“Transformational learning occurs when students sense that they have moved their teachers—through their efforts and accomplishments and through their deep engagement with the learning process. Teaching and learning constitute a two-way street: When they work optimally, all parties are transformed. In the school counseling arena, Sharon Ravitch and I have called this process ‘reciprocal transformation,’ based on our repeated observation of the extent to which counselors are affected by the students they counsel. In the athletic arena, examples of reciprocal transformation are readily apparent in the joyous victory celebrations and tearful expressions of defeat shared by coaches and players. Whatever the school-related context, adolescent identity will be profoundly influenced by those relationships in which it is clear to the student that she matters to the adult as much as the adult matters to her.” (Nakkula, 2015; 19-20)
This concept of “reciprocal transformation” demonstrates a willingness on behalf of the educator to be her vulnerable self in the classroom. The openheartedness that the best teachers portray by not being overly focused on helping their students, but by tuning into their own vibrations and living from a place of alignment. As in the chapter, “Who Wins and Who Loses?” where Travis mentioned loving his 5th-grade teacher, because simply, “he cared about me.” This led me to reflect on a student I’ve been working with at my student teaching placement. On Tuesday, I caught her in what seemed to be a mixture of a partial truth/misunderstanding. After reading about the impact a caring educator can have on his/her students, I decided to try correcting this student less and focus on building a rapport with her. Today, I spent the day looking for moments where we could connect. Something shifted in me. I no longer wanted to focus on the things she wasn’t doing quite right. Instead my aim was to let our relationship be a sort of practice where I brought out my most positive self… not for her as much as for me.