Hello again,
We are up to Promise #8 in the Amazing Teacher Pledge.
Again, the Amazing Teacher Pledge is a set of 10 promises that I believe all amazing teachers make.
I believe that if teachers can keep these promises, they too can be that amazing teacher that our students deserve.
To recap, here are the first seven promises:
1. I promise to create amazing lesson plans.
2. I promise to keep learning.
3. I promise to communicate with parents.
4. I promise to be my students’ source of praise.
5. I promise to not “lose it” in the classroom.
6. I promise to avoid negative teachers.
7. I promise to be in a good mood every day.
Here is promise #8:
I promise to give students a fresh start every day.
“I have a feeling you have a great tomorrow in you.” – Rebecca Mieliwocki, 2012 National Teacher of the Year
We all have bad days.
These are days when we just don’t make the right decisions, and we have to deal with the consequences. We tell ourselves, “Tomorrow is a new day.”
We start the next day with a positive attitude, expecting the best.
We don’t appreciate it if we are reminded of our mistakes from the previous day.
Students are no different.
They make poor decisions, and there are consequences.
What amazing teachers do, however, is start the next day as if the previous poor decisions never happened.
Amazing teachers see a better, more successful tomorrow for that student.
Amazing teachers don’t hold grudges.
Sometimes a student can push that ONE button, and a teacher will subconsciously move the student over to his/her bad list.
From that moment on, there is little hope for that student ever having a meaningful connection with the teacher, the subject or the class.
I have heard teachers say, “I don’t like that student. The class would run so much better if he was out of my class.” Amazing teachers never get to this point, because although that student may have been a monster on Monday, Tuesday is a new day.
I would encourage teachers to have a one-on-one conversation with that student on the day he/she made poor choices. Let that student know that you still believe in him/her, and that tomorrow everybody starts fresh.
We can have such an incredible impact on a student if we let them know that even though today was not a good day, we believe that tomorrow will be great. If students see that we believe this, then they will begin to believe it as well.
I know you’re thinking of that student in your class who is making poor choices. I have one in mind as well. The next time he makes a bad decision, I’m going to give him his consequence, and then I’m going to share Rebecca’s quote, “I have a feeling you have a great tomorrow in you.”
We all need a fresh start sometimes. Our students need them too.
What do you think? I would love to hear your thoughts about this promise. Please use the comment box below.
Until next time,
Be amazing!
Sam
Don’t forget to take the Amazing Teacher Pledge! Click Here to be Amazing!
