The three questions students want answered by their teachers, but will never ask.#2 - "Do you care about me?"
If I look back on the teachers that I have known in my life, the ones that had the biggest impact on me, I start to find a common thread: They cared about me as a person.
Some may have wanted me to be more intelligent in my choices, some may have wished to give me a piece of their knowledge to help me along in life, others just saw potential and didn't want to see it wasted. All of these teachers cared about who I was and who I might become.
If you think about it, isn't that what every student is looking for? Isn't that what all relationships are based on... caring? I can guarantee you that a student will work harder and be less of a discipline issue when they know that you care. Don't get me wrong. Not every child will turn into a model student just because you take the time to get to know them better, and some may even rebel against it, but I prefer caring to be being false or cruel.
Let me be clear, this kind of caring has to be genuine and not based on something you want from the kid. ("If I talk nicely, then the class will behave.") Don't confuse caring with being nice. I am not talking about asking kids how their day is or complimenting them on their clothes. Caring is about seeking what is best for the student and taking the time to explain to them why you are doing what you do, not just beating them over the head with your words.
Remember.... kids can sniff out false words like dogs smell fear!
If I look back on the teachers that I have known in my life, the ones that had the biggest impact on me, I start to find a common thread: They cared about me as a person.
Some may have wanted me to be more intelligent in my choices, some may have wished to give me a piece of their knowledge to help me along in life, others just saw potential and didn't want to see it wasted. All of these teachers cared about who I was and who I might become.
If you think about it, isn't that what every student is looking for? Isn't that what all relationships are based on... caring? I can guarantee you that a student will work harder and be less of a discipline issue when they know that you care. Don't get me wrong. Not every child will turn into a model student just because you take the time to get to know them better, and some may even rebel against it, but I prefer caring to be being false or cruel.
Let me be clear, this kind of caring has to be genuine and not based on something you want from the kid. ("If I talk nicely, then the class will behave.") Don't confuse caring with being nice. I am not talking about asking kids how their day is or complimenting them on their clothes. Caring is about seeking what is best for the student and taking the time to explain to them why you are doing what you do, not just beating them over the head with your words.
Remember.... kids can sniff out false words like dogs smell fear!
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