Comments on: Teaching is an art; it involves emotions

By: Dustin Swanson

Dustin Swanson — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 04:24:15 +0000

I couldn’t agree more with your comments Elona. In fact, I always look forward to your comments. Your wisdom does not go unnoticed. It’s true – all we need to know we did learn in kindergarten.

By: elona

elona — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 21:04:41 +0000

I have been teaching at-risk kids for over 20 years and have learned to spend the first few weeks of school developing a positive relationship with my students. I have found that these kids do not automatically give me respect because I am a teacher. Far from it. First, I have to earn their respect and then they respect me. How do I do this? By respecting them and honouring them, how they feel, what they say and do. I follow the golden rule. I treat them the way that I would want them to treat me. It really works. I have few rules but they are all about showing one another respect. I don’t mean the kind of respect that when I tell them to jump, they ask how high.

When they are disrespectful , I talk to them privately out in the hall about how whatever they did “disses” me and that I don’t “dis” them so I don’t expect them to disrespect me. It really works. Kids almost always apologize and try to behave better.

I believe that for some kids they can only learn if they have a good relationship with the teacher Kids tell me this. They’ll say that they hate teacher so-and-so and will not work for them. Usually, the students feel that the teacher doesn’t respect them in some way.

Everyday is a new day and a fresh start. I don’t hold grudges. I find that strategy good for my physical and mental health.

By: Shelly Stamm

Shelly Stamm — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 23:05:37 +0000

You bring up an extremely important and essential part of being a teacher.

I think relationships teachers have with their students is about respect. The respect goes both ways. Students must respect their teachers. But teachers must also respect their students. If students feel as though they are looked down upon because of their mark in a class, they are less likely to approach the teacher for help. It is those opportunities that can really influence the student’s achievement. If students feel respected they are more likely to return it and it is a lot easier to guide them to success. This does not mean that expectations are lowered, but it does allow for better communication.

Then there are those students that have issues with mutual respect. Those students can cause a great deal of frustration for the teacher and the whole class. Unfortunately, my most riveting stories of teaching involve such students. However, I am trying very hard these days to keep a positive attitude and not dwell on the negative.

Here is a link to an article about teacher-student relationships I enjoyed reading: http://teaching.uchicago.edu/pod/pod2/93-94/Relationships.htm