Attitude has a lot to do with teaching. I believe that a teacher’s attitude can really have an effect on the “feel” of the classroom. Attitude can be as simple as how you approach the day in the morning. If you’re running late and you haven’t had a cup of tea and you are scrambling to get a few things photocopied it’s not the best way to start the day. Even if you have it all together by the time the students arrive I’m sure they can sense your feelings. For me I really like to get to the school early. It gives me time to settle into the environment and feel relaxed and prepared before the students get there. It may not always be possible to control how you feel but I think when you are responsible for the well being of children you have to check in with yourself and make sure you acknowledge how you’re feeling and how that might inform your interactions.
One example I can think of is from when I was working as a literacy tutor for the school board where I used to live. I was spending the afternoon in the Kindergarten to work on some fine motor skills and printing with a couple students. The day before someone had brought in several ladybugs from the yard and they were being kept in a jar in the classroom. A junior kindergarten student (age 4) was excited to show me the ladybugs. When we looked in the jar, one of the ladybugs was definitely dead. “Ms. Lamba why isn’t that one moving?!”
On my best day when I’m feeling great and I’m the best version of myself I would have said something wonderfully simple, factual and age appropriate to tell this little girl that the ladybug had died. That day wasn’t my best day. I was just getting back to work after being very sick, I had a huge term paper due at the end of the week, and didn’t feel like I had a lot of energy. I knew the conversation that this little girl deserved about living things just wasn’t in me on that day. I told her that the ladybug was sleeping and diverted her attention elsewhere. Was this the right choice? I’m still not sure.
Sometimes in a yoga class the instructor will say something like “if it’s in your practice” or “if it’s available to you extend your leg….”. What they mean is that people have different amounts of flexibility in their bodies. On some days you might be more flexible than others. Yoga instructors say things like “listen to your body”. If you over extend yourself to a pose that isn’t right for your body on that particular day you could put your health at risk. I think the same can be said for your teaching practice- you have to consider what is in your practice today.
You are very perceptive Mahima, to understand that teaching is truly about the teacher in terms of attitude and self knowledge, not just the learner. Personal check-ins before we respond to our students are so helpful in dealing with behaviour, emotional regulation, and the choices students will make throughout their day of learning.