Every student knew upon entering this social studies class that they were going to have fun. the teacher was able to make the students feel comfortable no matter what their background which caused a great community atmosphere in the classroom. One of the things i remember about him was that he made us feel like he was one of us, while still having authority. He told us stories made us realize that he was human like us and not just a teacher. Although it is dangerous to straddle the line between friend and teacher, i think you can build a relationship with your students that will lead to a feeling of comfort in the classroom and ultimately to a better learning atmosphere.
In my first few days as a teacher i want to get my students laughing, sharing stories, and embracing their differences. There is so much that we can learn from each other as long as we are not afraid or uncomfortable. The quote on page 7 from Ralph Waldo Emerson says, "The secret of education lies in respecting the pupil." I think the key hear is the idea of repect. Not only must we as teachers respect our students, but they must learn to respect us and each other. This starts by getting the students talking to one another about their differences and experiences, and not trying to hide them.
Extra: Doesn't B&B mean "Boiled & Baked," as in the best way to cook a bagel is to boil it then bake it? I don't know, i still prefer Panera.
Jared
4 comments:
Hi Jared! I really enjoyed your opinions and totally agree with you. Being comfortable in a class is a really important issue. On my first math class in my first year of middle school, my math teacher hid my friend with a scoop on his cheek with a trivial flaw. I really hated his class. The class was always tense!
I also like Panera much!
I completely agree with your idea of a perfect classroom and teacher. I had a similar standout English class my junior year of HS where everyone felt comfortable sharing their ideas and joking around with each other because the teacher made it clear that everyone would be respected no matter what they said or did. He started every day with a joke to get the class loosened up and we always sat in a cirlce where we discussed what we were reading. I believe that problem that most teachers have here is they are afraid to give students as much respect and responsiblity as they deserve because they think it will lesson their control over them. On the contrary, however, i believe that if we treat them more as our equals they will be much more willing to listen to what we have to say and will feel more comfortable sharing their own ideas and feelings
Oh, and everyone knows B&B stands for Bed and Breakfast
I like how Jared mentioned having a positive teacher-student relationship. Whether they are respected or ignored, teachers play a critical role in the development of their students. In an English classroom, I think it’s important that we try to develop a level of trust and comfort with our students so that their writing can allow them to express their genuine emotions and intents, but at the same time retain a level of respect so that we can continually work to challenge our students.
Post a Comment