I have been reading through the blog, trying to go from beginning to end. It is really interesting reading what people have written. However, while reading I was reminded of something that I think most of you will enjoy.
Many of our post include sayings like "I want to make a difference' or "I want to be there for my students." Reading these comments and ones like them reminds me of a student teacher I had when I was in ninth grade. Every morning while she was there, before beginning the class, while we were doing our daily reading, she would make cards. Simple things really, made out of pieces of construction paper, and would write encouraging messages on them. The messages would be of so many different aspects. They could be some thing like "your hair looks really pretty today," "that shirt is awesome," and could go to something like "your comment about X was really interesting yesterday." Sometimes she could tel our moods and write comments that reflect what we were thinking and give us encouragement if our mood was not a pleasing one.
I have to say that I really appreciated those little comment cards. In fact she left such an impact with me, even though she was only a student teacher, that I kept in contact with her for years after ninth grade, and I believe I still have most of the cards that she gave me almost ten years ago.
Many of you talk about making an impact with your students. By simply showing that you care enough about them to write them personal notes every day (sometimes she didn't get a chance to write them every day but it was most days), you make an impact. I guess you could say that it is the "little things that count."
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3 comments:
I would be careful with the comment card idea. If compliments are made based on student performance too often it is possible that they might interfere with a student's intrinsic motivation.
I think is a great idea! It really gets the students interested in the teacher and builds a personal relationship. But I also agree that you must be careful with it. Some students may feel left out, over-motivated, under-motivated, and a million other things. Every once in a while would work great!
I think that its great that a teacher, and a student teacher for that matter, had such a great impact on you. It shows us just how much power we hold to help students in so many ways!!!
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