As a teacher I think often about this
phrase. I am constantly asking myself if
I might be too busy to see the important things that are going on in my
classroom. The child who is sad because
Mom and Dad were fighting last night, the child who is lonely because they just
don’t fit in, the child who is acting out because they don’t have any other way
to communicate how they are feeling. I
sometimes wonder how many opportunities I might have missed because I was so
caught up in what I was teaching that I didn’t “see” those real teachable
moments. Here are a few things I try to do during the
course of the day and throughout the year.
1. Take the time to really know your
students. Build a relationship with them
and an open door for communication. Build
trust. After all, the most important
part of teaching is the children!
2. Make a list of 2 to 3 students each
day and take the time to talk to them. I
call this “Face Time”. Sometimes this
can be led by the teacher and sometimes by the student. This is not only good for your struggling
students but for your children who just want to share for a few minutes.
3. Build an open line of communication
with parents. This is so important. Sometimes you find out things that may be
going on at home that you were unaware of.
4. Speak with a friend or fellow teacher
for ideas. It often is helpful to ask
others how they make their students feel safe and special.
I hope this blog reminds you to keep the important things in
your classroom at the front of your mind.
Children who do not feel valued will not be as successful as those who
know that their teacher genuinely cares about them.
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