It takes a village. That may sound cliché, but it couldn’t be any truer to make certain that students academically succeed in school. A child is molded by the way they are raised in their environment. The adults in their lives play a key role in their success, and if that fails, then their lives are in danger of failing. It isn’t that the student fails. It is more like the adults in their lives failed them. If we were to draw a circle, the middle of that circle is the student. Standing on the outline of the circle are the adults, mainly us. I see this circle and always picture it whenever I am around students. Everything that I teach and how I teach plays an important role on their learning. I focus on the “how” while ensuring that content – by state standards – is being implemented while teaching. I assess myself at the end of the day and question what went well and what didn’t work. This self-assessment will help me improve as a teacher.
Communication with parents plays an important role in student success. These adults in their lives know their children more than we do. As a secondary teacher, students have bypassed many developmental milestones; these are milestones that – as a teacher – we are not familiar with. Moms/Dads/Guardians know best. They’ve seen how their children succeeded. They’ve seen the challenges they went through; but most importantly, they know their children more than I do. Emails, phone calls, newsletters, and/or remote-sessions/meetings with a parent whose child is struggling is helpful in collaborating solutions that will help the child succeed. Then there are students who show exemplary behavior and/or are doing really well in class. The adults in their lives will want to know that as well; and it is, therefore, something that I communicate with parents.
My colleagues are important people who will help me be a better teacher. I believe that strong communication with other educators is helpful in student success. While I love to contribute to ideas and conversation, I am also someone who listens intently to others, especially to those who have valuable advice/suggestions/comments that will help my career grow as an educator. I respect veterans, and I also have an open mind to those who are new at teaching. Collaboratively working with a team strengthens the school community.
AAPI Teacher 