My weakness as a teacher in my own room has been classroom management. No, my kids didn't run all over me and they learned and they did their work, but I did not effectively engage them the way that I wanted too. I guess more appropriately, I don't felt they bought in to me as their teacher.
I know there are some teachers that don't care about that, it is their classroom and their way or the highway. That is one approach that is not wrong, but can be tough to create a safe, engaging environment. I felt myself pushed into that role, but it is not the classroom I want.
I feel that your students must buy into your teaching philosophy, your compassion for them, and they must trust that you have their best interests at heart so that they not only feel safe to learn, but feel safe to confide in you or to ask you for help. After all, we as teachers are called to not only teach them their core subjects but to prepare them for life after school, and not being comfortable or confident enough to ask for help will cripple them.
I didn't earn that kind of trust this year.
I am int he process of looking for a job, but instead of being down about needing a job, I am going to use my downtime to reflect, learn, and grow. I want to be ready when I do get my classroom, again.
So my goal for the summer is to learn, read, watch, listen, ask questions, and create a plan that encourages not just student engagement and success, but student inquiry, trust, and leaves them feeling as if they can ask me or tell me anything. This is more important than any knowledge or content I could possibly teach them.
If you have any good tips or resources or ideas or experiences. I would love for you to share them with me!
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