Positive Classroom Relationships

Positive teacher-student relationships are important because when you come right down to it, learning can only take place when the student has a positive relationship with the one who is implementing the lessons in the classroom.  But the question is, how do you create a positive relationship with each and every individual student in your classroom?

There are a number of specific behaviors that teachers can focus on to enhance her relationship with her students.  Each are important in themselves, but together they are the keys to creating a positive social and emotional environment for the students in the classroom. These behaviors include:

• Engaging in one-on-one interactions, being sure to use eye contact
• Using a pleasant, calm voice and age appropriate language
• Using warm, responsive physical contact
• Following the child’s interests during free play
• Helping the child understand your expectations in the classroom
• Redirecting the child when she’s engaging in challenging or inappropriate behavior
• Listening to the child and encouraging him to listen to you and others
• Acknowledging the child’s efforts and accomplishments

Using developmentally appropriate practice and taking into account a child’s individual needs, talents, and interests is important when it comes to fostering positive relationships with your students.  Therefore, teachers need to understand the developmental level of the students they are teaching while all the while getting to know each of their students’ likes and dislikes. 

Teacher-student relationships are important because they influence children’s social and emotional development directly.  Research has shown that children who have positive relationships with their educators, especially at the early childhood level, go on to have secure relationships with future teachers and even their peers.  When a student doesn’t feel comfortable and safe in his classroom, he tends to engage in more conflicts with his teacher and his classmates as well.  Children who have rocky relationships with their teachers have a tough time interacting with anyone at school because they don’t know who to rely on or turn to for support.  On the flip side, however, when children feel safe and nurtured in the classroom, they are more comfortable taking risks and succeeding in new skill areas since they know they have a support system in place.

My personal opinion is that it cannot be emphasized enough how important it really is for teachers and students to have a mutual respect for one another.  Throughout my experiences, I have seen some teachers who can really connect with their students and therefore reach into their minds and engage them during instruction time more than they would without that positive relationship.  On the other hand, there are teachers who do not take the time to get to know each individual child and some of those children fall in-between the cracks and do not benefit as much as they possibly could. 
For example, I know of a child who had many behavioral issues throughout elementary school.  Many teachers did not want to take the time to nurture his individual needs.  Simplistically, he needed attention that he did not receive at home.  He would do anything possible in the classroom to receive attention, even if it was mainly negative.  When he began fourth grade, the teacher really recognized this in him and catered to his needs.  Instead of recognizing negative behavior, she praised his accomplishments and focused on his interests.  This particular student completely turned around during fourth grade and became a practically different kid, really demonstrating his strengths and getting attention for those instead of for negative reasons.

All in all, I believe that it is important for teachers to evaluate their relationships with their students.  Even though there is oftentimes an emphasis on standards and expectations, the bigger picture involves making a difference in individual children’s lives and building a strong community.  Productive interaction within the classroom will not truly begin until positive relationships between the teacher and her students are forged.  I make a point to smile, talk in a warm and friendly voice, respect the children, get to know children’s interests, and make my expectations clear when I’m in a classroom.  I hope that through my behavior, I can be important in the lives of the children I work with.

Educational Omniscience

As I posted in the very first entry of this blog, “knowledge” can be defined as “knowing where to find the answer” rather than just simply having all of the information you need to know on you at all times.  While I was speaking in general terms, the same sentiment is true when it comes to teaching. 

Even though sometimes students view their teachers as omniscient, we know that that’s just not true.  Teaching is not about always having the answer and it’s not about knowing everything.  Let’s face it: it’s downright impossible for you to know everything.  But it is possible for you to know where to find the answer. 

The same goes with teaching teachers.  There is no single educator who has all of the answers regarding the best practices in education (I apologize to all of my mentors, but it’s true!).  It’s a positive idea to surround yourself with a number of people who may give you support and ideas in a number of different ways instead of relying solely on one person – especially if that one person is yourself.  Whether it’s your classmates, fellow teachers in your building, professors, seasoned teachers you know in the community, or anyone else you happen upon, it’s important to use your network of teachers to aid in your craft.

I surely don’t claim to have all of the answers, but I hope that by coming together with a number of other educators, I can help create a resourceful and organized collection of lesson plans, classroom management strategies, and other ideas for teachers at all different levels of experience.  I hope that you’ll contribute, too!

My Educational Philosophy

I’ve been working on developing some educational resources as part of etc. Resources, but I wanted to start at the beginning and reevaluate my own teaching philosophy and my personal knowledge of education before I made anything available to the public.  In doing so, I’ve decided to start blogging about an educational topic once a week, beginning today. 

Before I went into my final semester of college at the undergraduate level, I completed a form with all of my information regarding my experience and beliefs pertaining to education.  Below is a copy of the educational philosophy I wrote prior to student teaching in October of 2007.  My beliefs regarding education remain strong and in order to explain how I feel about teaching and the education system in general, I’ve decided to share my philosophy with you.

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I believe that the purpose of education is to teach children how to learn.  Through the process of education, the students will be provided with tools from the teacher that will help them make positive choices throughout their educational careers and their lives. 

All children are unique learners with individual learning styles and all students in a classroom must be given an equal chance to learn through differentiated instruction in the curriculum.  Regardless of gender, cultural background, age, or individual abilities, every child needs to be treated equally and with respect from the teacher and his or her fellow students.  The classroom community should be comprised of a network of learners taking strengths from each individual student’s special talents and interests, joining together for the greater good of the group.  I feel that if enough guidance is provided for a child from a young age, that child will grow into a well-balanced adult.

I believe that teachers, as well as community members, are just as responsible as a child’s own parents in making sure that the process of a complete education is carried out.  Teachers must work as partners with parents in order to keep children on track at both home and school.  It is also a teacher’s role to make sure that all of Maslow’s basic needs are met for each and every child in her classroom.  Once physiological, safety, and social needs are met, a higher level of learning can take place and the students can really begin to succeed.  A teacher must constantly monitor the needs that she sees arise in her classroom to ensure that learning will be able to take place in a caring community of learners.

I believe that the way a teacher teaches, disciplines, and relates to students will affect those children for their entire lives.  Teachers never know how much they influence the children they teach.  Teaching styles and discipline procedures should be well-thought out to provide the most well-rounded and fair education to all students in the classroom.  Positive relationships between the teacher and each student should develop in the classroom.  With all of these elements working together, a classroom environment should evolve that promotes a positive view of education and an eagerness to continue learning.

Resources Are Power

I once heard “knowledge” defined as “knowing where to find the answer” rather than just simply having all of the information you need to know on you at all times. Therefore, I find being aware of the resources available to you is more important than having all of the facts memorized. Having a good idea of where you can obtain the information you need to find is what it really comes down to.
This is where etc. Resources comes in.
etc. Resources has a mission to provide information regarding the resources you could be using for your business, classroom, or everyday life. Whether you’re a small business owner, a teacher, or a technology lover, we have compiled a wealth of resources pertaining to online networking, social media, internet marketing, team building, teaching, and computer use. 
Between one-on-one meetings, classes, our blogs, and our website, etc. Resources will be communicating with businesses and individuals to spread the word about a number of resources available to use in today’s media-rich marketing community. 
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