Teaching can be a busy profession. There is always so much to do and plan. With such a crowded curriculum, it is often true that most of our teacher talk is spent trying to impart content. But we can never provide the students with all the knowledge they will ever need to navigate their world. However, we can give them the skills and confidence to chart their own course. Often this is not found in the mechanics of a lesson plan but rather is the simple words of conversation.
Recently I have had two separate conversations with parents that have made me reflect on the impact my words can have on students. One mother approached me to thank me for making her child feel valued in the classroom. Because greeting the students and welcoming them is now an integral part of my teaching practice, I had to think back on the specific event. It was when we met the new Yr7 classes for the first time. A colleague and I greeted the waiting group, where I asked ‘Who is in Mr X class? Who is in mine?’ I then responded with ‘Excellent, my mate, Jonno (not his real name) is in mine!’ I never thought anything more about this until Jonno’s mother approached me and thanked me. That child hadn’t had the easiest start to the year while transitioning from Junior into Secondary school. Apparently, my comment had made him feel important in front of his peers. In fact, it had been the first thing that Jonno told his mother when he got in the car that afternoon. I was grateful that Jonno’s mother had taken the time to reinforce my practice as often we can only hope that we are making a difference to each student.
The second conversation that was bought to my attention was when I asked a Year 11 girl how her Netball trials had gone the previous day. She was a girl that I had coached when she was a lot younger. Her Mum explained that she was really stressed about making the team and was apparently grateful for the conversation I had with her in regard to this. Again something that was seemingly so simple, cost nothing and took little time had a significant impact on a student.
Both of these conversations are no doubt similar to hundreds or thousands of incidental dialogues teachers and students have each week and I’m certain they are conversations that happen because of the very nature of being educators. However, reflection on these conversations has most definitely made me more conscious of my words and the last couple of weeks I have made even more effort than usual to be a friendly face or ask about a student’s sport, holidays, families, pets or any other interests they may have. I have been even more mindful of the child sitting alone or the child who doesn’t look happy and I’ve made an conscious effort to strike up a conversation with them. To know that such a small gesture could make a difference to a student’s day is worth it.
Of course, there are benefits for us as teachers as well. Obviously, the recognition from parents when they relay those conversations is much appreciated, but it also helps develop relationships with the students. Understanding them in and out of school, earning their trust and respect - All these things help us to provide a meaningful learning experience for that student in the classroom. I try, each day, to be the teacher who is positive, interested and enthusiastic - taking the time to chat with my students. But more importantly, taking the time to listen.
