“Please be compassionate, allowing us as your wants as you honor our needs” (Smith & Lambert, 2008)

Teaching isn’t a profession that can only be done one way, but it can be done incorrectly. It truly all comes down to our outlook on ourselves and on our students. Our mentalities of our students is part of our invisible contract… we are there to teach them and support them no matter what it takes, and we will be tested. When a student acts out or misbehaves we still must assume the best. This may be easier said than done, but assuming that the student “just doesn’t care” or “just won’t get it anyways” shouldn’t ever be our method to handling behavioral challenges in the classroom.
Care about your students, don’t let them fly under the radar, and be aware of their needs.
I won’t accept anything less than allowing my passion for teaching to be the energy that fuels my efficacy and communication with my students. There is a lot I have had to keep in mind and remind myself of this semester of student teaching, and was faced with more clarity than I expected.