It's About Them

After reading articles and watching TED Talk videos for Weekly Investment #5, I feel challenged as a future educator. I cannot help reflecting and acknowledging my personal experiences as a student to my future teaching in a classroom.

While watching the TED Talk entitled I'm 17 by Kate Simonds, I thought I should be writing down her thoughts and opinions. I found myself surprised with some things she shared, but I was also not shocked once I reflected on my own experience as a student.  I have been that student who felt like their ideas and concerns did not matter in the classroom.

However, my role is changing now, I am no longer the student sitting in the back of the classroom, I will be the teacher in the front. Now I face the challenge of how I can encourage students in my own classroom, so that they feel comfortable and vulnerable to share their ideas and concerns. I need to make this about them and not me. According to Ted Talk entitled Every Kid Needs a Champion, to do this I need to acknowledge the difference of being understood and understanding. To do this it involves creating relationships by choosing to ask, listen and letting students know that they matter. National FFA shared the following of points to remember to create an understanding environment.

• It’s about them: 
• What are the student’s needs and how can you coach them towards meeting challenges and creating solutions.
• Help students help themselves: 
• Your role is to help the student create positive solutions, not give them your answers.
• Be a good listener – allow student time to share and explain.
• Help students set realistic expectations – quick fixes usually don’t work. Patience and
• looking at the challenge differently may be needed to create a successful outcome.
• Check backs: Be sure to set up a time where you can check back with student. Keeps you
• informed on student progress and shows you care!

Throughout my educational journey, I have had many mentors share with me their belief in my creativity and intelligence, and to not fear sharing both with others. This grew my confidence and made me believe I mattered when I was younger. As a future educator, I realize the importance of understanding students. This is why effective questions, lesson plans and unit plans and reading page after page of theory matter because it challenges me to think of how I will do this.

All in all, this Weekly Investment made me realize that this experience is not about me, it is about my students.

References:
Cornell University Center for Teaching Excellence. (2015). Using Effective Questions. Retrieved from http://www.cte.cornell.edu/teaching-ideas/engaging-students/using-effective-questions.html

Dyer, J.E. (n.d.) Effective Questioning Techniques. Retrieved from https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/WC/WC08400.pdf

National FFA LifeKnowledge. (n.d.) Coaching Session Quick Reference Guide. Retrieved from
https://www.ffa.org/myresourcedocuments/coachingguide/Basics_of_Coaching/coaching_Guide/Lesson02/pdf/Individual-Coaching-Session-Quick-Reference-Guide.pdf

Pierson, Riata (2013) Every Kid Needs a Champion: Tedx

Simonds, Kate. (2015) I'm 17. Boise: Tedx.

Tae. (2012). Tweak Your Teach. Retrieved from: https://tweakyourslides.wordpress.com/2012/12/26/tweak-your-teach-dr-taes-building-a-new-culture-of-teaching-and-learning/