Question of the day…
Outside of the fact that a student has to come to your classroom because you teach the class they “have to take,” would a student want to take your class?
I will pause to give you time to answer that…
First, we should state that you actually teach your subject. Ok, with that established, let’s discuss…
Walking around and listening and seeing how and what other teachers do is impressive to me. I have often said that if you can get a student wanting to come to your class, regardless of the subject, they will be better students in your topic. Outstanding teachers have a way of “grabbing a student’s attention.”
Most of the time, it has nothing to do with the subject matter. It could be the teacher’s personality, how they speak to students in the hallway, or their welcoming as students come to the door.
I know we always say, “Let’s make learning fun.” But do we do that? Much of that can be answered with the why students “want” to come to your class. What are you doing differently than other teachers? What are you saying to students? And the critical question might just be, how are you making your students feel?
I heard Josh McDowell, Christian author, and speaker, once say, “You can con a kid and kid a con, but you can’t con a kid.” Our students are much more intelligent than we give them credit for sometimes. It does not take them long to figure you out as a teacher or leader.
The challenge to reach students, especially in the middle of our school situation with the coronavirus pandemic, is getting harder and harder. We have to find ways to grab their attention.
Today and every day is a day that we all have another chance to do just that. Some gesture, some tidbit, some __ (you fill in the blank). It might be nothing more than standing a broom up in the middle of the hallway (see pic for today) and with no strings attached.
Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…
Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…
©2020 J Clay Norton
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