With Valentine’s Day approaching, the love that is in our classrooms has been amazing. But let’s not forget the power and importance of loving our students as we move past this holiday into the rest of the year!
In education, we are so easily distracted by programs and activities that it becomes easy to forget our main thing. We also often don’t agree with what the main thing is for our students which distracts us even further.
I hate to break it to you, but ALL of our students have needs! At-risk students, high-achieving students, right-in-the-middle average students, my kids, your own kids… When you see students that have needs, what is the #1 thing that would help? Love them.
When students feel that their teacher and other school staff love them and want them to be there, they will be more comfortable, work harder, and ultimately themselves want to be in school.
The Greeks called this selfless love for all of those around us agape. Agape was later translated into the Latin caritas and is the origin word of “charity.” This selfless love is a great reminder about our role in the classroom.
It’s not about us, it’s about our students. It’s about making them feel like they are one of our own, safe, and that their needs will be taken care of at all times. It doesn’t matter where they come from or what they do, but what separates educators is our selfless love of our student no matter what!
(Main Thing Alert)
If you don’t do anything else in your classroom, make sure you love your students every single day!
Keep working hard and using the programs you either have to use or want to use in your classrooms, but don’t forget the main thing.
Don’t sacrifice the student for the instructional program.
Don’t sacrifice the student for the amount of tasks they have to get done in that period.
Don’t sacrifice the student for the behavior plan or behavioral expectations.
Don’t sacrifice the student for your idea of what your classroom should look like.
Even after Valentine’s Day is passed and the cards and candy are put in the trash, don’t forget the power of love for your students! It will remind you what is most important and will help you make decisions on how to work with your students. If you really love your students, you’ll do anything and everything to help them be successful.
The Beatles had it right when they wrote “All You Need Is Love” almost 50 years ago and it still applies. Does this match your educational philosophy? What’s your main thing?
“Love, love, love…Love, love, love…Love, love, love
There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done, Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung, Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game, It’s easy
Nothing you can make that can’t be made, No one you can save that can’t be saved, Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time, It’s easy
All you need is love…All you need is love…All you need is love, love…Love is all you need
Love, love, love…Love, love, love…Love, love, love
All you need is love…All you need is love…All you need is love, love…Love is all you need
Nothing you can know that isn’t known, Nothing you can see that isn’t shown, Nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be, It’s easy
All you need is love…All you need is love…All you need is love, love…Love is all you need
…”
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