fail. I tend to think of my relationships with students as flowers… they need consistent sunlight and water.
The final thing you OUGHTA KNOW is that building relationships is hard and time consuming. The most difficult thing in my experience was that many of students have many different layers of protection around who they were, which makes it difficult to open up. I own the times when I stopped trying (please don’t judge me). That said, hindsight is a gift. Looking back, I’ve built stronger skin and have changed my orientation towards relationship building. This can be summed up in one of my favorite Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. quotes, “The ultimate measure of man is not where he stands in the moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy.”As it relates to relationships, I believe that enduring through adversity and humbling myself in service of my kids and community is what has enabled me to build strong relationships and networks.
I’d love to hear how others approach building relationships.
What is Self-Awareness? In the last 6-7 years, the phrase “Social & Emotional Learning” has taken a gigantic step into the educational landscape. Educators, researchers, and families are all working to understand the knowledge and skills that promote healthy self-perception, development, and relationships. In short, the goal is for individuals to experience success in all…
This is a guest post from Nicole Brisbane who is a former 6th grade ELA teacher and current New York State Director for Democrats for Education Reform. The latest presidential election had many classrooms abuzz with political chatter. Some students came in fearful about their immigration status and that of their parents and families’ abilities…
“Why are the girls wearing their hoodies outside?” A few years ago, while teaching in Florida I had an interesting encounter with my principal. The entire 5th grade team was outside for field day when I spotted something that sent me back to my middle school experience. Almost all of the Black girls were wearing…
As I continue to grow as a teacher, I explore who and I am, and why I teach. Being a teacher is an important part of my identity, but there are so many other parts of my identity that are intertwined into the “WHY” I teaching. I’ve also realized that my students are also thinking…
About five years go, I started piecing together elements of my classroom community that I saw as critical components. I was doing a “ten-year stepback.” This reflection spotlighted activities and discussions that occurred within and outside the curriculum. One of the most significant components that surfaced involved how identity development shaped middle school experiences….
Gratitude: the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. I’ve been exploring student empowerment and voice, and my role in creating a classroom culture that fosters the next generation of leaders and thinkers. This has led me to more lessons that focus on character education. As we express our…
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