Like a few of the others have mentioned, I, too, struggle with the exact relationship that I should have with my students. Many of my kids do not come from supportive homes; therefore, I feel that I am often seen as their adult role model. I also believe that in order to be an effective teacher, your students have to know that you care and appreciate their lives. I try to make a point to talk to them about their interests, and get updates on their lives. If they think that you care about them, they are more responsive in class (most of the time). I know teachers that think that your relationship with students should be purely professional--no “small talk,” no hugs, and basically nothing that crosses the teacher-student iron boundary. Now, their students behave, but they often don’t respond well to their teachers. I would like to also add that I think that this boundary varies from student-to-student. Some kids are more open to you than others.
Aside from just teaching the students our assigned content, it is our responsibility to teach them to be life-long learners. We will not be with them following this year--what have we planted in their brains that will continue to grow? I love social studies (learning about it, teaching it, etc.), however, I understand that in order for my kids to truly appreciate it and learning in general, I have to make it relevant to their lives. How can a teacher truly make information relevant to a student’s life, if he/she does not know anything about that student or their background? One mainstream curriculum that attempts to place everyone in the same pot is not going to be effective. Teachers need to be aware of what backgrounds that exist in their classes. This reminds me of the analogy that I used in a blog earlier in the year. The United States should strive to be a “salad bowl nation,” not a melting pot.
In an effort to gain an understanding of the various backgrounds that I will have in my class next year, I have already decided that I want to do an anonymous survey. I want to know their ethnic, religious, language, and family backgrounds. I might even graph the results and leave them up throughout the year. I think that this will not only help me, but my students as well.
Heather Coe
Comments (6)
Hi Heather. I think starting the year learning more deeply about the backgrounds of your students is an excellent idea. I'm not sure if you have any particular beginning of the year activities that you like to do, but you might be interested in the Bio Bag. The Bio Bad is something I used to use to introduce biographies, but it would be a powerful beginning of the year activity as well. Students are asked to bring in artifacts (pictures, books, toys, trophies, etc.) that define who they are and what is most important to them. Then they share their bio bag with a partner, they can talk about the artifacts within the bag and in the process discover other friends they never knew they could have. If you are interested, send me an email and I'll send you an attachment to the activity. If we could jsut give one another a chance, we may just find that we are all quite amazing.
Posted by Amie Snow | April 26, 2009 11:06 AM
Posted on April 26, 2009 11:06
Heather,
Your idea of surveying your children at the beginning of the year is a good one. I also really like the plan to graph the results and leave them up all year. I think it is not only important that we appreciate diversity, it is just as important if not more important that our kids appreciate the diversity in the classroom. This would be a great strategy.
Posted by Brittany Guy | April 27, 2009 8:50 PM
Posted on April 27, 2009 20:50
There are of course boundaries between teachers and students, but there should always be some kind of relationship with your class members. The in-depth background is a great idea, something I've always had success with. At the high school, talking to kids about their basketball games or band competitions, or even coming to show support means the world to them. When you remember something about them, maybe a book they're reading or a family member who's ill, students are so surprised and you can tell it means a lot. The point is, many teachers shy away from such relationships because they think THAT is too much. When, in reality, all you're doing is simply making a human-to-human connection.
Posted by Christy Rivers | April 27, 2009 9:42 PM
Posted on April 27, 2009 21:42
Heather, I am glad that you reject the idea of "strictly professional", especially if you are in the elementary grades. These children need to know that they are special, that someone else cares about you, and your future. I think it is great that you are already looking towards next year and going to do your survey. I think that could really provide you some much needed insight that you wouldn't normally get until after the first few months of school.
Posted by Whitney Gilbert | April 27, 2009 10:14 PM
Posted on April 27, 2009 22:14
I love your idea of collecting information about your kids and then graphing it. It is a great way for you to get to know your kids as well as for them to get to know each other. Amie's idea of bio bags is an great one too. We did these in class with her this year and it was really interesting to find out what you can learn. It is definitely a great way to build a community in your classroom while building relationships that might not otherwise be made between the students.
Posted by Amy Spade | April 28, 2009 9:28 PM
Posted on April 28, 2009 21:28
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Posted on February 26, 2010 17:59