What the hell do I mean, right?
Well, teaching is about relationships. You can't teach someone something they are not ready to learn... and sometimes it is all about trust. Creating an environment where you can call out someones bad behaviour, or find out what is making them sad, the rest of the relationship is what makes the outcome work.
I think that all the good memories you can build up help to forge the relationship, so that you can get to know the students as actual people. And more importantly, it helps the students get to know each other.
I am blessed in that I have a senior form class. I keep my babies as a group for 3 years, with some leaving and some joining each year. Fostering the love and camaraderie between the students and sharing in the silly stuff helps them realise that they are all in this crazy world together, and they need to find a way to make things work. They are more likely to be honest and ask for help. Or to at least accept a question or two. My class is nuts. I think I make them this way. And I don't mind.
We celebrate as many things as I can think of. So far this year we have had a back to school luau, Chinese New Year, Valentines Day, St Patricks Day, Dr Seuss's birthday, regular birthdays, Sea Week (where we look at the FISH! Philosophy) and the school Athletic sports.
We take pictures. And the kids love the pictures. I upload them to a closed Facebook group for the class. It's becoming more than amazing, because now they upload as well, and we communicate about what is going on for the people in the class. One student is currently on crutches, and the others are making sure that they get their bag carried, doors opened, and looked after at lunch.
And these people were not friends at the start of the year. In fact, most of them had never met each other.
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