A co-worker who is attending graduate school recently asked if he could interview me for one of his class projects. The first question was about cheating. Not a difficult one. The rest, however, really got me thinking. One in particular is still stuck in my mind.
He asked me what is the most important part of each school day. Whoa. How can I name just one part? I decided to look at it backwards and eliminate the unimportant parts first. But wait, I couldn't really eliminate anything either. Assessment is important, planning is important, teaching is important.
I finally realized that it is all about relationships. The most important time in my day is the time I spend building relationships with my students. This is during class, before school, at after school activities, etc. Long after students forget about split infinitives, they will remember what kind of relationship I had with them. This doesn't mean I become their best friend. It means I take an interest in their lives, let them know I care, and let them know I will treat them fairly.
Relationships are key in education. A great relationship can make or break classroom management. A great relationship can get students to give their best. A great relationship can encourage students to become lifelong learners.
I actually just had an interesting conversation with my students. It came up in conversation that I am an introvert; they were shocked. I told them that in general I don't like people, I hate talking on the phone, and I would stay home all the time if I could. They asked why I teach. I told them that students are different; I enjoy talking with them. Although this delved a bit into my personal life, they see that I am a real person. It was a waste of possibly 90 seconds of class, but it allowed me to create a bond with some who also see themselves that way. Several said, "Me too, Mrs. South!" This was a priceless moment and possibly the most important part of my day today.
