Teaching thought

[velvetpage]

This is a comment I posted in a friend's journal, but I thought it would be important to share it here. It's about my answer to the question, "How do you control your class?"

I think I became an effective teacher on the day that I realized my kids needed something from me emotionally, and if I gave it to them in a firm-but-fair way, they'd give me respect in return.

They need to feel that they're important to me - that I honestly care what happens to them and how they're feeling. If they don't believe that I feel that way, they're never going to try to please me, and my class will be total chaos.

There are, of course, other elements to effectiveness in the classroom. There's a certain presence I project when I need their attention, accompanied by a simple hand signal or verbal cue, that usually works for me. There's an expectation that they are capable of behaving as I wish them to, and that they need to make every effort to do so - but also that mistakes happen and we'll deal with them when they do.

But the key is that honest empathy. If for some reason I don't feel that for the majority of my class, or they act badly enough to damage it partway through the year (as happened last year) then my job takes a sudden downswing.

People ask me how I control 25 kids and get them to do what I want. The truth is, I don't control them. They control themselves, because they want me to be pleased with them and easy to get along with.

Comments

[girlydoll.livejournal.com]

I just transcribed an interview for a thesis on Rural vs urban schools, this was a point that came up during the interview as well.


Anyways, Im Rod's wife Amanda. I would love to have you friend me, and in return I can friend you as well. But to be totally up front and honest I'm probably going to start pumping you for information on schools since my family seems to have abandoned me in the quest for finding suitable schools for the kids (yeah for junior K,, Connor goes to school1) and in July, I think it will be really pushing the later registration envelope...

Oh, and so you know, he never forgot about taking you to the prom, I have a picture of you in a big puffy floral dress to prove it :D He just never made the connection between you and the you he used to know LOL

Anyways, when we move back I am pretty sure we will all end up getting together at some point in time, so I thought why not be preemtive and get to know you sooner than later!

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

I love getting new friends, so consider it done. :)

As for schools. . . will you be moving back before Connor goes to kindergarten, or after? Is he in a francophone school right now?

[girlydoll.livejournal.com]

Well, we are moving back for July 2nd. Connor is or will be 4 then, and will be old enough to go to Junior Kindergarten. Gabriel is going to be 9 in October, and will have completed the 3rd grade in his school here Lecole Canadienne de Francais Division 4, which is a private French heritage school board for Saskatchewan.

I called the school board out here and they have NO CLUE as to a school board out in Ontario for French Heritage. If I can't get him into a French heritage school I would prefer to put them into a school that most resembles this one in funding etc etc. I know sometimes the catholic school boards are better funded in Hamilton, but I can't seem to get anyone to answer my e-mails either. It is terribly frustrating, and with my sister always "falling sick" nothing gets done and time is running out.

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

There are two francophone school boards in southern Ontario, one Catholic and one public. There are three schools in Hamilton - two Catholic, one public. The Catholic schools are called Ecole Notre Dame and Ecole Monseigneur de Laval; the first is on Cumberland just west of Gage Park, the second is on the West Mountain near Mohawk and West Fifth on Bendamere St. The public school is called Pavillon de la Jeunnesse, and it's on the east Mountain in the building that used to be Sherwood Heights public school, on High St. right next door to my old high school. There are more schools for each board in Burlington and Grimsby, if you end up just outside the city.

If Gabriel is already in a francophone school elsewhere in the country, and given Rodney's heritage, you won't get any problem enrolling him in the public board. It used to be that enrollment in the Catholic schools was easier than it was in the English system, but that may have changed since Pavillon opened a few years ago. In any case, I know that all three schools offer full-day, every-day junior and senior kindergarten and full bus service, which the English boards don't do. The two Catholic ones also have an on-site daycare. I'm not sure if Pavillon does or not - they're a much smaller school.

Hope that helps.

[girlydoll.livejournal.com]

It more than helps, it is actually going to give me someone to harass on Monday. I am likeing the ideas of the catholic school Ecole Notre Dame and Ecole Monseigneur de Lava. Buses, full day every day JK is a major plus, and with daycare means before and after school programs, and even if I obstain, there is a bus system,, just like mimi anikin in Star wars 1,, YIPPIE

[melstra.livejournal.com]

Hi there-- Like the previous poster I am doing this for the first time and have added you to my friends list. You may have heard of me tangentially as Pyat is a friend of my husband Jeff's. I somehow got into reading his LJ long ago and am so excited for you two and your new arrival. My little Max is about 4.5 months old now and we're loving it though it is a valid cliche that having a baby changes EVERYTHING.

Ah but back to the post. What level do you teach? I teach college but much of what you have said applies even though I sense you do a much younger age? I think I will forward this post to a good friend who teaches middle school french here in the states. You sound very compatible. Excellent sentiments...and appropriate for me because I'm considering a possible switch in teaching to something younger. I just feel scared sometimes about the thought of teaching younger ages because I am not sure if I project the right emotions? (Sometimes I feel quite out of touch). I can do the maternal thing...but at the college level that's often taken advantage of rather than respected.

Sorry to ramble! Btw, the breastfeeding quote was lovely too although emotional for me because I had HUGE difficulty at first and the metaphor still applies I suppose-- sometimes we have lots of love to give and it is rejected. :(

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

Welcome!

I teach grades 4/5, in a split class - or rather, I did. Now I'm on maternity leave. :) They still accept some maternal behaviour at that age - I call everyone "hon" most of the time, for example, and it's rare that I've had a student ask me to stop.

I feel for your friend. I used to teach middle school French - in Canada it's a mandatory subject, but they know very well that all they have to do is pass grade nine French and then they can drop it. It's considered the worst job description to have around here, because the kids still need the rapport but refuse often to admit that they need it. And if you don't have it, look out - they will make your life hell for the rest of the school year. (There's a reason I went to a lower grade!)

I had some issues with nursing Elizabeth at first, but they were resolved fairly quickly, for which I'm very grateful. I was lucky - I had a good support system and lots of people around to help, and my problems weren't that big. I suppose the thing to remember is that he wasn't rejecting your love - just your method of delivery. That said, I remember how horribly incompetent I felt when my doctor suggested I might need to supplement. It's hard to get past the negative emotions when you haven't seen your own bed in what seems like months.