Lesson plans are important, and pedagogy matters… but some of the most important work of teachers, might not be captured by a plan. When teachers encourage, support, inspire, care about, and connect with their students… they are engaged in work that transcends the “plan.”
I have found that the more I greet students in the hallway, the more they make eye contact with me... and the more they initiate a greeting with me the next day.
It’s usually not hard to make connections with kids... but the adults need to be willing to take the first step.
If you’re in need of inspiration, my advice to you is to talk to some kids. Genuinely get to know them. In my experience, an awareness of how cool they are… an understanding of how needy they are… reminds me of how important my work is. It motivates me to keep going.
If you want to succeed with a difficult kid…you have to separate the attitude from the student. You don’t lower your standards, but you understand that there is always something motivating the behavior. Understanding leads to empathy… and empathy makes a relationship possible.
Teachers make mistakes; they get sick; they get sad; they get nervous; they get frustrated. As it turns out... teachers are human. And this is ok. There can be value in showing some vulnerability in the classroom. It makes teachers “real.” And authenticity is always compelling.