This has been the best clinical experience that I have had in my two years of clinical placements. I have learned so much and I feel that along with my classes here on campus I have grown because of the placement. It will be hard to leave these students because I care so much about them.
I found an article on the NEA website called "A Quality Teacher is a Caring Teacher." The article quotes Leo Buscaglia, "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." I think this just became my favorite quote. Some of the children that we will serve will have hard little lives. They may have parents who are separated or divorced, they may have lost a parent or a sibling, they may be sick...the point is we don't know what goes on at home in many of our student's lives. For some students school may be the only place that they feel safe and our love and care may be the only time they ever experience those feelings. It is important that we remember this and are mindful to show that we care. School should be a positive environment and as teachers it is our job to make it that way.
The article suggests 5 ways to show that you care:
1. Listen to your students and help them express who they are and how they want to be treated.
2. Help students show others what they want them to know about themselves.
3. Teach students to show that they about another person who serves the community or the country.
4. Work with parents to show interest and concern for their children.
5. Improve your practice by learning something new, including getting feedback from students.
Most teachers care about teaching their students but the best teachers care about the relationships that they form with their students while teaching them at the same time.
I found that this relates to working with families and significant adults in students lives (2e) and reflecting on practice (5) to make sure that their methods of demonstrating care and concern are working and creating a positive classroom environment.
Leslea,
ReplyDeleteI have also really enjoyed my clinical placement for this spring semester. It will be hard to beat when it comes time to place for next year, but I am sure we will get great placements again! I like the research you did that correlated with your CE. I did something similar, and it is interesting to see others' opinions of the experiences you have.
I totally agree with you Leslea. This is such an important topic and responsibility of teachers in my opinion. This is not something we necessarily learn in College but it is a life lesson more than anything. Having two boys myself, I have experienced this early. I have learned to overlook certain things, understand why a child acts a certain way and how to care and love and sometimes give them space. There are a number of students in the school that may live in a rough environment and that can affect their behavior. On the flip side, they may have a perfectly normal environment but need that extra attention their parents are not giving them. Regardless, as teacher leaders I feel it is our responsibility to be there for our students no matter what their situation so that we can make a difference not just academically, but emotionally and personally as well.
ReplyDeleteLeslea.
ReplyDeleteI think that its wonderful you were able to share your trip with your kindergartners. It makes them feel as though you are apart of their "family" or lives when you share things that are important with them. That helps build teacher/student relationships. I'm glad that you enjoyed your clinical, especially since it was out of your comfort zone.