My name is Susan and I am currently in my fifteenth year of teaching and am dedicated to pursuing inquiry based teaching and learning techniques.
So, what have I learned today?
I have learned that relationships are at the heart of everything that we do. The relationships between a school staff and their administrators set the whole tone of the building. Sharing a vision and pedagogical stance among a staff creates an amazing unity in which colleagues support each other on their individual learning journeys. The relationships that we build with the parents and our communities also support us in our teaching journeys. We learn from and with each other. Inquiry based learning is really helping me to make more connections with our community and seek experts beyond the walls of our school.
The parents of our students are vital to our success as they share their most precious resources with us every day. I am working on understanding ways that I can honour the stories that they carry with them while also sharing my vision of education in the twenty-first century. The children that are entrusted to us each day build unique relationships with each other, as well as with each teacher, administrator and adult in the school building. Creating strong relationships with the students is a key to student success. Modeling how to manage healthy relationships, providing a safe space for each child to express him/herself, and nurturing students as they build new relationships are tasks that we undertake every day.
As the teacher-librarian at a brand new school I have had an opportunity this year to work on building relationships with the entire school population. Not only are we bringing together a whole new group of students, but also a new staff and a new vision. I have found that my most effective relationship-building tool has been George…a Cabbage Patch Kid. George is truly a part of our learning community. Every student and staff member has come to know George and his silly ways. The students in our building have quickly become united through knowing him and his quirky personality. Everyone knows his favourite colour, favourite food, and favourite shape! George is a non-threatening character that our students truly love. He offers interesting ideas to conversations as well as smiles when times are tough.
My role in all of this is to be the adult in the building who will take on the “crazy” label and play with the students through George. The results are worth it! The neediest students are the ones who seek him out most often. He can curl up with a student and listen to a story, offer a hug or a kiss, or struggle alongside students as they learn. He can make mistakes and have a student help him to understand. He can also have good days and bad days and learn to work through his feelings just like the rest of us.
If I were to offer any piece of advice on building relationships within a classroom or a school, I would say, “Find your George” and have some fun!
Follow George on Twitter @cpkgeorge
Peel21st Project 188 