It is amazing how exciting this time of year is for me. Back to school I love the fact that we start with high expectations and embrace the possibilities for the year to come. Reflecting on the learning opportunities, discovering new things, making connections and uncovering the learning story of our students as we build relationships based on caring, trust and communication is the starting point for the year to come. Meeting and creating teaching teams. As we spend the first few days with out colleagues discussing school initiatives, spaces, budgets, changes and expectations the positive feeling is almost physical, the energy is electric, this is an exciting time. Next week our students will arrive. We are planning to spend time getting to know them, building relationships with them, learning how to communicate with those who have little English, ensuring each one of them feels welcome, and safe and that they belong. This is their final year in primary or elementary school, they come with big plans, ideas, hopes and expectations but they also come with fear, nerves and insecurities . . . it is ok so do their teachers. We are in this together, we will build a community together because we care, we have shared goals and that is what we are about. These students all have parents who will also have big plans, worries and hopes for their children as well. We take time to meet with our parents before school begins, not to tell them what we are going to do, but to sit and listen to them as they tell us about their child. As they talk about their strengths and areas that they worry about, the things they hope for. A window into their world, this is their child, and as teachers we are trusted with their child for the next year. So as we plan and prepare and wait; we need to remember that this class is a class of students who are all on individual learning journeys but who all have a hopes, dreams and worries that make them who they are. Together we will become a community, because together we are more and we are stronger. Comments are closed.
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AuthorTeaching in an IBPYP school; interests: student agency, technology integration, growth mindset & the continuous cycle of improvement that is the world of education, learning and being! Archives
June 2018
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