This was written to all those teachers who say "Never smile until Christmas."
I teach because I cannot imagine myself doing anything else and being this happy. I adore each and every one of the students I work with and I work with some stinkers. Yet, I do not mask this adoration, but rather I wear it as a badge. I wear this badge openly, honestly and with pride. Each student I work with knows they are wonderful academic ninjas, that I adore them and think the world of them. They know this because I tell them. Every day I let the students I work with know, that I think they are amazing, even when they are beahaving in ways I do not condone. I let them know that I think they are wonderful, their descisions, well, not always, but them as kids, as students, yes, I adore them always. At times I give out detentions and even then, I let them know that it was not something I wanted to do, but something that was necessary. What I found out, is that students accept this because it is fair. They understand fair, just like they understand right and wrong. They may not always like it, but when presented with it and told why it is so, they accept it because then they understand it.
What it comes down to is this: If you let your kids know you care about them, that you honestly like them as people, and that you will support them, nurture them and look out for them, well, they will do anything for you. They will try hard, work hard and put forth effort they didn't even know they possessed. In the end, they will learn and isn't that the what we are here for?
So to those who advise to not smile until Christmas, come down hard on them, etc. I say this, being hard on them may work for getting them to behave. Not smiling may instill a little, or a lot, of fear in you as their educator and this may help with classroom management, but it will not allow them to grow as they would if they know you care about them as individuals. So I say smile, a lot and often. Praise and nurture. Let them know you are proud of them. Tell them they are wonderful, each and every one of them. They are all academic ninjas, every last one. Even the stinkers. For if you do, and this is only my opinion through my rather limited experience, they will rise to the occasion, surpass your expectations and learn, about the content you teach and about themselves.
I teach because I cannot imagine myself doing anything else and being this happy. I adore each and every one of the students I work with and I work with some stinkers. Yet, I do not mask this adoration, but rather I wear it as a badge. I wear this badge openly, honestly and with pride. Each student I work with knows they are wonderful academic ninjas, that I adore them and think the world of them. They know this because I tell them. Every day I let the students I work with know, that I think they are amazing, even when they are beahaving in ways I do not condone. I let them know that I think they are wonderful, their descisions, well, not always, but them as kids, as students, yes, I adore them always. At times I give out detentions and even then, I let them know that it was not something I wanted to do, but something that was necessary. What I found out, is that students accept this because it is fair. They understand fair, just like they understand right and wrong. They may not always like it, but when presented with it and told why it is so, they accept it because then they understand it.
What it comes down to is this: If you let your kids know you care about them, that you honestly like them as people, and that you will support them, nurture them and look out for them, well, they will do anything for you. They will try hard, work hard and put forth effort they didn't even know they possessed. In the end, they will learn and isn't that the what we are here for?
So to those who advise to not smile until Christmas, come down hard on them, etc. I say this, being hard on them may work for getting them to behave. Not smiling may instill a little, or a lot, of fear in you as their educator and this may help with classroom management, but it will not allow them to grow as they would if they know you care about them as individuals. So I say smile, a lot and often. Praise and nurture. Let them know you are proud of them. Tell them they are wonderful, each and every one of them. They are all academic ninjas, every last one. Even the stinkers. For if you do, and this is only my opinion through my rather limited experience, they will rise to the occasion, surpass your expectations and learn, about the content you teach and about themselves.
Kudos to you for making what you believe in work. If only it worked for all of us - though I will continue to try!!
Please, don't give up, on teaching and on them. They need you. Have I taught in New York? No. I say again, am I naive? Without a doubt.