Dialogue is another tool that I use to create technical successes for my students by demonstrating that I care about them. I set my students up for success by personally communicating with each one of them on a daily basis. When each student enters my classroom, I hold a 30 second conversation with them.
At the start of the school year, my students learned that I expected them to initiate this conversation by saying “hello,” asking how I was doing, and engaging in a handshake, if appropriate. I expect proper eye contact to be maintained throughout our exchange, and I often ask those questions about the pool party or family cookout that took place over the weekend, or the baseball game won the night before. If something is bothering the student, I can usually tell by his body language during this short conversation, and we can discuss it during this chat or at a later time.
By spending a mere 30 seconds with each student, I set my students up for success during the school day and beyond. I create an environment where, no matter what the dialogue, my students begin their day feeling important and heard, and I begin my day with a backstage pass into what might be exciting or bothering my students. My students get the added bonus of being exposed to, gaining practice in, and developing a tendency towards common courtesy.
What about the teacher who only performs her job teaching math, science, social studies, and language arts without the extra effort required? She doesn’t feel the need to ask her students how they are doing. This teacher may actually find it harder to do her job. Students who feel that the teacher cares about them become personally invested in pleasing the teacher. Students who don’t have a relationship with their teacher may not care about their academic performance, which can have negative long lasting effects. It is the teacher’s job to create a friendly and caring atmosphere, for if she doesn’t, she may find that her students don’t perform well academically…or may not show up to class;, the ultimate “technical failure.”
By: DELIA B. CERVANTES | Teacher III | Orani South Elementary School | Orani, Bataan
