08/08/2022
"I believe teachers are creators of culture. We’re not just managers of classrooms or students; we’re builders and curators of our classroom cultures. As the school year begins and students fill my room, I’m building our days together on one conviction: Every time a student walks into my class, for those 55 minutes of their day, I’m responsible for how they feel.
Every year, I tell my students, 'In everything we do in my classroom, from lessons to community activities, this is how I want you to feel: connected, empowered, valued, respected, challenged and supported.' I call this list my 'self-standards,' and I really want the kids to take them to heart. This is why I make student feedback forms an important part of my practice. From the very first week, I hand them out on occasion, just to check how everyone is feeling. And I make sure they’re always available for kids to fill out, whenever they want to let me know how they’re doing in my class.
As teachers, we can’t control everything that happens outside our classrooms, or even inside – a year in my class is a learning experience for everyone, certainly including myself! But I think and believe and live that we are responsible for how we make our kids feel. If we strive to build a classroom culture that values and respects their feelings, we’ll build a classroom culture that empowers and supports their growth." —Teacher Monte Syrie
