Do you know your students?

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February 19, 2022 

    How well would you say you know your students? When you think about little Johnny, what comes to your mind? Is it the grade he made on Friday's math test or is it his favorite color? As teachers, it is easy to get caught up in how the child is performing in class or the forever long to-do list we have. How often do you stop to get to know your students? 

    I like to think about my student as little human beings. The only difference between me and them is my age, or experience. They can think, feel, and act just like me. This is one of the most important aspects of my classroom. Everything I do in the classroom is based on the fact that every child is a human. 

    In fact, I will not begin my day without social time. I have been facilitating meaningful morning meetings since I started my career. Each year it may be tweaked based on the schedule, school, or children. My students know and understand our morning routine.  

    The Morning Routine: 

  • Morning Work and Talk: Complete a scaffolded review activity and talk to friends about anything you want while working.
  • Morning Meeting- Dance & Announcements: Daily dance to get our mood right and the morning stuff like pledge of allegiance
  • Morning Meeting- Greeting: Say hello to every friend by name in some silly or serious way. (It's important we know our people.)
  • Morning Meeting- Daily Question: Everyday we have a question to discuss and share with a partner.
    It may look like a lot, but at most its takes 10-15 minutes of my day. It is totally worth it! It gets everyone in the right mood. It helps everyone focus on learning because they have had time to socialize and talk to their friends. It also builds relationships, because we learn a little about each other each day.

    We have an opportunity to make the world an amazing place the more we know our students. The only way to accomplish this is to make time for them to be themselves. It has to happen aside from the academics. We have to create a space for them to talk and share. We even have to go out of our way  like lunch with the teacher or in the classroom. Anything, we can do to support the child as a human being. 

    This week, I noticed most of my students have found a best bud in the classroom. at first, it was a distraction. They were talking and playing in class. I suddenly realized on most days they only get 10 minutes with their best friend, if they are lucky. This broke my heart a little. 💔 Therefore, I cam up with a solution. I decided to let them sit by their best friend. How many of us go to meetings and sit by our buddy? Who likes assigned seats? No one! I'm excited to see how my students grow not only academically, but in their friendships as well. 

    This really could have been two post, but what can i say... I have a lot to say. :) 



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