Personally, I believe this list can apply to all relationships among people...
Think About It!
1). Students want you to
actually spend the time to get to know them...
Get to know your students by
name as soon as possible. Learn something unique about them and find out what
makes them tick. Students know when teachers don't know anything about them, so
make getting to know your students a top priority.
2). Students want to have a
voice in the learning process and want to share 'their' way of doing things...
Students want learning to be
done 'with' them... not 'to' them. Schools are idea factories with a seemingly
limitless amount of new and fresh ideas, so it's time we start tapping into
that potential. Also, students bring unique perspectives and ways of thinking
about life, so let them move up from passenger and let them drive the bus from
time to time.
3). Students want to be
treated with respect and dignity...
Students don't magically
become motivated when they are embarrassed. They also don't appreciate it when
you call them out to make a point and use them as an example. If you wouldn't
like somebody doing it to you, then don't do it to your students.
4). Students want to be
'appropriately' challenged with meaningful and relevant learning experiences...
Students learn pretty
quickly the differences between meaningful and productive work and mindless
busy work. Students want you to push and challenge them with learning that
provides them the skills to succeed. Additionally, students want and need the
necessary supports as they struggle and navigate these more challenging
learning experiences.
5). Students want educators
to know that they too have bad and off days...
We all have bad days, and
students are no different. Also, some students have quite a lot occurring in
their lives outside of the education world. With that, education is at times
understandably just not a top priority for them. Empathy and understanding go a
long way in the classroom.
6). Students want their
interests and passions to be infused into the learning that occurs in the
classroom...
All students have interests
and passions that go beyond the traditional school setting. It's these
interests that students want you to integrate and combine with the learning
that occurs in your classroom. When students are able to explore and further
develop their interests while simultaneously meeting classroom learning
objectives, great things are possible.
7). Students want educators
to be truthful and honest...
When students feel you are
being truthful and being honest, they can start to trust you. When students
trust and respect you there are few things they won't do for you. This two-way
street takes time to develop, but will yield significant dividends in the
long-run.
8). Students want to be partners
with you when it comes to the learning process...
Students don't want a
'teachers' vs. 'students' mentality in school. Students are looking to you for
partnership and camaraderie in regard to learning and growth. It's this shift
in traditional mindsets that really strengthens trust and collaboration between
teachers and students.
9). Students want to know
the work they are doing and the time they are committing to school will
actually make a difference in the world...
Students spend a significant
amount of time in school as they grow up, so it's only fair and appropriate
that the time they spend and the work they do actually goes toward making the
world a better place. The disconnect between doing something that makes a
difference in the world and simply just doing something, makes all the
difference.
10). At the end of the day,
all students want to know their existence matters and that they are
important...
Don't we all...?
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