1. & 13. You must be intentional about supporting challenging students
This We Believe (AMLE, 2015)
* Educators value young adolescents and are prepared to teach them. Value Young Adolescents
* Comprehensive guidance and support services meet the needs of young adolescents. Guidance Services
A few years ago, I was teaching ninth graders in the inner city. Two of my boys would come in every morning, late and loud. It was difficult to maintain order in the classroom. I decided to catch them at the door before they came in and have a conversation with them. The conversation may have lasted 20 seconds. “How are you today?” “Is there anything you need?” “Did you have breakfast?” “I am glad you are here. This is what we are doing.”
What I found was these two boys immediately stopped being loud and late. What I believe is that they were desperate for attention. One child lived with his aunt and uncle. The other was the oldest of three boys and his father had left them the summer before school started. I am thinking that their misbehavior was a cry to know that someone cared.
Middle school students want to be accepted, want to be noticed, want to know they matter.
Middle school students want to be accepted, want to be noticed, want to know they matter.
This week I noticed that I have several students who also need to be noticed, need to be cared about, and need to know that they are accepted. I started the same strategy with them this morning. I think they were surprised. However, I noticed immediately that by having the conversation about school, about sports, about how I appreciate them, their demeanor changed; their spirit changed. They participated well. I will keep you posted.
Advice
1) Get to know your students. Know what they love to do; know their interests; know their strengths.
2) Talk to them. They crave attention; they want to engage in conversations with adults. They want to know that someone cares about them.
3) Let them know you care about them. Display their work on your walls. They need to see the good work they are doing!
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