Are you having issues connecting with your students? This episode is all about "getting through to them," but not from a content-perspective. There's a whole lot more to classroom instruction than "teacher has info; info dump to students."
Here's what I originally shared on LinkedIn:
Show up for your #students.
I've done this time and time again: I've had students I just wasn't connecting with, and once I learned this trick it turned my understanding of student-teacher #relationships around.
You're not just their classroom teacher. You're one of the MAJOR ADULTS in their lives. This carries with it some _serious_ implications.
So what do you do when you're not connecting with a student? Show up for their sports games and cheer them on. Show an interest in their clubs. Incorporate their hobbies and passions into your lessons. You don't need to explicitly say, "We're doing this today because so-and-so really enjoys it" (major cringe, that). You don't need to voice _why_ you're showing up to a game or a play or a competition. Just be there for them and get involved in what matters to THEM. You _will_ see a change in their #attitude.
That said, the change can appear negative at first. Usually it's not. But some kids are also resistant to trusting adults to the point that when they find they want to, they pull back. #traumainformed teaching and advisement is REAL... That doesn't mean you shouldn't make the effort and be persistent. You have them for 3-10 months (depending on how your school is structured). Sometimes we're privileged to be stewards-of-students for multiple years (I love it when I get to form relationships with students over multiple years - that's really one of the major, RICH joys of teaching).
In this #webcomic, Bob is continuing as Mr. Culpepper's unofficial mentor. Veteran teachers: be there for the newbies. Whether or not they appear to have it all together, they're struggling. Let's admit it: entering #k12schools in any capacity is a culture shock. Lots of stumbling blocks and opportunities to enter dark or confusing or defeating places. Show up for them, too.
This approach of "showing up" has never failed for me. You've gotta meet them where their interests are. Then watch the change begin.
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