I See You and You Are Important

"Kids tend to know who I am."  This isn't an ego-stroking statement but rather a statement to reflect, positively or otherwise, upon how your students perceive you.

It is a point of mine to stand in the hallway during passing time. We know it's good supervision practice, but I have other reasons.  Working in a rural district in the 7-12 building, there are more than 500 faces to see throughout the day.  Teaching primarily sophomores, I like to get in the hall to see former students as well as some of the students I haven't yet had an opportunity to teach. By standing in the doorway of my classroom, I also set the tone for the day by giving each student a positive greeting to the learning environment.  I am greeted with pleasantries, high-fives, handshakes and smiles. I also am able to gauge how students are feeling by their response.  This gives me a heads-up if a student is having a bad day.

I tend to make students notice that I am there.  Most days I have in hand my coffee mug and a meter stick (the spear of knowledge) while students pass my room.  I attempt to give each kid a "Hello! How are you?" If they are rushing in order to avoid a tardy, I'll shout a simple "Good day!"  Between my colleagues across the hall and me, we will occasionally sing, dance, or do something to share the excitement of being at school.  Some days we do this just to stay sane...crazy as it sounds.  I don't stand there to force the children to acknowledge me. In fact, some pick up their pace so I don't sing at them.  My purpose is to make sure the students passing by understand a simple, significant fact: I see you and you are important.  My greeting may not mean much to some; but each kid deserves, at the very least, to be acknowledged.

So when I say, "Kids tend to know who I am," I am confident because little 7th grade students I have never met will greet me with a "Hey Duffy!" A bit informal, but I am okay with that.  Some teachers pride themselves on the certain attributes that make them unique. Maybe they are the tough-grader.  Maybe they are the teacher who has students hang out in their room after school.  Maybe they are the teacher who only gives 5 A's each term. Maybe they are the teacher who changed a kid's life. It is less important to be proud of what we are known as than it is to be authentically present and powerfully positive.

I had the privilege to play the role of principal in mock interviews with student teachers for the last two years. One thing each of them acknowledged was their passion for teaching and kids.  Passion is important and perhaps fuels good teaching if the passion is for the elements of being a successful educator. Putting the kids in the best place to succeed and ensuring that they are safe and well cared for trump being really jazzed about my unit on "The Great Gatsby."  I can have all the content knowledge in the world and the most gloriously aligned lesson plans but if I am inaccessible to my students through my personality or my teaching style, I have lost the entire point.

Consider...
How do kids know you?

Would you want to be a student in your class?

See how students warm up to you by being present, providing a smile and reminding them that they are important and you see them rather than vice versa.  I plan to carry this practice in to my career when I arrive at the role of administrator so that teachers and students know that they are seen and supported by a caring educator. We all deserve that.