Are You Connected?

As a teacher, particularly when teaching in the early years, I often get little drawings and notes of thank-yous and love from my little humans!

This past week I received two that truly made my day, filled my bucket and made me realise the importance of one specific aspect of my job.

These little notes said:

If you think back to your favourite teacher in school and contemplate the one thing that makes them your favourite or the one thing that has had the most impact - I think I could guess what the basis of it was:

It's all about connection and relationships.

Teaching is about relationships. You HAVE to get to know your kids. You HAVE to allow your kids to really get to know you - with all of your imperfections! Your kids have to know you care about them, are interested in their life and that you are there to not only teach them but to look after them. We spend a good part of their waking day with them! It is so incredibly important that we are conscious and mindful of the interactions we have during each day.

It is the most important role in teaching. We are dealing with little humans. 

What it requires is compassion, empathy and love of self first, making sure you are looking after your own well being, in order to look after the well being of those in your care. This is for both teachers and the parents out there! 

Teaching is not about management of students to create an orderly classroom.

Teaching is about building relationships with students to create a culture of learning - for life.

 As teachers, we have the power to influence and shape young minds.

We spend six and a half hours a day with these little humans. The power of influence teachers have should never, ever be underestimated. Shaping young minds is not just about teaching them the curriculum. It is about shaping how they think and how they see themselves.

 What a teacher IS, is more important than what they teach.

We already know that children are the world's greatest mimics. They watch, they observe, they copy and repeat. Who you show up as - whether you are a parent or a teacher - is far more important and has far more impact on our little humans. How you react, how you respond, what you say, how you say it, how you interact - it shows kids who you are. Make sure you are showing up as the person you want them to see and be.

  The future of the world is in my classroom today.

As a society, there has been so much discussion about how to change the future direction for our little humans, so that they become fulfilled, happy and dynamic adults. As teachers, it is absolutely essential that we are teaching and modelling connection, collaboration, leadership and problem-solving. How do they know and learn, if they are not seeing it every single day? We have a responsibility to teach and show.

 Teachers who put relationships first don't have students for one year, they have students who view them as 'their' teacher for life.

Think back to when you were in school. Think of the teachers that had the most impact and influence on you, that you still speak of fondly today. They are, without a doubt, the teachers that 'saw' you. They are the teachers that understood you. They are the teachers that made you feel like you belonged and could do anything. They are the teachers that made you feel safe. Why wouldn't you want to be that person for someone else?

 It is NOT just about relationships with your students. It is about the relationship with parents as well. 

Communication is the human connection. It is the key to success in life and business. When parents take their kids to school, they are handing them over to teachers and entrusting their little ones into our care. They know we are educators in the sense of teaching curriculum. But in my experience, parents simply want to know that everything is okay. They are stepping into a realm of uncertainty. So, in order to provide some certainty for parents, communication and connection with them are not only important but highly necessary. Parents and teachers must work on building a healthy and positive connection in order to support the children in their care. 

Some thoughts and ideas on building relationships and remembering why they are important:

 There are 1440 minutes in a day. 360 of those minutes is approximately a school day.  It takes ten minutes to generate capability, independence, laugh and smiles. It does not take a lot of effort. It takes mindfulness of thought and energy and setting the intention for how you want your students to be impacted. Take a little time each day to get to know the little humans in your care and what they need.

 Kids don't learn from people they don't like. The strength of our student relationships makes the difference in translating our passion for teaching into their passion for learning. No significant learning can happen without a significant relationship. That's the bottom line of it all. You don't have to pretend to be anyone you're not. You don't have to put on a performance. You simply have to show up as your most authentic and true self and your kids will see that. Little humans have a sense when people don't like them or are not being genuine. Think about who you are serving and be the person they need you to be.

 Great teachers see past the behaviour. Kids are not their behaviours. This is where our connections are so powerful. A trusting, open adult has more impact on behaviour if you have a relationship and get to know your kids. All behaviours are driven by some need not being met. Take the time to get to know what is happening in the life of your children. Get to know them and what is worrying or concerning them. Look past what you are seeing and look behind the behaviours for the real truth.

 Parents - Teachers: get to know the each other. You are a team. Sometimes teachers forget. Sometimes parents forget. Working together has far more power and impact on your kids than anything else.

Parents: I encourage you to trust your child's teacher. Trust that they are doing the very best they can in a highly stressful job where they are giving far more of themselves than you may ever see. Trust that they are trying to teach the curriculum that is already overcrowded while also tending to the needs, behaviours and uncertainties of your child and every other child in their classroom. Trust that what you say about your child's teacher in front of your children, has an impact on their learning and relationship with them. Trust that if you have a concern, the best place to address it first is with them. Remember they are human too and sometimes, they don't get it right but their intentions are always good. If your child's teacher is having a rough day, I encourage you to remember - it is probably not about you or your child. It is just one of those days. Remember your behaviour impacts both your children and the classroom teacher and that you are human too. Trust that working together is the best thing you can do.

Teachers: I encourage you to work with your parents. Trust that they have good intentions and simply have a need to know that everything is okay and that their child is happy. Trust that when they are having a bad day, that it is not always about you or something you have done. Life is hard as a parent. It doesn't come with a manual! Trust that being open in your communication will be the basis for a more positive and stronger relationship with your parents. Trust that they all have concerns and worries about how their child is learning, socialising, developing and that what happens at school is out of their control.  Remember they don't always get it right either. Trust that building the relationship is the foundation of the learning that will happen for the year. Trust that working together is the best thing you can do.

Don't ever underestimate the power of meaningful relationships between parents and teachers and teachers and students. These are the connections that will change our world.

Until next week....have a beautiful week!

Clarissa xo