We all have bad days. We all have bad class periods. What we have to remember, especially while we are in the classroom, is that we teach kids and we can't take things personal.
Have you ever gotten frustrated with that kid that asks the same question a million times? Have you ever given the same answer a million times but on that last one thrown a little stank on it? Maybe it was your tone. Perhaps it was your word choice. Either way, we all know that look in a kids eyes when you've crushed them by making fun of them, condescending to them, or generally treated them like they were stupid. Parents do this too.
The emotional health of our kids is as important if not more than their physical and academic health. Sometimes it's something as simple as an "obviously" or "of course" before or after we answer as we normally would. Kids pick up on little things sometimes better than adults because they are trying so hard, in their own way, to please you.
Take care of their spirits. Live up to that expectation. They'll let you down from time to time, but they're supposed to. They're kids. They're just learning. Does that mean make excuses for them and lower your expectations? No, but you don't have to destroy their souls when they mess up.
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Have you ever gotten frustrated with that kid that asks the same question a million times? Have you ever given the same answer a million times but on that last one thrown a little stank on it? Maybe it was your tone. Perhaps it was your word choice. Either way, we all know that look in a kids eyes when you've crushed them by making fun of them, condescending to them, or generally treated them like they were stupid. Parents do this too.
The emotional health of our kids is as important if not more than their physical and academic health. Sometimes it's something as simple as an "obviously" or "of course" before or after we answer as we normally would. Kids pick up on little things sometimes better than adults because they are trying so hard, in their own way, to please you.
Take care of their spirits. Live up to that expectation. They'll let you down from time to time, but they're supposed to. They're kids. They're just learning. Does that mean make excuses for them and lower your expectations? No, but you don't have to destroy their souls when they mess up.
Related Articles:
Tough days teaching in DISD
No Bathroom Breaks
It's not my day mister
The low class in Dallas Schools
Listening to Dallas Students
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