Transcript

Welcome to BLaST the Airwaves with BLaST Intermediate Unit 17. Here at BLaST Intermediate Unit 17, we strive to transform lives and communities through educational services. On this podcast, we will provide you with educational solutions for all, no matter the learning environment. So teachers, administrators, caregivers, what are you waiting for?

What would happen if we started questioning, what if? What if we had a positive perspective on education? What if we flip the switch on education? What if we were the solution?

Hello listeners. We are excited to BLaST the Airwaves with you today and provide educational solutions for all. My name is Rebecca Gibboney, and I am the Curriculum and Online Learning Specialist here at BLaST Intermediate Unit 17. I am thrilled to welcome you to episode nine of BLaST the Airwaves.

During this episode, we will discuss the importance of the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ in building positive teacher-student relationships. Teaching is so much more than the content; and, we also know that we will never get to the content if we first don’t build an authentic relationship with our students. So, what are we waiting for? Let’s BLaST the Airwaves…

It was my first day of college and I was petrified because I was walking into my first ever college Spanish course. And…it was ALL in Spanish. Of course, being the Type A/anxious person I am, I read my professor’s bio the night before and saw “Yale University” grad. Needless to say, I was intimidated. Her petite-self stood about 5-4, fragile yet strong. Her lips colored pink and her breath smelled of her morning coffee brew. The language flowed out of her while I still was stuck at hola, or was I still stuck at Yale grad? I’m not quite sure. All I kept thinking was how will I ever survive this class?

Yet four years later, heck even eleven years later, little did I know this woman, my professor, would change my life, my professional path, my personal path, forever. And, it all started, with that phrase that had me stuck from the beginning, “Hola”.

While I may have entered my college classroom intimidated, I left feeling safe. I left feeling empowered. I left feeling at home. My college professor taught me the importance of a hard work ethic. She instilled in me a passion for the world around me. She is the true reason why I have fell in love with being a lifelong learner.

All because she was honest. She challenged me beyond my own expectations and she accepted me with open arms.

And, she still does that, those same things, to this day.

Friends, the importance of the teacher-student relationship goes beyond the classroom. It goes deeper than that. Those relationships transfer to life. We all have that teacher. That teacher that changes your trajectory and pushes you beyond your limits, out of your comfort zone. Think about him. Think about her.

They are why you are here and who you are today. Think about those three to five qualities that they instilled in you. How they treated you? What they did, specifically, to make you feel loved and accepted as you are? Really think about it. Take yourself back. Paint that picture and visualize that teacher.

Now, press pause. Go ahead, do it. Press pause. Write a quick thank you note, a text, or an email. Be specific. Authentic. Press send. Make sure to press play again to come back to the podcast. But, share some gratitude for who they helped you become.

My challenge for you today and every day is that you strive to create those teacher-student relationships that are positive and productive. It does not matter if you are face-to-face or remote, relationships can be formed. Think about Mr. Rogers, Ms. Frizzle, Sesame Street. I do not know if you have seen that image floating around on social media that I have, but man is it true and it was like that a-ha moment for me when things just seemed impossible. We have all learned life lessons from Mr. Rogers, Ms. Frizzle, and Sesame Street. Kids today still are learning from them. We have formed bonds and friendships. Yet, how many of us have actually met them? Heavens, Ms. Frizzle is a cartoon character!! However, they have done it. They have somehow found the way to build a positive and productive relationship with each and every one of us.

If they can do it, we can do it. But how? It takes time, team, it takes time; but, Hattie, Fisher, and Frey highlight different elements of a student-teacher relationship that are essential:

Teacher empathy – how do students seek connections with you?
As a college professor, my teacher had to hold office hours, but these hours were not just for academic work. Often times, I would stop down to catch up. You may not be a college professor and it may not be ‘expected’ of you, but have you considered holding virtual office hours?

Unconditional positive regard – how will your students know you care about them as people?
I played basketball in college and my professor and her husband were always there. Same seat, same row, same time, same day. I knew they cared about me outside the classroom. And, when it came time to discuss studying abroad, my professor understood the importance of basketball in my life. We had to find the balance and she made sure of it. What do you do to make sure your students’ interests are recognized? Interest surveys? Ask about their concert or sporting event the night before? Make it personal.

Genuineness – how will your students know you care about yourself as a professional and, truly, what you do?
My professor opened my eyes to a whole new world. Once a small-town girl (and I guess I truly still am), I never knew what really existed beyond my “bubble”. I learned about adventure. I learned about the unknown. I learned about endless possibilities. All because I opened myself up to the new opportunities that she exposed me to. What opportunities do you expose your students to, so that they feel like the world is at their fingertips? In my classroom, my go-to was always Skype in the Classroom. Talk about engaging your students!

Nondirectivity – How will your students know you hold their abilities in high regard?
My professor’s light was always on when I left the library each night; and, some of those nights were pretty late. She worked tirelessly. Yet, she still managed to find time to stop and meet with me regarding my latest paper, my colloquium, my pronunciation. Are we too busy, as educators, especially during these times, to stop and be truly present for our students who are standing right in front of us? Take the time today to be really intentional about being present for your students. And then, try it tomorrow and the next day and the next day. Until, it’s a habit.

Encouragement of critical thinking and moving away from traditional memory emphasis
Do you want to know how I know this professor has left a long-lasting impression on me (I mean, besides the fact that I still have dinner with her on a regular basis)? It’s because I genuinely cared and still care for her. I did quality work on assignments because I wanted to do well. I wanted to impress her. She made me change my perspective. She made me question my own beliefs. She made me think about the world around me. Have you changed a student’s perspective?

I’m not saying that you will change every student’s perspective. Nor am I saying you will have the time every day to answer every student’s question; but, I am trying to make you think about how you build a positive student-teacher relationship and why you build a positive student-teacher relationship. You cannot get to the learning part of your job without first setting the foundation. It does not matter if the student is behind a screen or right in front of you.

A relationship is a relationship.

You have the power. You have the power to silence your colleague as they begin to tell you how this particular student acted in their class last year. You have the power to be that student’s constant. You have the power to change their perspective, open their eyes to the world at their fingertips. You have that power; no one else!

So the question is, how are you going to do it? I walked into that classroom, that college classroom, intimidated but I left inspired. How are you going to leave your students?

Feeling overbooked? Don’t miss out on BLaST Intermediate Unit 17’s asynchronous book study that will focus on building a relationship with yourself and your peers, while traveling on a guided journey of self-exploration. There are four books in the series, but you don’t need to join them all. The first one, Find Your Why by Simon Sinek, David Mead and Peter Docker begins October 5th.

For more information on how you can join the overbooked community, visit our website: www.iu17.org/professional-learning/.

We would like to thank you for blasting the airwaves with us today. If you like the show, please subscribe or leave a review. If you want to know more, check out www.iu17.org for further resources and show notes. As always, we want to thank you for what you do every single day. Remember, keep shining. We’ll be back next episode to provide you another educational solution for all, as we continue to transform lives and communities through educational services.

Additional/Suggested resources mentioned in the episode:

The Distance Learning Playbook by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and John Hattie

Skype in the Classroom

 BLaST Intermediate Unit 17 – www.iu17.org 

Professional Learning Opportunities at BLaST IU 17 – https://www.iu17.org/professional-learning/ 

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