Alliance for Catholic Education
"I am not angry with you, and I am happy you are here."
These are words I have found myself repeating throughout the beginning of the school year. Since those first weeks I have had students who have failed to submit assignments on time or participate in classroom activities, simply not always making the good choices I know they are capable of making. Middle school is a constant reminder of this challenge as students are at an age where it is natural to push boundaries.
As a first year teacher I have had to learn that it is important to move beyond a day's troubles and begin the following day anew. A lesson learned is that Christ is in each one of our students and though it may be tough at times to see Him, we must continue to serve blindly until we continue to see His work. The students I work with come from varying backgrounds and as a result may have different needs to be met each day. Remaining a constant figure in students' lives is critical for those that come from a background of instability.
This means that for the 8 hours each day I see them, I will consistently encourage their positive behavior and curb their negative behavior. Encouraging them means applauding their effort, showcasing schoolwork, and showing up to basketball and volleyball games. For most students a verbal reprimand or detention is enough to curb negative behavior. However, some students prove exceptional. For one student this may mean continually reminding him to stop clicking his pen. For another, giving her an extra day to turn in an assignment because she could not focus on her work at home is required. For the exceptional, having a personal conversation reminding him that he is cared for and welcomed in your classroom will have a greater impact than a traditional consequence ever could. Though they may feel rejected in other areas of their lives we must care for and nurture each student that enters a classroom. A medical doctor has a moral obligation to provide care for those that enter his or her practice, so too must a teacher have a moral obligation to provide a safe space and education for all those that enter his or her classroom.