“Educators understand and apply knowledge of student growth and development.”
This standard means that we understand all stages of development of the children and how they all grow at different rates. We can also apply this knowledge to how we will impart their education.
It is probably one of the toughest things in education. As mentioned, no student develops at the same rate, but they are all on the same growth and development journey. To me, they all ultimately need similar counselling and guidance. These are some of the hardest questions for teachers and parents alike:
- How do I support my students and help them grow as humans?
- Does tough academics mean not acknowledging the way they feel about them?
- How do I acknowledge their feelings, validate their emotions, AND instruct them to build character, initiative, resilience, confidence, etc?
This list could be the longest ever!! Educators have a million and one things to do and the rollercoaster of emotions that students go through every day. It is in this room of 30 tiny ticking “bombs” that we have to navigate through and also impart an education. I encourage us all to always try to put ourselves in the shoes of others. This goes for a teacher to understand where students could be at that moment, for students to know that sometimes it is about the best of others and not personal, for parents to know that we are navigating hard waters, and for teachers to know that parents only want the best for their children; so do teachers! We love our profession and it brings me great joy to see students finally get it! you know the big lightbulb face? EUREKA!! moment. “aha!!!”.