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In what ways do you make your students feel valued?
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One thing I do as a director of fine arts is to really lean into and try and discover each student’s special God-given gifts and talents. Whether that be singing, dancing, playing music, drawing, acting, etc. Every student tends to have a gift in the fine art world and I love finding and honing these in each student to honor God and their abilities.
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While working in the office of a Christian school I recognize that students sometimes look to me just as they look to their teachers for affirmation on things. On the surface, I make students feel valued by remembering things they tell me and check in on those things periodically. Outside of school I try and attend sporting events in which they are involved so they know that they have my love and support. I feel like this shows I am committed to them, not just treating them like another job.
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I give them my time, look them in the eyes, actively listen to their questions about the content I’m teaching and life in general. I try to communicate how much God values them and the people around them. They are all image bearers and can be a part of building His kingdom and bringing Him glory as they follow Him.
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Each day before course starts, I pray for with my students. I remind them daily that they are dearly loved and valued, first and foremost by their heavenly Father and also by every staff member at our school. In addition, I believe that building connections with your students and showing them that you care about their lives is important. I try to attend events that they are involved in and cheer them on during school activities. I keep a prayer box out so that students can share their concerns, prayer requests, or celebrate positive events that happen in their lives. Our course is rooted in the truth of scripture, so that they are always reminded that they are fearfully and wonderfully made, created with a purpose and for a purpose, by the God of the universe!
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I make my students feel valued by checking their understanding of the material I present and encouraging them. I stress that each one can learn and we practice toward success. I never give up on their capacity to understand, but keep working with them. I give time whenever possible to answer questions and guide. I also expect them to show personal effort and not use dishonest methods to arrive at answers, or just receive a grade. I hope I am consistently kind, helpful, and encouraging. Sometimes I share Scripture and pray with the course about their futures and their character.
