How Will They Know You Care?

Seventeen-year-old Audrey volunteered at Horizons in San Francisco this summer. Horizons, a program for high-need elementary school children, includes an academic program, swimming lessons and enrichment activities. Audrey aspires to be a teacher but has no training in pedagogy. Nor does she have an understanding of child development. She hasn’t read about learning theory.  But Audrey has a beautiful smile. She smiled at all of the children. And she helps. Audrey cheered when one of the children jumped into the pool for the first time…and the second time… And she listens. Audrey developed relationships with every one of the children. That is what teaching is all about – forming relationships.

Audrey had to travel to a family function out of town so she wasn’t able to be with the Horizon students for their last day. One little boy found out and informed Audrey that she couldn’t go. He explained that he was going to get on the airplane and take her by the hand and walk her back into the airport. Then she would miss her flight and be with the students for the last day of the program. In six weeks, Audrey mastered the most important aspect of teaching – she let the children know SHE CARED as she developed her relationships with each one!

As a teacher educator and a supervisor of student teachers I have worked with hundreds of preservice teachers. I am fortunate to work with them throughout their yearlong internship. As each group begins their induction year of teaching I begin again with a new batch of neophytes. If I could gather those first-year teachers together right before they began their first day with their own classes I would give them a single piece of advice.

On your first day of school you only have to do one thing – let the children know that you care. Let them know you care about them as students. Let them know you care about them as people. 

All people want to be treated with kindness and respect. Children need to know their teacher cares about them. Caring manifests itself in many ways:

Smiling at the children

Listening to the children

Respecting the children

Trusting the children

Believing the children

Keeping the children safe

Forgiving the children

How will you let your children know you care?