Early in my career, I worked next to this much older teacher that scared the hell out of me. He wore a tie and a white, short-sleeved shirt every day. In the winter he would keep a window in his room open at all times to kill off germs and keep his students awake. I don't know where you teach, but it gets VERY cold up here in Michigan. He was the type of teacher that kept every lesson plan in a neat file folder that he would pull out and follow year-after-year. He seemed to be a no nonsense, gruff teacher -- exactly what I was trying not to be.
However, what always baffled me was how loved he seemed to be by his students. He was someone they loved and looked up to. He was teaching some of his former students' kids, and he always had many former students (many adults) still coming back to visit him. I couldn't figure him out!!
This was a teacher I feared and thought had nothing to teach me as a newbie to the profession. Well, he ended up teaching me two of the most important lessons I needed to learn -- not only as a teacher -- but as an adult.
One day at recess, a rare occurrence took place. We were actually standing by each other watching the kids play outside. Usually, if I saw him headed my way I would take off the other way. Some how he snuck up on me. As we stood there in silence, he suddenly mumbled something very prophetic. At first, I thought he was just clearing his throat. Then, I realized he was actually talking. I wasn't sure if he was talking to me or not at first because he wasn't even looking at me. He kept his focus on the kids. This is what he said.....
"Have you told them you care?"
"Excuse me?" I reply.
"Have you told them you care?" He says much more gruffly. "Have you told your students you care about them?"
"I'm sure they know I care." I say trying to defend myself. "I joke with them; I give them fun projects to do. I tell them about my life. I even bring treats in once in a while for them. Yeah, I'm sure they know I care about them."
"No,No,No!" He snaps back. "Don't ASSUME they know you care! What's the first three letters of ASSume? You have to TELL them you care!! ... (Long uncomfortable silence) He continues... "TELL them you care about them. It will make all the difference in the world."
And just like that, the conversation was over.
I must admit I couldn't ever remember a teacher of mine taking the time to tell me they cared about me -- unless they were saying it as they were pulling me by the ear to the principal's office. Seriously, I can't ever remember ONE teacher actually saying it in a CARING way.
Even though I didn't expect much, I thought I would try it. I told the kids that I cared for them and told them why I care for them. I told them that my success as a teacher was based on their success. The better they do, the better I must have done. I told them it has nothing to do with money because I get paid no more or less based on their performance. I told them that I am one of their biggest cheerleaders because my success is based on their success. I told them that the better they do the more pride I have for being a "good" teacher. I also explained that we are a team working together to have our Best Year Ever! Working together as a team and caring for each other will make us a winning team! I told them as the leader of the team, I will work to model the way when it comes to caring. I told them that when I make a mistake with my words or actions I will apologize and work to not repeat my mistakes. Finally, I told them I would always care about them even after the school year because we will always share in a special memory -- having shared in a Best Year Ever!
I can't tell you what a difference this had made in my teaching!! Now, I start every year off on the very first day telling my students that I care about them. I tell them the first day and every day until they really start to see and believe it! Then, I tell them some more so they never forget.
This has been one of the greatest lessons I have learned as a teacher! Oh, by the way, the second lesson this great teacher taught me is to 'never judge a book by its cover' -- even if they wear short sleeve shirts and keep their windows open in the winter.
Here's to your Best Year Ever! Make it Happen!