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In what ways do you feel you currently nurture your students? How have you seen this impact them?
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I have a lot of one on one conversations with students during our study hall period. This typically takes place with me stepping into the hallway to discuss with students about something they are going through or questions they have. We also have a weekly journaling over a passage of Scripture in my courses. I will read the students’ responses and try to reply when I see a student really sharing their heart in their response. There have been times too where a student has opened up in the journal about something they are struggling with (friends, parents, etc.) and I’ve had the opportunity to pull them aside and check on them to see how they are doing and offer advice when they ask for it.
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Every morning I greet my students with a hug, and I tell them I am glad they are here today. I also ask my students every morning what we can be praying for. I write down every pray request in a prayer journal. At the end of the month, we go through our prayer journal and see how God has answered our prayers. I also get to know my students and their families outside of school. I will go to baseball games, basketball games, gymnastic practices, birthday parties, etc… If I see them in the grocery store, I don’t go and hide. I go up to them and have a brief conversation. I still have students from previous years that come and give me a daily hug. Students also feel free to share with me in the hallway how I can be praying for them.
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Besides personal greetings at the beginning of course, and in the hallways. My course is open during lunch time. On more than one occasion students will come in small groups and share lunch together in the course. Make it a practice to attend games, plays and other extracurricular school activities. Then make the student aware of a play, piece or part you noticed the next day in course publicly. Doing so goes along way in winning credibility with students.
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I form relationships with each child. I ask them questions about activities they do outside of school. I show an interest in things that interest them.
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I nurture my students in a variety of ways. I greet each child at the door by name. When they’re absent, I tell them we missed them when they return the next day. I’m intentional about getting to know them and their families. Doing so allows me to ask specific questions as the year goes on. I attend after school games and concerts that my students participate in. Bottom line, I get to know the kids as kids not “just” as a student in my course.