Actions speak louder then words
Words are cheap. Was at work today discussing teaching strategies with co-workers. And one thing everyone agrees on is talk is cheap. Some of the teacher for summer school are scared since they taught 2nd grade or the like, and now they are dealing with high school students. Big difference. I was trying to explain to them that you can not listen to what children say. You must make the children back up their words. It is important to give them a chance to back up their words, trust them. If you do not give them trust, you are already failing them. So when they tell you something, trust it the first time, and see what happens. If nothing changes from there, then you have to intercede.
I often had students tell me they where sorry, and I just informed them that if they were truly sorry, they would not do the offending action again. After you spend time with students, and build a bond with them, them telling you a lie by saying sorry when they are not is worst then the offending action most the time. Actions speak louder then words not only applies to students, but also teachers. It is one thing to tell the students you believe in them, it is another thing to show it. When you tell someone something, you need to follow it up with action. Often time people follow up words with in-action, and do nothing. After a while, if the action does not support the words, the words become meaningless. If done enough, the words can become insulting.
It is important that everyone thinks of the words they speak, and make sure their actions match. This is something learned with time, and I can not fault the students, for they are young. They do not always understand that by saying one thing, and doing another...or doing nothing...they are insulting. Other examples of this I see is students telling me they want to learn, but not trying the work. A very common one is being told they like my class, or respect me, and enjoy math, or something like that...but then skipping class, not showing up, or showing up late. That is a slap in the face. Do you hold it against the student, no. That is what it means to be a grown up, to be a teacher. You must understand, and try to teach them the effects of their words mixed with their actions. And remember, the student does not mean to do it, they probably even mean their words when they say them.
I will only have students for about 5 weeks, before I get new ones. Still, in 5 weeks you can grow attached, and how many times will I have to forgive accidental slaps, I can not say.
Just something to think about. This is what my mind thinks of to get ready for students. Even though I am an algebra teacher, I teach students, not just a subject. If you ever ask me what I teach, my first answer is always students.
I often had students tell me they where sorry, and I just informed them that if they were truly sorry, they would not do the offending action again. After you spend time with students, and build a bond with them, them telling you a lie by saying sorry when they are not is worst then the offending action most the time. Actions speak louder then words not only applies to students, but also teachers. It is one thing to tell the students you believe in them, it is another thing to show it. When you tell someone something, you need to follow it up with action. Often time people follow up words with in-action, and do nothing. After a while, if the action does not support the words, the words become meaningless. If done enough, the words can become insulting.
It is important that everyone thinks of the words they speak, and make sure their actions match. This is something learned with time, and I can not fault the students, for they are young. They do not always understand that by saying one thing, and doing another...or doing nothing...they are insulting. Other examples of this I see is students telling me they want to learn, but not trying the work. A very common one is being told they like my class, or respect me, and enjoy math, or something like that...but then skipping class, not showing up, or showing up late. That is a slap in the face. Do you hold it against the student, no. That is what it means to be a grown up, to be a teacher. You must understand, and try to teach them the effects of their words mixed with their actions. And remember, the student does not mean to do it, they probably even mean their words when they say them.
I will only have students for about 5 weeks, before I get new ones. Still, in 5 weeks you can grow attached, and how many times will I have to forgive accidental slaps, I can not say.
Just something to think about. This is what my mind thinks of to get ready for students. Even though I am an algebra teacher, I teach students, not just a subject. If you ever ask me what I teach, my first answer is always students.