Gaining Energy from Your Students
Some of the most academically successful educators understand how to correctly use the energy of students to propel learning. The learning process is amazing if you find time to see it. Are you so stressed/focused with students reaching benchmarks, milestones and reaching objectives that you can’t enjoy the learning process? After all the preparation, assessments, new strategies, training and professional development what’s left? What do you have left in the tank? Take time to enjoy your students even the most challenging behaviors. If not, you may become unhappy, irritated, unmotivated and not productive. This workshop requires educators to implement new or improve current strategies in their setting. A district, school and teachers have to find the right balance for their environment.
Focused Areas:
- Flow of Energy
- Where is your energy going
- Kids absorb or deflect
- Students are constant recipients
- Teachers are expending too much energy
Reciprocal Energy Flow
- Stop giving your energy to students
- Feed off their energy
- Intentionally connecting and enjoying your students
- Take time to have fun with kids
Gaining Energy from Your Students
Many years ago, I had a group of students who simply did not want to interact with each other or with me. Because of the lack of interAction I found that I was mentally and emotionally drained each day. I became very aware of how much I feed off of my students’ energy.
Usually, my class is very open to conversation – a great deal of back and forth discussion. Often there are several students that seem to be the true energy force in the class – if one of those students is absent, the class has a completely different dynamic.
I am very aware of the energy that each student brings to the class community. Some students are the stabilizers…others get the energy going…some students are quiet, but bring a certain special quality – usually the quiet ones make remarkable observations.
I think I bring energy to my class..I think teachers set the tone. But it’s my students that sustain it.
It can be a difficult at times to truly connect to all of your students, and allow for time to have fun. I believe in this whole-heartedly, but I will be the first to admit that with 112 students in and out of my door each day and only 50 minutes with each class, this can be very challenging. Couple that with the fact that administration doesn’t always see the importance in this, and it can be almost impossible. With demands for improved test scores, it can be easy to fall into smaller-picture thinking. I do try to find small moments throughout each class period to connect with my students and build those relationships. I believe that creates an environment of trust and eventually will lead to more success in the classroom.