Throughout the school day, educators wear a lot of hats and make a ton of decisions. They plan, welcome students, bring energy and creativity to their teaching, collaborate, act as mediators and counselors, and teach life lessons through tough conversations and discipline. In all of the noise that makes up a school day, it can be easy to get distracted from the things that make the BIGGEST difference in our students' lives. I believe with all of my heart that when educators take time to do these little things daily, they often make amazing differences in their students' lives and learning.
Students/kids NOTICE the little things! Do you do these already? If so, great! If not, how could you add one, a few, or all of these to your daily routine?
1. Greet students at the door! As they walk into your classroom, look them in the eye, shake their hand, say their name, and ask them a question! (Ex: Tell me one positive going on in your life). You will be shocked at how hard it is for some to think of a positive happening in their life. It's easy to sit at your desk between periods and check emails. It is tough to be consistent with welcoming every class, every student, and every day.
This sets the tone for the entire class!
2. Constantly work to build relationships through frequent check-ins and questions. Again, it's easy to just ask how students are doing and get the same old response, "Good." It takes hard work to ask questions about their likes, interests, passions, and hobbies. When students are working on projects or in teams, I will frequently move around the room and spend time asking students about their lives, how they are feeling, and what they are looking forward to. The more we get them to think about the positives going on in their lives, the better!
3. Offer meaningful feedback as much as possible. Instead of just giving grades on tests, papers, and projects, do you take time to offer feedback? Do students reflect on their learning? How do they use feedback to learn and grow? This takes a lot of time but if done correctly, can help students develop and foster a growth mindset.
4. Get students active in their work. Is there a place for lecture? Sure. Should you lecture everyday/every period? NO!
The more we get our students active in their work socializing, debating, collaborating, and offering feedback to each other, the more students learn and grow.
5. Laugh, play, and bring LOVE to the classroom. When I'm struggling as a teacher or not feeling motivated, I ask myself these questions; when was the last time I laughed with students and played? How did I speak life and hope into my students? I truly believe learning, laughter, play, and fun go hand in hand. Students know when you care and are excited. They also know when you are going through the motions.
Tell your students they matter and you care a lot. They can't hear it enough!
FINAL THOUGHT: Is it hard to do the little things right everyday? Absolutely. Some days I greet students at the door, some days I get distracted. Some days I do a great job of getting students active, some days I talk to darn much. We GROW and make a BIG difference by reflecting daily/weekly on our craft.
Keep making a BIG difference because the work is too important!
