After reflecting on the service clip we watched today, I felt a sense of satisfaction, thinking that support, love, empathy, and comfort really make the world spin. I think more personally of the daily impact I can have on the children I work with, and I am left feeling excited. I know that school is a safe haven for many and my classroom is a place where I get to model compassion and acceptance; if I take the time to make these connections my students will too. But, first and foremost I must always look at where my students are emotionally and physically. I know my students look to me to lead them, but I cannot lead them if they are unable to go there. I’ve learned the importance of listening and hearing what it is my students need. After conducting my research in the classroom this last year, I see an even stronger need for listening to the voice of the child. They want to be heard, they have a story to tell, they have worries or want to get something off of their chest. I’ve learned to teach more empathy in my classroom ,and journaling is a place where I can do this. Yes, it does take time to journal, but the personal gains for all of us are immeasurable.
By getting students to think about who they are, what they feel about learning, etc. only prepares them to know themselves and through this, they can truly give to others. I am the model in my classroom, but so are they. I can give them the skills to accept their strengths and weaknesses by building a positive space for them to share in. In doing so, I foster a community where we can all contribute and learn from one another in a caring classroom. Students need to know they are important, and giving them the chance to know themselves only helps that process along. What is the value of this experience? Students become “in tune” to what their needs are, they accept, and become open to their potential. If a child feels good about themselves, they then care share that emotion with others.
I am deeply saddened when I imagine a classroom going digital, human emotion and connection is crucial to our existence no matter how old we are.
I too Mera cannot even fathom having an all digital classroom, which this coming from a technology teacher might see odd. There is just something that is lost in translation from what the teacher is trying to get across to the students, when the students are just reading and trying to interpret what was instructed in their online classroom. My experience of teaching in both settings gives me greater appreciation for face-to-face classroom opportunities, and I can also see the value and have an appreciation for the online classroom. We have many students that will learn no matter how they are taught, and for some, the online experience is maybe the only way they would receive a specific course, due to lack of opportunities in their regular school. How do we find the balance, is the question.
ReplyDeleteThe last sentence said it all Mera. There is no way to know all of that by reading emails and posting on blogs. Students need that interaction to learn how to communicate effectively. I don't think anyone can tell the mood I am in when writing my blogs, they may be able to guess but if we're talking they can tell by me expressions and the tone of my voice.
ReplyDeleteMera,
ReplyDeleteIt concerns me a lot that we are losing our ability to communicate with each other. I have a difficult time with email and reading the voice. It seems that many times our lack of ability to hear the voice of an email has caused strife among staff. "What do they mean by that?" is heard a lot. Once, I had to ask my principal if he was mad at me because he wrote things in capitals. (He wasn't.) I think of technology like how I think of the phone-- not highly. I would much rather have you in front of me so I can watch your emotions, your mannerisms and your enthusiasm. I can't get that from technology- unless your skyped. So I've heard. I 've never done it so I don't know!