Things To Think About

I had a couple of things come up on Friday and now I have somethings to think about. I had a student draw a picture of me. And how I wish I would have kept it. I liked it, found the picture funny. It was me, with horns and standing at a door that said, "death camber," with skulls on the ground. I'm saying, "Dum kids. I hate them all." Or something to that effect. It started me thinking though. I am putting this persona out there to my students that I don't care. When I really do. After my principal talked to the student who drew this amazing likeness of me, he picked three random kids and talked to them about me. And all around it has come to I am inconstant, and some of them don't know that I care. Here it is half way through the year. And they are not sure if their teacher cares. That is a serious problem and one that needs to be fixed immediately. So, I've been thinking all weekend what I can do to let them know how much I really care. I haven't come to the perfect solution yet, I have some ideas and I am going to work on them.
As my principal and I talked about this, he came to the conclusion that I am guarded. As an adult he can see what I do and how much I care. But the students cannot. They don't know how to read the adults as well. At first I was thinking he was talking about my telling of personal information. Then I thought about it more and I have realized I am all around guarded. I don't let a lot of people in too deeply. I hold back until I am sure you are someone to be trusted. I don't show too much emotion for fear that if I do my heart will be broken. So, it is now time to let that go, at least in the classroom, these kids need to know that their teacher cares and wants them to be happy in school. It is also time for the teacher to leave outside emotions outside. And only allow what is happening at school effect what she is doing at school. I will keep you updated on all of this. It is going to be interesting to see what happens while I make these changes. Hopefully they will be good.