I think the most important things I can do for my future students and those whose lives I impact only as a substitute is to continue to try to help them understand that they are safe with me. It is really important to cultivate relationships with my students that have two layers. Obviously, the first is an academic relationship where I am the teacher, they are the student. In this relationship, my responsibility is to teach and theirs is to learn. The second layer though is a personal one. In this relationship, my students and I are more like equals, not necessarily friends. It is imperative that they know they can count on me when they need to. All children, but especially those who come from poverty want to share with us. I’ve seen so many teachers brush off these opportunities because they are too busy with academics. Yes, academics are important, but I believe that we are impacting more than just their school-selves. We are impacting their whole-selves. When a child wants to share with me at an opportune moment, I am all ears. When they want to share at an inopportune moment, I gently redirect them and promise to return to them when I am finished with whatever task I am working on. Then, I keep my promise. It’s little things like this that let my students know that I care not only about their academic performance, but about them as human beings. It is my belief that if I can continue to build these two-layer relationships with my students, I will be able to teach and help them academically.
As far as how I will interact differently, I think I will make a conscious effort not to categorize all individuals affected by poverty as unwilling to help themselves. And I will make a greater effort to provide whatever form of support and resources I can.
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I really like the way you described your relationship with your students in layers. I feel like that is the perfect way to describe it. As a teacher, I make it clear that respect from them to me and me to them is the most important thing. If that is there then the other layer that you were talking about just seems to come without even mentioning it. When the students know they are respected and they can trust you then a whole new relationship is established on that trust. With that relationship the students want to try their hardest and accomplish their goals. They know that you will be there in case they fall. It is important to listen to each and every child. A teacher might be the only one who ever listens to their stories. Like you said, sometimes it is not the right time, but time should be available for those kids to talk. That is a part of building support systems and relationships with these students that will last a lifetime.
ReplyDeleteEmily,
ReplyDeleteEven as a substitute, this is challenging sometimes (especially since I might not see the kids for several days, even weeks) but I think it's sooooooo important!! I do my best every day to make each child feel important by saying their name at least once for something positive, and always finding time to listen to their stories. I get asked a lot from other subs what my secret is to the kids loving me so much (I really am a firm, no-nonsense kind of person with a soft side) and I usually say that my secret is just paying them some form of positive individual attention EVERY time I see them.
Kelli
Keli-
ReplyDeleteI like that you discussed Dr. Payne’s work in relation to the role of a substitute teacher and think that you are absolutely right that students need to feel safe and secure when substitute teachers are in the room. One way I try to address this situation is by developing relationships with substitute teachers that have similar qualities/characteristics as myself and consistently request or work with the principal to assign that substitute to my classroom. I also like that you discuss how you develop relationships with your students so that trust is developed between students and teachers. I believe in treating my students with respect. I have found that by demonstrating the qualities that I wish to instill in them and showing them how to (or how I) act and react in situations helps me be a role model.
Gretchen Rohrer