Reactions to different kinds of kids
Kids you find it easy to like:
Most of the time the kids that it is easy for me to like are ones that I can talk to easily (don't want to constantly want to fight). They are easy to teach. They have great personalities and they have a good heart.
Kids you find it hard to like:
It is hard to like kids that threaten you. Kids that have major behavioral issues that don't want help. These kids make it hard because I want to guide them toward a better path. This could cause frustration all around. I have yet to find a kid that I just don't like yet. I have had kids that drive me crazy, but I still like them.
Kids you feel sorry for:
If I am feeling sorry for a kid, I want to help them. I want to get them out of the situation that could be causing them pain. For example, these would be kids that have been abused.
Kids you feel threatened by:
I have yet to feel threatened by a kid. I am assuming it would feel the same as feeling threatened by a young adult . I would have a hard time teaching in that type of an environment and the students around me would have a hard time learning in that type environment. I would be afraid and on edge. I would be more assertive in the classroom.
Kids you identify with:
I would feel understanding. I would most likely get along with that student most of the time. It would make it easier to teach a student that I could identify with, because I know the reasons for their logic.
Kids you gravitate toward:
I try not to gravitate toward one particular kid. I feel that I need to be myself and kids gravitate toward me. I give them honesty, respect and space. The kids that gravitate toward me are ones that need someone to talk to. I also get kids that have good hearts and that are easy for people to get along with. I don't get the kids that just want to be mean, bullying, or just hard to get along with.
Kids you feel inadequate around:
I haven't found kids that I feel inadequate around yet.
Kids you probably don't even notice:
I don't know if I have ever not noticed a kid. If I have I would feel really bad.
It would be hard to teach in an environment that was threatening and full of students that were hard to like. It would be hard for students to learn in an environment like this. Even though I will not be able to identify with all of my students, I do have many experiences that will help me understand some of them. It is easy to teach the kids that gravitate toward you. How do you teach the kids that avoid you?
I appreciate that you can have students who do drive you crazy, but can still like them. Even if you don't, it is so important to make them feel like you want them to succeed. Your reflection summarizes this blog well. Certainly a challenge will be those students who avoid you or who you might want to avoid. If there is no interest in interaction, then that makes it difficult. Seeing some students as long term projects rather than ones who might turn around over night might be the only option. Plant seeds...
ReplyDeleteI think it is interesting you said "I don't know if I have ever not noticed a kid." I think it is difficult to recognize those situations because to recognize we have not noticed them means we must have noticed them. I wonder if that makes sense. I think I will struggle with that concept. I will just make it my objective to know at least one thing about each one of my students, that way I can attempt to notice every student.
ReplyDeleteYoure right, It is easiest to be around kids that have the social graces and training to talk with us like adults at our level. They are products of good parenting, which makes it easier to have them in our classrooms. It is a good thing that your make a point to still like the students that drive you crazy! I tough task! I agree with you that the most difficult is those kids who don't want help. I like that you are placing yourself in an environment of honesty, respect and space. These factors help to create a great learning environment that is ready for open communication.
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