02/27/2020
"The students who challenge teachers the most, need them the most".
Heidi McDonald
It is REALLY easy to teach students who come to school excited about learning. Teachers love to work with students who have grown up in homes with families that are invested in their child's learning and have families that support their child's learning. Teaching these students is "easy, breezy".
However, some of the best lessons that I have learned as a teacher are lessons that I have learned while working with my most difficult and challenging students. I know, I know, you are probably saying, "Yeah, right!"
Working with students that are difficult and challenging, helps me to hone my teaching strategies and methods. I consistently have to research novel techniques and strategies to make learning inviting, interesting, and engaging. When I am able to capture the attention and interest of one of my more challenging kiddos, I feel like a "Rock Star" . . . Lizzo doesn't have anything on me. LOL
While using novel teaching strategies and techniques to ignite a student's love of learning is important, by far the MOST important strategy that will get challenging students to "buy" into learning is developing and cultivating a genuine and caring relationship with these students. "Students don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care."
