Teachers, I Challenge You!

Teachers: I Challenge You! 

Try this the first week of school!

Some students come to class the first day, with a list of past behavioral issues trailing behind them, like wet toilet paper stuck to their shoe.  Before the first day of school has ended, it is almost a given that some well-meaning, but frazzled teacher will make a subtle reference to a student's behavioral issues, in an attempt to derail a student's negative behavior.  Often, however, this approach may begin a cycle that has been repeated year after year, which is that everyone expects the student to be a discipline problem, so the student will perform, accordingly. 

In defense of teachers everywhere, it is a given that no student will thrive in an environment where behavioral issues take up more time than  teaching the lesson.  It is a perfectly normal reflex for a  teacher to immediately discourage further "incidences" and react to a student's behavior by immediately proclaiming that this year in this class things will be different! Like a gardener standing in the middle of a myriad of colorful blossoms the teacher will snap her sharpened scissors and begin to do what teachers have often found to be effective which is to "nip it in the bud," in hopes that a foundation has been laid and students know what is and what is not acceptable.   

Look, I get it!  Previous teachers have pulled me aside with a woeful expression, complete with a dialogue from a student's past, that would make the most seasoned teacher cringe, and I have been that teacher who had the "nip it in the bud" mentality, and honestly, sometimes it is a quick and effective wayto be quick and effective in deferring a student's behavioral issues.  However, I have rarely built a strong relationship with a student based on this particular intimidation method.  They may not be a classroom disruption, but neither will they flourish in your class and rarely will they reach their academic potential.  

It is not just students with behavioral problems that slip through the cracks from year to year, but also a number of other students in various other situations who will also not reach their academic potential.  "For example, the "brand new" student to the school who show up the first day, facing an foreign environment, with classmates they have never met.  From problems at home, to anxiety issues, left over from a previous school year to a myriad of other things, some students come to school expecting to feel weird, left out, and ultimately, in their mind, a loser.  

A teacher cannot fix these problems, no matter how badly she would like to do so; however, EVERY teacher can do something that validates each and every student, as a unique individual deserving of respect. 

Why should teachers build a relationship with their students? 

Building an early relationship with every student is the beginning of a student's social, emotional and academic success, no matter the age.  

If you are looking for a way to build community in your classroom, from the first day of school to the last, I challenge you to do something I wish I had done a long time ago.  I admit this did not start out as something I did specifically for the students in my classroom; however, last year when school started, I played this simple youtube video of me reading the book I Wish You More.

You could have heard a pin drop in my classroom when my students heard my voice on a youtube video.  They were delighted.  After getting through the first few minutes of exclamations of how cool it was that their teacher had a youtube channel, they settled down and really listened to the story.  It is true that the story I Wish You More is one that I wanted to use to begin building a relationship with each and every student.  I watched their eager faces, and I could tell that each student felt a little bit taller, a little more self-assured, and a little less anxious about the new school year.  

First of all, by making this video and sharing it with them, I spoke the universal language of two simple words: "I care."   I told them that I initially made this video for my niece, but after making it, I realized that it was perfect for them, as well.  

How do I create an audiobook video?

This was the beginning of many books that I recorded, edited, and posted on youtube for my students all during the year.  The first thing I hear from teachers is that they have no idea how to put together a movie, nor how to post it to youtube.  In a future blog, I will outline a simple way to create an audiobook video that will take little time and energy.  Most teachers hold everything they need to create a video, like the one I created in this post, in the palm of their hand, a smartphone. 

This is another audiobook that I narrated and dedicated to my little niece.  Whether for your classroom or just something you do as a service for the public, it is a gift to read a book for all children to enjoy. As teachers, we are all too aware that some students enter kindergarten and have never been read to a day in their life.  So, again, I challenge you to record an audiobook.  You May say, “I wouldn’t know where to start!”  👀 Really?  Lol... with all the apps available, I can assure you it is easy, and most importantly, it gives a sense of accomplishment.  

Please take time to comment and let me know if you are interested in learning how to create a quick video for your class! I will be glad to answer any questions and provide help. You will be amazed to see the effect this one thing, created by you, will impact them, and ultimately impact the students during the entire school year.  You will not regret it.