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What are one or two practices you’d like to implement that would allow you to demonstrate your care for and commitment to your students? If you already have practices in place, what are they?
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One practice I do is back taps. I use non-verbal cues to get students back on track and focused. One of these is back taps, but I also use them randomly around the room. I notice that when I do back taps with students that frequently get into trouble, the back tap makes them look up at me and they get a smile instead of redirection. Another way I work with my students is to allow them to defend their answers. If they clearly have shared an incorrect answer to a question, instead of moving on, I will ask them to defend their answer with “what are you thinking” idea. This encourages all student to share and not be afraid of being wrong. It also gives me insights into my student’s thinking.
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One of the ways I show my students that I care and are committed to them is to show them love. Several of them will come up to my desk throughout the day for hugs. I love this time with them. I wish there was more time in the day. I also try to encourage them if I see that they are struggling with understanding a concept or doing their work.
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One practice I really struggled to implement in my first year (but am looking forward to doing this upcoming year) is notebook checks. We do a lot of in-course assignments in my course. If not turned in during the time they need to be turned in, these assignments often pile up for students and they forget to turn them in. While this is mainly their responsibility, they are middle schoolers after all. Checking in with students once a week to make sure they are not missing anything would be one way to show I care about their success.
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I intend to ask them what their goals are in physical education and ability and help them create an individual path and way to acheive their goals. I am going to push them harder than they think they are capable of based on the ability I see in them. I want to provide a way for them to compete in physical activities outside of school by offering fun challenges, providing “prizes” of fun exercise equipment they can use at home, like jump ropes and exercise bands
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I write a letter to every family about their child’s strengthens and on occasion an area that needs improvement.