"Every person you meet, every single one, is looking for their story. There are no exceptions. You become part of it by how you treat them." -Unknown
I saw this quote awhile ago and every time I read it...it just gives me chills. I think it gives me chills because I'm a teacher and I see a ton of students everyday..all of them who are looking for their story. Students who are trying to figure out the person they want to be and where they fit best.
The younger students are not quite the sole authors of their stories yet...they still have many people writing their stories for them, like parents or other adults who are looking out for their best interests. Then there are the older students, who no longer need their parents to be co-authors anymore and they are trying to write their own story. I remember being there.....trying to figure out if I wanted the story that I knew from my family or if I wanted to write a totally new chapter.
I think teachers have a unique opportunity because we have the ability to influence our student's stories. We can become main characters in their story...people who have influence on them and people they trust. We can become secondary characters meaning someone who is not essential to the story but contributes. We may not even make the cut....we could become the characters that didn't make the story. Some may even become the villains (the people they despise). Today during my half day PD, we were learning about creating a culture of respect in schools. We listened to alot of stories and we even got to tell a little bit of our own with a partner. It was amazing. BUT it got me thinking....How many teachers are main characters? How many are secondary characters? And how many people sitting in this room right now just didn't make the cut in the story of a young person?
Sometimes I think that teachers can forget how their actions and words can drastically change the plot in someone's story. Simple actions....like smiles and simple words like, "I'm glad you are here today."
I'm only a 4th year teacher...but here is my advice:
1. Provide students with tons of illustrations for their story...pictures of what their world can look like. Ask them: What kind of pictures do you want in your story?
2. Give them opportunities to edit and revise their story many times. That is why we have erasers on pencils. Let them edit their stories when things don't go as planned.
3. Try to become a main character in someone's story. Even a secondary character is better than not making the cut. How do you do this? Inspire students through your actions and words. Show them that you care. Cheer for the student. Believe in them. Let them know when they do something amazing. Be honest with them. Help them. Treat them well.
I saw this quote awhile ago and every time I read it...it just gives me chills. I think it gives me chills because I'm a teacher and I see a ton of students everyday..all of them who are looking for their story. Students who are trying to figure out the person they want to be and where they fit best.
The younger students are not quite the sole authors of their stories yet...they still have many people writing their stories for them, like parents or other adults who are looking out for their best interests. Then there are the older students, who no longer need their parents to be co-authors anymore and they are trying to write their own story. I remember being there.....trying to figure out if I wanted the story that I knew from my family or if I wanted to write a totally new chapter.
I think teachers have a unique opportunity because we have the ability to influence our student's stories. We can become main characters in their story...people who have influence on them and people they trust. We can become secondary characters meaning someone who is not essential to the story but contributes. We may not even make the cut....we could become the characters that didn't make the story. Some may even become the villains (the people they despise). Today during my half day PD, we were learning about creating a culture of respect in schools. We listened to alot of stories and we even got to tell a little bit of our own with a partner. It was amazing. BUT it got me thinking....How many teachers are main characters? How many are secondary characters? And how many people sitting in this room right now just didn't make the cut in the story of a young person?
Sometimes I think that teachers can forget how their actions and words can drastically change the plot in someone's story. Simple actions....like smiles and simple words like, "I'm glad you are here today."
I'm only a 4th year teacher...but here is my advice:
1. Provide students with tons of illustrations for their story...pictures of what their world can look like. Ask them: What kind of pictures do you want in your story?
2. Give them opportunities to edit and revise their story many times. That is why we have erasers on pencils. Let them edit their stories when things don't go as planned.
3. Try to become a main character in someone's story. Even a secondary character is better than not making the cut. How do you do this? Inspire students through your actions and words. Show them that you care. Cheer for the student. Believe in them. Let them know when they do something amazing. Be honest with them. Help them. Treat them well.