Classroom Relationships
I've blogged several times about building relationships in the classroom, relationships between children and me as well as relationships among children in the classroom. I would say my top 3 things about building relationships--
- Names - know them and use them
- Listening - nothing shows that you care more than listening (really listening) to someone
- Acceptance - each child is an individual and I must accept him for who he is and how he learns
Here are some past posts that elaborate on these points--
It's All About Relationships - "Beyond what the walls in my room look like, beyond whatever items I put on tables and the floor - the relationships we build help each of us (me included) to learn more about the world and our place in it."
Do You Care? - "Sometimes I think the social and emotional learning environment is almost more important than the physical environment."
Individual Connection - "They grow and learn in similar ways, but each one is different and unique. And my relationship with each one must be built in a unique way, helping that child connect and learn and grow in his way."
Make Me Feel Important - "All children in our classes want to feel valued, that someone cares about them."
Colleague Relationships
Often I say that the best experts to learn from are the ones teaching every day. Through blogging, the number of relationships with experts I know has increased exponentially. Every day I learn something new or see something that I never would have thought about on my own. If you are looking for more inspiration or online relationship, please check out my page of great blogs. (I have recently discovered some new blogs and haven't had a chance to add them yet. If you see a favorite missing, let me know.)
And I want to thank you for visiting and reading my blog. I appreciate the time you give to peruse my words and thoughts. I hope this day is filled with people you love.
