I care....

I think the greatest thing any teacher can give their students is care.  Any way you can express to students that you care about how they do in school helps them care.  I try to use humor most times but  there are times when ...well, I feel like a care more than they do....

I have a starting spiel for my tutoring class that goes something like this:

"Welcome to tutoring, today is Blankday!  All of you have should have something to do.  If you don't know what to do, let's check the grade book and figure out what it is you should be working on. There are  "X" days left in the quarter.  If you have an F, you have "X" days to fix it."  After this, there can be several conversations that follow:

"I really want to you to pass your classes, let's work on fixing the 23% with 20 days left in the quarter."

"I really want you to pass your math class, are you aware you have 10 missing assignments?"

"You have 5 F's; is there really nothing  we can be working on?"

"Can you come and take this test you missed 2 weeks ago?  It is really hurting your grade."

"Is there anything I can do to help you with (insert subject here)?  You have not passed a test yet."

"Can I help you organize the folded papers in your book bag?  It looks like you are carrying around your laundry in there."

"You know, you are missing 2 assignments in Social Studies; With a  58%, just turning in one of those will put you at a passing grade. Turning in both, will really  help you pass."

"Have you talked to your teacher about what is  holding you back?"

I think that is the  hardest skill students need to learn, communication.  Sometimes, I think students treat their teachers like the great and powerful Oz, who lives behind the curtain and everyone is afraid to see the person behind the curtain.  I like to  try to help students get behind the curtain and talk to their teachers. This is such an important skill for people to have, to be able to talk to their  "supervisors".   I sometimes will sit in a meeting and say to a student: "Just  ask your teacher, people really don't know this but we are rational  people."

I also tell them it is a skill that will do them well in college.  I know I did not take advantage of a professor's office hours when I was a college student and I should have.  It may have saved me  the agony of  changing my major and  not knowing what I wanted to be when I was done.  Who knows? I just hope my students can avoid conversations like the one below.
http://youtu.be/57aOIkaXQGc (if your mobile device doesn't see the video)

Education Today

Have you seen this video?

I have seen this video in  a few professional development settings.  They are like our theme or mantra in education these days.  Everything seems to be changing by the minute which makes it feel like  we are flying in a plane while they are building it.  I don't know about you but I would not get on a plane that was being built as it is being flown.  I would not want my children (students) to get on a plane that is being built as  we are flying.  In fact, I am one of the people who says, "Hey, I don't mind the delay if it means they fix that thing on the ground before we take off." I am not  upset by maintenance delays.  I am not upset by weather delays.  I like my plane to be  solid, well constructed and able to get me from A to B without a problem.  I want to fly in a good environment, a safe environment. I think education and school should be the same.  We should not be flying by the seat of our pants as decisions are being made and changed day to day.  The school environment should be about learning and becoming the best person you can be.  

How about his one?

This is another video played in a few  professional development places  lately.  If you listen to the words these cowboys say, it is exactly how I feel about my job:

"Don't let anyone tell you it's easy"

"I'm living the dream"  ( I really do love my job!)

"Not everyone can do what we do"

"I wouldn't do nothing else"

"When you bring a herd into town and ain't lost a one of them aint' feeling like it in the world"

Translation: When you know your students have learned what you taught them, "ain't a feeling like it in the world!"

If I didn't say it before Thanksgiving, I am thankful for my job. I am thankful that I was lucky enough that I have a career that I enjoy.  I am thankful that I work with a great staff and that whether I realize it or not, I affect students everyday.  I'm also thankful when I get on a plane and it is completely built and not in need of repair mid-flight.