Perceptive Creatures
Far too often, I catch myself underestimating my students. They are some of the most perceptive creatures to walk the planet. I think kids have an innocence about them that allows them to easily determine how genuine humans are. It is truly remarkable what they pick up on. They are constantly taking in their surroundings and forming opinions about how others make them feel. As teachers, our everyday manners truly impact their perception of us as a teacher and a human being. We must be cognitive of...
the words we say...
the words we fail to say...
the words we regret saying...
the smiles we share...
the smiles we don’t make time to give...
the non-filtered cranky teacher looks we wear too often...
the sarcastic comments that accidentally slip out...
the way we listen to their words...
the way we interrupt their thoughts...
We make an ever evolving impression everyday. We all have those beyond frustrating moments when we feel like our students aren’t even listening to a word we say. Which in all reality, often times our student’s aren’t listening to the content directed words we spew out at them 180 days a year (sometimes less due to beloved budget cuts). But they are always listening to the words we say and watching the signals our body language sends out. Our manners form their opinion of how we make them feel.
Students must know we respect them and care about them. They must feel valued before they will be ready to learn. It is so easy to get too comfortable in our classrooms. They become a second home for us. We will never be perfect, but we must attempt to always be aware of how our words and body language impact and resonate in our student’s minds. Cheers to always trying to do as the tea bag recommends, “Let your manners speak for you”.
Take a few moments to relax and enjoy your tea. You deserve it.
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