Hey look at me!

Honestly, don't all of us just want to be noticed, loved, cared about and made to feel special once in awhile. I notice this with kids at school. I started reading poems to a student today at school.  The student brought me over a book of poetry and I couldn't help but start reading the poetry aloud. Before long, I was surrounded by a group of students. I tend to sometimes give students nicknames at school.  This year I've had students come up to me and ask me to make up a nickname for them. I really think we are all alike pretty much at any age, we want to feel like we matter to someone. I think sometimes students who have the most problems at school for some reason have the feeling that nobody cares for them. I try to create a family atmosphere in my classroom.  A classroom where everyone has a feeling of belonging, but also a sense of responsibility to the entire group. The older I've become the more I feel that kids perform better for someone that they sense cares about them. They accept discipline and lectures better and are more willing to do the right thing to try and please you. Sometimes I just have to stop and remind myself to let the kids know I care. A teacher can get so caught up in teaching, testing, grading papers and test scores that we forget that these are human beings that need nourishment for their hearts and souls also. A child is just not a test score or a grade on a report card, and sometimes we all have to remember this. They are like us. They are trying to get our attention and say "Hey, look at me."  I have a heart, soul, and mind. I want to be notice, loved, cared about and made to feel special once in awhile. What a great idea and goal to strive for during the month of Valentine's Day. Listen for those little voices saying "Hey look at me".