I know why I came into this profession. The reason is so clear to me. It has very little to do with “school” and so much to do with people, connection, and helping our youth. It has been the reason since the beginning and it continues to be all that drives me. Remembering this, especially at this stage in the program (about to start my practicum and working so many hours just to try to get it all done), it is what keeps me going. It reminds me to take a breath and allows me to push through. But, all in the same instance that I day dream about the wonderful children I will get to teach in my life, I remember all of the realities that teachers and schools face everyday. High burnout, high turn-over, over-sized classrooms, insufficient resources. I think of all these things and I wonder – Is as simple as the articles make it sound sometimes?
As I explore my inquiry question and read all of these articles about how to create better relationships, connect with our students, and create a cohesive school community, I am inspired and all at the same time I question the ease with which one can really do all of the things these wonderful things! How do we create a curriculum that supports social-emotional learning? Fund and participate in more after-school events? Get a whole school on board for changing the way they understand their students and incorporate a new community building program? It is a mountain of work and sometimes it makes me overwhelmed thinking about it. Don’t get me wrong, the research isn’t lying. Student-teacher relationships ARE the crux of what it takes to inspire our youth, but its easier said then done. It is going to take the kind of work they don’t always talk about in the research because not everyone is going to be easy to get through to. Sometimes students might hate us. Sometimes we will probably cry when we get home.
So, I read this research now with a, sort of… new understanding. And that is that not all of these strategies will work, and a lot of them may totally flop, but as long as I keep trying, as long as I remember why I started, I will be doing a pretty good job.
