Melissa Hawkins
February Blog Post
Routman-Chapter 2 Bond with Your Students
I truly agree with the words of Routman in Chapter 2 that bonding with your students contributes to their success in your classroom. The author writes these powerful words in Chapter 2, "We need to pay attention to bonding and the power of emotional commitment to our students. Worldwide, the strongest predictor of reading achievement is the quality of student-teacher relations." I know that it is very important to bond with each student in order for each one to feel comfortable enough to be themselves and to voice their opinions about topics that your are studying. A teacher should model respect for her students if she expects students to show her respect. I try my best to show each student respect and care for their well being and academic success. Students should feel at ease in a classroom and confident enough to know that a teacher accepts them and their different ideas and allows students to be expressive. I also have gotten to know each of my students and some of their likes and dislikes. I know what books they like to read and the ones that love to read. Those students are some of the higher ones in my class. My students love to hear about my life and things that I love to do and books that I love to read. It always turns in to 100 Questions when I mention anything about my life. I think that they are just trying to get me off topic but it does make me feel good for them to seem interested in my life. I must be interested in their life and what goes on in their world away from school. I had a student in the beginning of the year that was very quiet and timid. But over time I have developed a bond with this student and now she seems happier when she comes into the classroom in the mornings and is more willing to answer questions or read aloud when she is asked to do so. I want my classroom to always have an atmosphere of love, acceptance, encouragement and respect for one another. I demand it of my students to be shown to me and I must show these qualities to them.
Ha, I remember that game of "100 Questions" well! I had the same response as you--I wondered how much of it was an exercise in off-topic-ness, but it also made me smile to think that the kids were trying to figure out who I was as a person beyond their teacher. When we have strong bonds between teachers and students, both parties are more likely to work their hardest and move toward success. I know this has been really important to you this year, and I think it shows! :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Melissa H., I agree with Routman about the power of relationships and the emotional commitment effective teachers have in their students' success. I love that you are making intentional time in your day to share of yourselves with your students and I want to encourage you to make it reciprocal and allow them the opportunity to share about themselves with you and with the class community.
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