BRI Teacher Council Member Emphasizes Connecting With Students

<p><em>By Dr. Justin Weindorf</em></p>

<p>Since I have been teaching for 20 years, I have some time to reflect on what my career means to me so far. It is hard to put everything that happened into words, since I taught in two states and six schools.</p>

<p>When I stop to think about the beginning and how I got here, I go back to the first several years of teaching, what really hooked me into this profession, and what I call a teaching success. I was new to teaching and I heard some teachers left the profession after three years or so. I was about that point in my career and everything was going just fine, but I did not really have a defining moment in teaching.</p>

<p>I met a young man in my class who would be considered a “tough kid,” and who other students liked but were often intimidated by. I knew this student could cause some problems, and I thought I better make some type of connection before this turns out bad. He had a big personality and I did not want to butt heads with him, so I tried to make some helpful connections.</p>

<p>I tried to treat him with respect and not draw too much attention to him or lose my classroom to his presence. After several weeks, I noticed he was doing better and while he still had a big personality that I had to contend with, he also settled into the class. What really changed things in my mind, as the semester went on, was that it was a normal routine of school days and I thought nothing of it. He was just having a normal school year, so I thought, but apparently something was happening.</p>

<p>One day after school, I was grading papers and my door was open, and he popped his head into my room. I was a little nervous, because he was also a football player and bigger than me. I thought, “What if he is mad and what am I going to do if he tries to do something to me?” However, he had been crying and I asked if everything was okay. He said he never received an “A” grade in a class before. I asked if he meant in U.S. History class, but he said not in any class.</p>

<p>I told him I was proud of his work and he earned that grade. It was something I won’t forget. It made me see the other side of what students see and want in a teacher. It made me realize I needed patience, kindness, understanding, and not just tell kids information or just show them how much I knew about content.</p>

<p>So here I am, 20 years later, and the same rules still apply. I think it is something I have to remind myself every so often, because it is easy to get caught up in the day-to-day duties of teaching. It can be easy to forget we are teaching people, not just numbers or data, and I have to stop and think about what got me to where I am today. It’s all about relationships and helping students reach their goals.</p>

<p><em>Dr. Justin Weindorf teaches social studies at Robertsdale High School in Robertsdale, AL. He is also a member of the Bill of Rights Institute National Teacher Council.</em></p>