You’ve heard it time and time again and seen it all over the internet…
And it couldn’t be more heartbreaking… or sad… or true.
This particular educational issue has been tugging at my heart for quite some time now. How can I effectively communicate to ALL my students that as I care about them, care about what happens to them, and will continue to think of them and love them once their year with me is over? What I am doing to make sure that all my students feel that they are important and that they matter to me – regardless of where they live, who their parents are, their socioeconomic situation or religious beliefs?
Here is how I, and you, can start showing how full your heart is in your classroom.
1. Words of Affirmation and Encouragement
This is probably the easiest one to do! Encouraging words go a L-O-N-G way when it comes to students today. Handwritten notes on tests or in agendas can make a student’s day! When a teacher praises his or her students for a job well done it boosts self esteem and provide students with immense pride – and motivation to continue forward and be a member of the class community. And what teacher can resist the smile on their students’ faces when they know they have been caught doing good?!?
2. Quality Time
Every student needs a bit of quality time with his/ her teacher. This can be done very quickly and effectively without having to take up too much of your classroom time. Look for “bubbles” of time when you and a student could have some time together. When students are working independently, ask a student who needs a little bit of attention to come to your desk to have a little conversation. Recess supervision time is a great time to catch up with a student that needs a little extra love. Pretty soon, you will see “bubbles” of time popping up throughout the day – and your students will benefit greatly from the few extra minutes of personal attention they will receive from you.
3. Giving Gifts
Everyone loves to get a gift but as teachers, our gift giving budget is practically non-existent. Even so, there are many wonderful non-monetary gifts that we can give to show our students that we love them. It could be a hug, a high five, an extra large laugh at a joke told, etc. A gift could also be an orange given to a hungry student, a funky pencil for a student whose family is under financial stress, or even a certificate of achievement. A positive phone call home makes the day of any student. These are all low cost yet highly effective when showing your students how much you care for them.
4. Helping Out
As teachers, we focus on the curriculum and how we deliver it to our students. We are constantly brainstorming ideas, lesson planning, and evaluating the progress of our students. In the classroom, we are there to assist our students with their assignments, provide them with different strategies to help them navigate through their learning. There are, however, many times when our students need our help outside of the classroom. Zippers that aren’t working properly, hats that have gone missing, applesauce explosions in lunch boxes, fights between siblings, etc. There are a million and one other things that pop up during the day in the hallways, lunchrooms, and playground areas of our schools. By helping your students with the everyday accidents and experiences that they have, you are showing your students that you care about them, that you are there for them, and ultimately, that you love them.
5. Physical Touch
Along the lines with giving gifts, the gift of touch goes a long way for some students. High fives, hugs, and proximity are craved by certain students. Some students like to have pressure added to their shoulders while other students seek out a bear hug. While not all teachers, or students for that matter, are comfortable with physical touch, please keep in mind that some children crave the physical contact. This gives certain children a sense of security and warmth and can have a calming effect on many.
These 5 tips are easy to implement and will certainly change the climate within your classroom. Most importantly, you will make a child smile knowing that you love him/ her.
Have a great day!
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