|
|
Getting
to Know Your Class
With
the beginning of the school year, many educators tend to
focus on curriculum and objectives, and what our children
should accomplish in a specific amount of time.
We as educators tend to overlook what is sometimes
the most important step, getting to know our kids.
Our children will be coming from a variety of
backgrounds, with a variety of needs.
Not only is it important for the teacher to get to
know his or her class, but it is also important for the
children to get to know one another, as well.
Your classroom should become a community.
A
community atmosphere allows the children to feel
comfortable with themselves and with each other.
By building a community, the children will not only
be concerned with him or herself, but with their neighbor,
as well. Why
not allow the children to help one another out?
If a child can explain a concept, then the child
not only reinforces the concept for him or herself but for
another classmate, as well.
By
building relationships, the children will be much more
comfortable learning and making mistakes.
If a child feels threatened, then that child cannot
focus on his or her own education.
Building
a community and getting to know your kids is not hard to
do. You do,
however, have to make a genuine effort.
At the start of each class, or each day, talk to
your children to see how they are doing.
Ask if they are having any problems.
Do they need any help?
By getting to know your kids every day, they will
know that you not only care about their education, but you
care about them, as well.
By building this relationship it will be easier to
teach your children, because you will know them on a
personal level.
It is
also a good idea to build a relationship with the parents
of the children. When
you meet the parents please remember that it only takes
thirty seconds to make an impression.
If you happen to make a bad impression you
will need to meet with the parents twenty more times in a
positive manner, to change their opinion.
Thus, it is very important to think about how you
wish to communicate with the parents of the children.
Building
a community in your classroom will take time, and yes, it
will take time away from teaching the curriculum.
But by building relationships with your children,
it will enable the children to feel more comfortable in
their classroom. And
this will make it easier to teach the curriculum.
Please remember that the education in the classroom
is not about you, it is about your children.
|
© Copyright 2000/2001/2002. All rights reserved.
|
 |
 |
|
