Relationships, relationships, relationships. Remember at Texas A&M, they crammed that word into our brains and hearts so much. And I’m so thankful for that. Because at the end of the day, we are in the people business and it’s all about RELATIONSHIPS.
Just like any relationship, it is absolutely insane to believe you can read people’s minds and know their opinions. So when it comes to the students in your classroom (just like any relationship), don’t assume what they think or feel - ask! I always give a Beginning of Year and End of Year Survey - and I’m thinking of giving a more formal Mid-Year Survey this coming year. The questions below are listed for each. I found mine after reading blogs and adapted them to my classroom - you can do the same! I know - middle schoolers and feedback - yikes! “They’re going to be overly critical. They’re going to be mean. They don’t know how to give constructive feedback.” Well, you’re right….if no one teaches them, they will never be able to learn how to give helpful feedback. So here’s what you say: “Today is a very important day! You get to help me out a ton. You have the opportunity to give me your opinion about me, my class and science this year. But there’s a very important rule: you must only give helpful things, not hurtful things. Helpful, not hurtful. That doesn’t mean that you have to lie, but it does mean that you can say critical things in a nice way. (insert example here).” Show your students. Teach them how to give helpful feedback. Let this be a teaching moment - after all they’ll need to know how to give and receive critical feedback in the real world. And if you don’t teach them, who will? I created these surveys on a Google Form and students can access them on chromebooks (iPads, phones, etc. would work too).
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It seems like both yesterday and twelve million years ago that I walked into my first classroom on the first day of school. Now, two schools, two cities and two last names later, I am four years into this crazy thing called teaching. This summer, for the first time, I’ve been given the gift of time to slow down and process my first four years of teaching. Instead of waiting four years to deep dive into reflection, take every opportunity you can! Many times I’ve brought myself back to the moment when I got my first test results and lost it. I’ve thought about the many people who, during my first years of teaching, held me up and walked with me when days were great and days were hard. I’ve thought about my first write up, my first parent phone call, my first feeling when a student just “got it”. Each of these “firsts” are vividly cemented in my memory, and I am so thankful for every one of them - good and bad. A different kind of “first” was leaving my first school, moving across the country, and finding a new school where I was excited to work. This year, I taught 6th graders for the first time and fell in love with them. Even so, this year brought new challenges as I watched myself struggle to adapt and transition seamlessly. But, I wasn’t without my people. Focus on the faces that greet you every morning, make the crazy days worth it, and are on the sidelines cheering when great things happen. Focus on the people - because at the end of the day and this life, it’s people who are valuable. Don’t focus on the really cool bulletin board, the most amazing lesson, or even the amazing yearly evaluation. Live this sentence out - it’s ALL about the people. And while I love my students and they’re the reason I do this crazy job, I’ve realized that one of my passions is seeing teachers become better. And if I’ve learned anything, I know that we are better together. And where there are great teachers, students thrive. All this to say, I’m pushing myself to continue reflecting and sharing things throughout this school year for a few reasons: 1. I am going to push my students to reflect a lot this year. And if I'm going to have them do it, I want to model it for them! 2. If something I write or share helps one person, then it was worth it. I truly believe that we are better together. So it's time there's some action behind it. P.S. If you didn’t know already, my maiden name was Seifert. So I had students screaming “Miss Seifert” for half of my teaching career. Then, in May of 2016, I married my best friend, Jacob. Now it’s “Mrs. VandeVanter” or “Mrs. V” or “Mrs. Vandy” or whatever other silly nicknames they will use to get my attention.
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