Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Helping My Students Adjust Their Sails

Hello friends, family, fellow teachers and others reading my blog, 

This week I've been frustrated at the behaviour and lack of respect of some of the students at my school. I'm usually trying to be positive and see that each students has a back story of which we may be unaware.

Every student, or person for that matter, comes with baggage and need to develop ways to deal with that baggage. One very wise person dear to me said this... "You cannot change the direction of the wind but you can adjust your sails." Everyone will have experiences that just down right suck - someone teasing you, getting rained on, losing a sentimental gift, a bad break up, an illness in the family, moving to a new country, losing a dear one, and so much more- and it's up to you to decide how you're going to deal with the circumstances you find yourself in. Are you going to hide? Are you going to get angry? Are you going to learn and grow? Are you going to pray to God? These are just a few of the ways in which I've dealt with some of the pains I've experienced in my life, but there are so many others in which people deal with circumstances life throws at them. Back to my students... yes, some have awful home lives and family situations and I do feel sympathetic towards them, but I don't believe it should give them the right to be rude to others. (I'm sorry if I'm sounding harsh in this post.)

On Monday we had a Remembrance day assembly. The students were asked to walk to the assembly with their teachers and to be calmly shepherded into the Sports hall. As soon as the students got near the entrance, they just ran for the entrance fighting to be the first in the hall, it was like herding hundreds of cattle. There was no respect for remembering those who have died in wars- in the past or current, as soldiers or civilians. The Head teacher gave a right rollicking to the students... and they were scared, well for a moment. During the Last Post, you could hear children snickering and whispering. I was appalled. But it doesn't stop here. After the assembly, the students were to return to their classes for the last 30 minutes. I thought this would be a great chance for me to talk about my belief in pacifism and to talk about my belief that "remembering is to work for peace". However, I returned to my class to find students laughing at the assembly and just not showing any respect.

I want all of my students to show respect to themselves, to their peers and to me as their teacher. In the beginning of the year I told them this expectation and thought they understood, now I'm not so certain. I simply want them to come to their lesson presentable, on time, ready for learning and full of respect. I hope that they see that I give each of them respect, but that if they don't respect me, I can take that respect away... as I wrote that I see that that's not really gracious is it? I need to continue respecting them, even if they have been rude to me... just as Jesus shows us...

The Question... How can I teach my students respect while still teaching them Maths?

Some possible solutions...
  • Living by example. I wish to respectfully welcome my students into my class, using please and thank yous and showing sympathy towards my students with whatever they may be experiencing. 
  • I think these students need PRAISE! Our school has so many ways of dealing with poor behaviour and giving out consequences, but where are the praises for students who are respectful in the school? Sure I have some praise points in my class and give out stickers and chocolate for students who do the right thing at the right time, but I think there needs to be some whole-school praise system. They are constantly being told to go to another class if they misbehave, or to come for Detentions if they don't submit their Home learning, but what about those who are continually behaving appropriately and always submit their HL? 
  • A citizenship/ etiquette class. So apparently there used to be citizenship class which was offered and some teachers to teach it. Unfortunately, it appears as though that's the tutors responsibilities now, along with ensuring the students are safe, that their attendance is on par, that they have completed all HL, and what about developing relationships with the students?? The students have no places to sit and eat their lunches, so they are encouraged to stand and scarf down their food... is that being polite?? Some of them rarely say, "Please" or "Thank you" and show very little respect when a member of the senior leadership team comes to the class, let alone the class teacher. 
I'm not saying that all of the students are rude and have no respect. I do have a handful of students (of the about 200 students I teach) that are absolutely lovely. They will say, "Thanks miss for a great lesson," or open doors without being asked, or say behind and tidy the books. It's those moments that I hold dear to my heart and so I don't forget the positives, I keep a journal of all of these "gem" moments.

My goal at this school is to get more students to be respectful and to love learning for the sake of learning and bettering our world... it may be a hard ask, but it's like the same wise man once said, "To change the world, you need to turn it upside down and shake it." Big change takes courage and stepping out of one's comfort zone. It starts with one person taking a stand and paying it forward one smile at a time.

I'm going to pray for this change to happen within myself and my students. How often do we try to find a solution, when God is there supporting us along the path of life??

Hopefully this makes sense.. and if it doesn't thanks for reading, allowing me to think as I type and using so many cliche lines. :)  If anyone has any ideas, please pass them along.

All the very best as you adjust your sails.

Respectfully yours,

Kristen

PS. That wise man is my dad. I love you so much! xoxo