For about 7 years or so, I have found inspiration in the words of the late Dr. Rita Pierson in her TED Talk - “Every Kid Needs a Champion”. I’ll link it in the show notes so you can be inspired too. I watch it every summer while preparing for a new school year, and again whenever I need a boost. It serves as a great reminder of why I do what I do for and with my students. She was the first person to draw my attention to the James Comer quote which states that, “No significant learning occurs without a significant relationship”. During my second year of teaching in the United States, I had a coworker, a veteran teacher who had previously retired but returned to the classroom. One of the most valuable tips that she shared with me was to spend the first few weeks of the school year in building relationships with my students. It was at that moment that I recognized that I had spent all of my years doing just that, without even realizing it.
Thinking back to my early years as a teacher, it seems as if I instinctively engaged my students in meaningful relationships. One of the things that I have appreciated over the years, is when my former students would come back to visit. Some of them even made their visits a part of their weekly routines when they moved on to other grade levels. While teaching in Jamaica, some of them came back to visit after they had gone on to high school. For most of my career in Jamaica, I taught grade one; so those students would have been in my class several years earlier.
A couple of years ago, I received an invitation from a student that I taught in second grade at another school to attend her middle school graduation. She didn’t have my contact information but asked another teacher who worked there if she knew how to get in touch with me. I had to take time off from work, but I went and was so very proud of her. I couldn’t contain my tears during the speech that she gave as salutatorian.
For most of my career, I thought that the kinds of relationships that I had with my students was the norm. Then, I started reflecting on my own experience as a teacher and the teachers that impacted my life and the ones that I still hold fond memories of. My ponderings led me to realize that I have organically prioritized relationships and created many memories over the years. I now realize that I somehow instinctively followed my heart, and over time, developed meaningful connections with my students. What about you? Take a moment to reflect on how you relate to the children in your life and how they in turn relate to you. Allow me to share a couple of quotes that emphasize the importance of relationships. I wholeheartedly agree with Evette Horton who said, “Children need happy, healthy, and safe relationships with grown-ups!” What a gift it is to be one of the privileged adults who get to foster those relationships. Kristin Stayer shared an important message with teachers: “Our time and dedication is not just spent making sure that we are being present in the moment with our students but also in creating relationships that impact the future life of a child, a family, and a community.”
Thinking back to my early years as a teacher, it seems as if I instinctively engaged my students in meaningful relationships. One of the things that I have appreciated over the years, is when my former students would come back to visit. Some of them even made their visits a part of their weekly routines when they moved on to other grade levels. While teaching in Jamaica, some of them came back to visit after they had gone on to high school. For most of my career in Jamaica, I taught grade one; so those students would have been in my class several years earlier.
A couple of years ago, I received an invitation from a student that I taught in second grade at another school to attend her middle school graduation. She didn’t have my contact information but asked another teacher who worked there if she knew how to get in touch with me. I had to take time off from work, but I went and was so very proud of her. I couldn’t contain my tears during the speech that she gave as salutatorian.
For most of my career, I thought that the kinds of relationships that I had with my students was the norm. Then, I started reflecting on my own experience as a teacher and the teachers that impacted my life and the ones that I still hold fond memories of. My ponderings led me to realize that I have organically prioritized relationships and created many memories over the years. I now realize that I somehow instinctively followed my heart, and over time, developed meaningful connections with my students. What about you? Take a moment to reflect on how you relate to the children in your life and how they in turn relate to you. Allow me to share a couple of quotes that emphasize the importance of relationships. I wholeheartedly agree with Evette Horton who said, “Children need happy, healthy, and safe relationships with grown-ups!” What a gift it is to be one of the privileged adults who get to foster those relationships. Kristin Stayer shared an important message with teachers: “Our time and dedication is not just spent making sure that we are being present in the moment with our students but also in creating relationships that impact the future life of a child, a family, and a community.”
I am totally convinced that those relationships are most important and serve as the foundation for the children’s growth, development and learning at home and in the classroom setting. Allow me to share two inspiring stories of how teachers can make a life-changing difference in their students’ lives.
The first story is about a kindergarten teacher named Sharon Grimm. Her student, Priscilla Petez, was being teased because of her new haircut. The teacher’s action became a teachable moment for the entire class when she showed up at school matching Priscilla’s hairstyle. According to the GMA report, Grimm said: "I told Prisilla that I did it for her and I wanted to show her that it didn't matter if you had longer hair or shorter hair. It matters what's inside and that she's a caring, silly girl."
The second story is about Les Brown.
Les Brown is one of the world's foremost motivational speakers and thought leaders on self-improvement and goal-setting. However, it wasn't always that way for him. Born in Liberty City, Miami on the floor of an abandoned building, he has known struggle and hardship his entire life.
Academically, Les was a struggling student from the get-go. The story goes that during his school days he was labelled "educable mentally handicapped" by the academic intelligentsia of his day and placed back from 6th grade to 5th grade. To make matters worse, he had a twin brother who was exceptionally bright and gifted, and as such Les became commonly referred to by his peers as the "DT"—the "dumb twin."
One day a teacher asked him to come up and solve a problem on the chalkboard, but Les refused and said that he couldn't. "Of course you can," the teacher responded encouragingly. "Young man, come up here and solve this problem for me."
"But I can't," insisted Les. "I'm educable mentally handicapped." The rest of the class erupted in laughter. At that point, the teacher stepped out from behind his desk and looked Les straight in the eye. "Don't ever say that again," he told him firmly. "Someone else's opinion of you does not have to become your reality."
Les never forgot those words, and spent the rest of his life overcoming incredible odds and pursuing his goals with passion and fervour. Time and time again, thanks to that one teacher's powerful revelation, Les has lived the phrase he's famous for all over the world: You have greatness within you.
The first story is about a kindergarten teacher named Sharon Grimm. Her student, Priscilla Petez, was being teased because of her new haircut. The teacher’s action became a teachable moment for the entire class when she showed up at school matching Priscilla’s hairstyle. According to the GMA report, Grimm said: "I told Prisilla that I did it for her and I wanted to show her that it didn't matter if you had longer hair or shorter hair. It matters what's inside and that she's a caring, silly girl."
The second story is about Les Brown.
Les Brown is one of the world's foremost motivational speakers and thought leaders on self-improvement and goal-setting. However, it wasn't always that way for him. Born in Liberty City, Miami on the floor of an abandoned building, he has known struggle and hardship his entire life.
Academically, Les was a struggling student from the get-go. The story goes that during his school days he was labelled "educable mentally handicapped" by the academic intelligentsia of his day and placed back from 6th grade to 5th grade. To make matters worse, he had a twin brother who was exceptionally bright and gifted, and as such Les became commonly referred to by his peers as the "DT"—the "dumb twin."
One day a teacher asked him to come up and solve a problem on the chalkboard, but Les refused and said that he couldn't. "Of course you can," the teacher responded encouragingly. "Young man, come up here and solve this problem for me."
"But I can't," insisted Les. "I'm educable mentally handicapped." The rest of the class erupted in laughter. At that point, the teacher stepped out from behind his desk and looked Les straight in the eye. "Don't ever say that again," he told him firmly. "Someone else's opinion of you does not have to become your reality."
Les never forgot those words, and spent the rest of his life overcoming incredible odds and pursuing his goals with passion and fervour. Time and time again, thanks to that one teacher's powerful revelation, Les has lived the phrase he's famous for all over the world: You have greatness within you.
As an educator, I often think of my work as just a drop in the bucket, a pebble in a huge pond. By extending the metaphor though, I also recognize that a pebble that is dropped in a pond creates ripples. I therefore encourage all teachers (formally trained or not) to keep dropping pebbles of encouragement, pebbles of hope, pebbles of love into the lives of every child that crosses your path. Don’t limit your impact to those directly entrusted in your care, but extend it to every child that you meet.
Recently, I was a guest on a podcast that gave me an opportunity to share some of the ways in which I build relationships with my students. The episode is entitled Growing Inner Wealth® in the Elementary School Classroom! The NHA Podcast will be published today on BlogTalkRadio and Apple Podcasts, and I hope you will find it inspiring. https://childrenssuccessfoundation.com/nha-podcast/
Recently, I was a guest on a podcast that gave me an opportunity to share some of the ways in which I build relationships with my students. The episode is entitled Growing Inner Wealth® in the Elementary School Classroom! The NHA Podcast will be published today on BlogTalkRadio and Apple Podcasts, and I hope you will find it inspiring. https://childrenssuccessfoundation.com/nha-podcast/
I spent some time reminiscing again about my years as a student and the wonderful educators that impacted my life. As I reflect on each level of my educational journey, some of them immediately come to mind. I am grateful to the teacher who helped me to recognize that I could memorize and recite poems. The one who inspired creativity as we collaborated on class projects. The one who took the time to tell me I was smart. I smile at the memory of the college lecturer who was my advocate and voiced her confidence in my ability to make wise decisions about my educational goals. Maya Angelou was certainly correct when she said, “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” That explains why I hold such fond memories in my heart even today.
It is my goal to pass on that legacy so my children and students can remember our time together with smiles on their faces, that my drop in the bucket made them feel wonderful. What about you? Are you ready to be intentional about how you relate? Teachers and caregivers, I have a quote to leave with you. It is by Justin Tarte, who said, “Teachers who put relationships first don’t just have students for one year: they have students who view them as ‘their’ teacher for life.” Parents, I have one for you that is attributed to Daniel Bates. “Your child’s sense of security is not grounded in how perfect you are, but in the quality of the relationship you have.” I invite you to join me on this journey of building positive relationships.
Until next time, walk good and one love. 🖤💚💛
LINKS
https://www.ted.com/talks/rita_pierson_every_kid_needs_a_champion?language=en (Rita Pierson)
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/living/story/teacher-cuts-hair-match-kindergartners-inspiring-stories-teachers-62872767 (Sharon Grimm)
https://wabisabilearning.com/blogs/mindfulness-wellbeing/4-stories-great-teachers (Les Brown)
It is my goal to pass on that legacy so my children and students can remember our time together with smiles on their faces, that my drop in the bucket made them feel wonderful. What about you? Are you ready to be intentional about how you relate? Teachers and caregivers, I have a quote to leave with you. It is by Justin Tarte, who said, “Teachers who put relationships first don’t just have students for one year: they have students who view them as ‘their’ teacher for life.” Parents, I have one for you that is attributed to Daniel Bates. “Your child’s sense of security is not grounded in how perfect you are, but in the quality of the relationship you have.” I invite you to join me on this journey of building positive relationships.
Until next time, walk good and one love. 🖤💚💛
LINKS
https://www.ted.com/talks/rita_pierson_every_kid_needs_a_champion?language=en (Rita Pierson)
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/living/story/teacher-cuts-hair-match-kindergartners-inspiring-stories-teachers-62872767 (Sharon Grimm)
https://wabisabilearning.com/blogs/mindfulness-wellbeing/4-stories-great-teachers (Les Brown)