Saturday, October 8, 2016
Bond With Your Students - Reading Essentials by Regie Routman
" Look you don't have to like my child, but you must bond with her if she's to learn anything
at all!" what a great statement! As I read the list of bonding musts in this text by Regie Routman
I began to use it as a check off list for myself. These bonding items are essential in the success of a student. I do know that these bonding musts are not always as easy at it seems to accomplish.
Teachers are human just like everyone else and I have witnessed fellow teachers and even students who just do not "like" each other. This can be a huge barrier in learning. In these cases we must become the professionals we are. I love the way Routman breaks this all down for the teacher. We all know these things but to see it broken down is so great.
" The child experiences months even years of frustration and failure" It is up to the teacher to
help that student realize he or she can be successful. Teacher talk and bonding strategies are crucial
in the success of a student.
This chapter of Routmans book reminded me of an experience I had in school as a very young
learner. I remember very distinctly as received my report card I had a "C" in Math. I tried very hard to get a better grade the next time. The teacher wasn't much help because her "bonding skills and teacher talk" wa few yere minimal. I will never forget she told me "I guess you will just always be a "C" Math student that's good enough". Wow! It took me quite a few years to get over that and do better.
So YES bonding is so important for the young learner! I experienced it myself and I still remember the teacher, the classroom and what I was wearing. Such an impact she made on my life.
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I recently had a situation in the classroom where things were just not going well at all. I quickly realized that I was not getting through to the kids at all. So, I made them a deal. They were getting 20s and 30s on simple vocabulary tests. I offered to make them cupcakes if everyone made a 60 or higher. One girl said, "Why would you do that? You don't even like us?" But I did like them. I loved them. I just had not made that clear to them I suppose. So, when they all made a 60 or higher, I followed through on my promise and made cupcakes and things seemed to improve. You have to bond with your students. They might forget what you taught them, but they will never forget how you treated them.
ReplyDeleteTerri, I agree wholeheartedly. We should be professionals, care for our students, encourage students, and foster a sense of community not only for individual classrooms but with other staff for the school as a whole. The teacher you describe clearly did not buy into these ideas. I am SO glad that you decided to become a teacher in spite of your discouraging experience. I have witnessed first hand how nurturing and caring you are: you took that experience and used it as the impetus to learn what kind of teacher to be, and what kind you would not be. So many children are now blessed because of you.
ReplyDeleteTerri, I agree wholeheartedly. We should be professionals, care for our students, encourage students, and foster a sense of community not only for individual classrooms but with other staff for the school as a whole. The teacher you describe clearly did not buy into these ideas. I am SO glad that you decided to become a teacher in spite of your discouraging experience. I have witnessed first hand how nurturing and caring you are: you took that experience and used it as the impetus to learn what kind of teacher to be, and what kind you would not be. So many children are now blessed because of you.
ReplyDeleteYou are sweet Lisa!
ReplyDeleteHi Teresa,
ReplyDeleteI connected to this post and this chapter by Routman because like you, I've experienced teachers whom I've had a close bond with and those I didn't. We remember both and the tremendous impact they have on us. Your story about your math teacher that didn't take time to bond with you or reach out to get to know you as a person so he/she only knew you as a score or a grade of C. That hurt me to read, I know that stuck with you as a painful reminder of a learning experience that wasn't optimal, much less positive. I agree with you and Routman that we must ensure that we have a relationship with our students to build from because that is a foundation of trust we form our reading and writing instruction and recommendations from. Thank you! Dawn
I agree that we need to bond on some level with our students. Once our students realize that we have a vested interest in them I believe that they truly try so much harder because they want to please you. Unfortunately, I completely understand your experience with your former math teacher because I had a similar experience. Teachers like that have no place in the classroom. That next year I was determined to prove that teacher wrong....and I did!!!it was the best feeling in the world!
ReplyDeleteTerri,
ReplyDeleteI agree that students must bond with teachers before teachers can teach them. I truly believe in the saying that students don't care about what you teach, until they know that you care about them. Some students may be challenging, but as professionals we have to look beyond the behavior so we can teach the child. We may not always be successful in reaching every child, but we should always strive to help each of them.