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In what ways do you make your students feel valued?
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I know my student’s name and take interest in their lives outside of school. I ask questions about their family and hobbies. I serve in the community alongside my students. I care more for my student’s to learn the skill being taught than for them to fail at anything.
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Value.
Before I was born God knew me. Before my students enter my room, I send them a handwritten note letting them know that I know their name and I am excited that they are my students. As I was born, God gave me what I needed to survive. As students enter the classroom in the fall, they have what they need and it is labeled with their name. I have prepared for their coming. I have been purposeful in creating a warm and welcoming space that is just for them in the room that is collectively for the course. I greet them by name, look them in the eye when I talk to them or ask them a question. I greet them in the hallway with empty hands before the day begins, letting them know that they are my priority. Not what is on my desk, in my hands, or in the office. They are why I am here every day.
After pledges, I make sure they all have their water bottle to drink, referencing the living water of Jesus, fruit break and lunch items. Letting them know that their nutritional and physical well being is important to me. Then we take prayer requests and praise reports. Every child is asked by name if they have something to share. I write down all shared information in my PR book. If it is a sensitive subject, they can call it an unspoken and know they can talk to me privately if they want to. Each month we look back at the pages of prayer requests and praise God for the many answered prayers. A sick mommy, injured pet, sad heart from the death of a loved one. The praise reports are just as wonderful. Remember when you praised the Lord for your stolen bike that was found, isn’t it awesome how God allowed that to happen.
Restorative Discipline – When disobedience occurs, or a student is disrespectful to others, God, the environment or themselves, they have to move their own number and pay a token that was earned earlier in the year for good choices. I am a giver, I love to give tokens so they can save them up to “buy” non-monetary tickets (sitting in the teachers chair, wearing a special hat from home, eating lunch with a friend, etc) It is their choice whether they keep my gifts or choose to disobey the rules and give them back. I don’t want them to give my tokens back, I want them to keep them and use them, It is their choice. My Good Good God gives, we choose to accept the gift and use it for His Glory, or say we don’t want it. The restorative part comes into play when they are counseled and brought back into the “fold” of the course. How did your decisions effect you and the others around you? Are there apologies that need to be made? Is there forgiveness that needs to be given? What can we do differently the next time something like this happens? There are consequences for sin but there is forgiveness in Christ.
Value
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Personally, I show my students (all of them) that I love them. I hug them, give them fist bumps, or high fives. When they have a bad day in course, I take them aside and talk to them about what happened, why, and how it could have been handles differently. I celebrate with them about important things in their lives. I grieve with them about things that make them sad. I show them I care. I hold them accountable and expect them to do better each week.
