When I think back to when I was in elementary and middle school, I have several distinct memories and I think a lot of this is due to strong relationships with my teachers. Teachers that made me feel respected and valued in the classroom definitely had a positive impact on my learning in the classroom. Relationships with students can open new doors that would otherwise be nonexistent.
Everyone wants to feel valued and cared for, especially younger elementary students. This young years for students have a strong impact on shaping who they are going to be and realizing you are going to be with these students around 8 hours a day is a lot to think to about. Calling on all students equitably and correcting students in a constructive way are two areas that I want to focus on in my classroom.
Teachers can pick favorites in the classroom without even realizing they are doing it. The teacher might call on one student the majority of the time because the teacher knows they know the answer and wants to move on as quickly as possible. I have seen this happen so often when I was going through school. One way I want to prevent this in my classroom is by having a simple checklist or a name drawing system to make sure everyone is able to participate. Writing every student’s name on a Popsicle stick and drawing from a cup makes being called on more fun and makes sure everyone is actively participating in the classroom.
Correcting students in a constructive way is another idea that I want to focus on. Disciplining students is just a part of school and the way you go about doing this can have a positive or negative effect on the students. When correcting students, the main goal is to have them reflect on the action they did and how they can make a better choice in the future. If students walk away from me thinking they hate me and they are going to try to not get caught in the future, then I believe I failed in a positive constructive response. Removing sarcasm or disgust when correcting students can also help in this idea.
There are so many ways to promote positive relationships with students in the classroom and I look forward to learning more about this. I understand how important these relationships are in the classroom. A student isn’t going to feel comfortable or want to open up to a teacher if they don’t feel like they can trust them or respect them. Focusing on these relationships can better their learning and can make my job as a teacher more enjoyable.
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