As a teacher I can't wait to see the all the students again! They will tell me all about their holidays, and I will be stunned as usual, by just how much they have all grown. There is a newness and certain fun that exists in starting fresh. The beginning, including plans and organising, I absolutely love. My children can hardly wait to find out if their friends are in their classes, and who their teachers will be. Lucy came to me in tears a few days ago, wanting so much to be back. Yes, in my home, we are mostly very excited at the prospect of school going back.
But.
But I am a parent too. I've been here before. And the start of the school year is sometimes not all it's cracked up to be. I know that I have to say goodbye to my children in a couple of days time, knowing I will have absolutely no control over what happens next. It can be wonderful! But it can sometimes be less than.
As a parent, I have discovered that the difference between a wonderful/not-so-wonderful start to the year is a great deal more simple than I thought. Teacher-me is all about organising, making sure everything is perfectly ready, looking beautiful and is exciting. I want the first day they see me to be memorable and impressive! I want the kids to want to come back the following day. We are taught that what happens first matters.
And it does. Just not in the way I thought before I had children at school.
I now know that what makes the most difference on the first day has nothing to do with awesome and exciting learning experiences and the most beautiful, well organised classroom there is. As much as I think making learning fun, investigative, exciting, different, engaging, and generally encouraging students to want to learn and love learning is important. I don't believe any of these things is the most important.
That is because relationship is. A relationship based on listening to, and hearing students and above all knowing who each child really is, is the most important.
So what does this mean for the first day of school? How do teachers ensure that they start the way they mean to go on, really getting to know each and every student, even the quiet, rarely noticed ones? How can teachers make absolute sure that the year starts well for every student in their care, especially with the rush and excitement and fitting-everything-in-ness of the first day? That first day is a super fast one!
I've come up with three important things that every teacher can do on the first day, to make a difference to the beginning of the school year, for every child. Do these things, and you are best placed to begin the teacher-student relationship in a positive way. And what's more, students will go home telling their parents that they not only like their teacher, but their teacher likes them. Most teachers would do each of these things without thinking, but it is critical that not one child is missed, because they will absolutely know they have been missed, even if the teacher is unaware.
With busyness, nerves and the excitement that comes with the fresh start of the year, it is easy for the relationships to get lost in the doing-of-it-all. Teachers need to find a way to:
1) Look into each child's eyes. Not just generally at them, or at them as part of a sweep of the classroom. A look that invites a smile from both the child and teacher. It needs to be both special and shared.
2) Say each child's name at least once. No, not just in roll call or to correct behaviour or ask them to come to the floor or line up. Perhaps in responding to a question the child asks or asking for a contribution to class discussion.
3) Talk with each child at some point. There is something super special in this. It doesn't include directives or talking to the child. It is more about taking a brief moment to listen and really hear the student. It can be incredibly hard to find time, but is great to aim for because it will be the one moment the student is likely to hold on to.
That's it. Just three small things and students will clearly observe that they are important members of the class, who will be heard and acknowledged. The message that each student will carry home to parents is that school is awesome, because everyone wants to feel like they matter, and that lost-in-the-crowd feeling is all too easy to find in a class of 30 students.
Every student wants to feel special. And every parent wants their child to be truly known for who they are and cared for. The learning part, that is what school is all about, will flow naturally from really knowing students, beginning with these simple steps. How can it not? Knowing who each student is, how they learn and what they love, can see little other future but to care, cater for, help, teach, encourage, and generally want and know what is best for all within the class.
It may seem too simple. But this is just about the start. A jumping off point, from which to work from.
All a student needs to know when leaving school on that first day is they are not only a valued member of a class, but an individual who is seen and heard by the one leading it.
Learning will follow.
Jen.x
No comments:
Post a Comment