“Would you want to be a student in your own class?” I’ve seen this question quite a few times. It’s a good one for sure and if you answer it honestly you can elicit some great reflection on how to improve your practice. What I’ve never seen is the follow-up question I am going to ask right now: “Would someone want to grow up to be you?”
I’m not talking about growing up to be a teacher, many will do that of their own accord or answering some other calling in their life. That would be growing up to work in the same profession as you. I’m referring to BEING you. What would your students describe your demeanor to be? How do they see you treat others? Are you easily drawn offsides or provoked into a reaction? Has anyone ever seen the lighter side of you; the one that tells jokes and realizes that just because you’re an educator you know a thing or two about enjoying life? What actions do you demonstrate that show you really are trying to make the world a better place? Do you ever act like something is beneath you? If we’re going to say things like “every kid deserves a champion” and we want all students to “enjoy thriving, productive lives in a future they create” shouldn’t kids be inspired by more than just our curriculum? Our practice should not be all that defines us. If it is, we aren’t educating the whole child.
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AuthorJeff Lahey Archives
January 2020
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