An Ethic of Care: Four Elements
Caring teachers model caring.
Caring teachers engage in dialogue with their students
Caring teachers give their students opportunities to practice caring for others.
Carers practice confirmation.
The Courage to Teach
Novel by Parker Palmer
We teach who we are
There are so many times when we do not know what to do, and we don’t have the answer, times when we have the best lesson, something you are so proud of, and the students are not engaged.
This. is . terrifying…
What can we do about it?
Don’t be so quick to react.
Breath. Relax. Reflect. We all have certain impulses that are triggered by our personalities, emotions and situations that we experience. Take a step back before you; a short pause can be so loud.
Don’t take things personally
Quite often, almost always, when students act out, it doesn’t mean that they are bad nor that they want to be perceived this way. Quite often people in general are weighed down by social norms and expectations that shape their behavior. It is our job to be sensitive to this and to not take things personally; don’t react. Check yourself before you wreck yourself.
Meaningful Dialogue is key.
Our best role as a teacher is being completely present; to with-hold our response until we are truly present with the moment, reflecting on the dialogue you are about to create.
Teaching the life test
“Imagine if ‘teaching to the test’ meant teaching students
the skills they need to lead richer and fuller lives, the ‘life
test,’” mused one principal in our study. “Isn’t that as
important as knowing how to interpret informational text?”
-Cervone, B. & Cushman, K. (2014). Learning by heart: The power of Social-Emotional learning in secondary Schools.
Today vs Yesterday
As a peer and I reflect on our various athletic experiences during our school years, we realized the disconnect between the importance and value that we placed on our athletic in-devours and the youth that we coach today. The youth of today seem to be less motivated and devoted to their school teams; lack of attendance, motivation and the tendency to give low priority to school sports teams. Where did this disconnect stem from? and how do we as educators re-vamp our programs to the level that they once were?
This is how we do!
Accepting positive criticism
“If I accept you as you are, I will make you worse, however if I treat you as though you are what you are capable of becoming, I help you become that”
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Ingredients of a caring community
Inclusive, supportive relationships among everyone
Common goals and ideas
Routines opportunities to help/serve others
Shared responsibility and voice
Teachers are facilitators
Students feel safe and to take academic risks
Students are intrinsically motivated
Respect for individual differences
Teachers provide positive modeling
Belonging
What is belonging?
-Basic human need
-Repeated, emotionally favorable interactions with other people
-Stable context, which includes individuals concerned for each other’s good
-An emotional attachment, a feeling of safety, and a sense of being acknowledged and encouraged.
What does belonging to a classroom, or a group, mean to me?
-I feel like I am accepted and important. I feel safe to share my opinions and ideas because I know others are listening and respecting my thoughts. I am excited to be there because I am surrounded by people that care about me, and are just as excited to see me and be there as I am. You are with a group that will accept you at your worst, a place where you feel able to have a bad day. A place where I can identify with me peers. My attributes are utilized and the things I don’t possess are not highlighted.
As educators, how can we foster these feelings for our students?
First impressions are huge. The first 5 minuets of the class will set the tone for the remaining 65 minutes.
Get to know your students, ALL THEIR NAMES, at the very least. Find a common ground with one student every day. What are their backgrounds?
Celebrate diversity. Find common grounds, but accept and encourage students to be proud of their uniqueness.
Smile. Want to be there, and if you don,t, look like you want to be there.
Use some humor. Be careful. Not everyone will think you’re funny.
Being Organized: time, assignments =stability
Finding out what your students like
Give input in decisions: choices!