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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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As a counselor, it’s important for me to call in students not only when they need discipline, but when they excel too. Noticing our students for the good they do, and how God is growing them, creates trust that makes the times discipline is needed more effective and fruitful.
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I have a practice of getting to know my students on a personal level. I want to know what they do outside of school. If they are into sports or activities, I try to make it to one event per year. I want my students to know that they matter. We also take prayer requests and pray as a course. This really helped to bring my course closer together last year. I also check in with the parents when a request has been shared and it helps build a relationship with the parents too.
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I want to send positive emails to students/parents. I feel like one reason parents and students don’t like to interact with teachers outside the classroom is because they only hear from us when there are academic or behavior issues.
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I share with my students almost daily that to struggle is a good thing – it is part of learning. I help them understand that we will struggle through hard things together and the Lord is our strength. I gauge what each student is able to do and differentiate expectations from that viewpoint. I encourage, hold accountability, or raise my expectations of students when needed. I am constantly asking the Lord for HIS guidance as I guide these little ones for Him.
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I make it a habit to join my students outside every recess and to deliberately talk with them about what they love, dislike, the new games they are playing or any prayer requests they may have for themselves, their family or friends. I love using that time to connect with them and to let them know that I care.