.png)
I've had many memorable moments in the classroom. However, there is one that stands out in my mind as particularly special.
It was my third week teaching a high school English class, and I was struggling to connect with some of my students. There was a group of four boys who always sat in the back of the class, whispering and giggling amongst themselves. No matter how engaging my lessons were or how much I tried to involve them in class discussions, they seemed disinterested and unengaged.
One day, I decided to try a new approach. I knew that these boys were interested in sports, so I decided to use that as a way to connect with them. I asked if any of them had seen the latest basketball game, and to my surprise, one of them started to engage in conversation with me. We talked about the game, and he shared his thoughts on different players and teams. Slowly but surely, the other boys joined in the conversation too.
From that moment on, our relationship shifted. The boys started to participate more in class and seemed more invested in their learning. I continued to use their interests to help engage them in our lessons, and they continued to thrive.
That moment was a reminder of the power of connection and the importance of meeting students where they are. It can be easy to get caught up in our lesson plans and curriculum, but at the end of the day, teaching is about the relationships we build with our students. By taking the time to connect with those four boys and find a common ground, I was able to make a positive impact on their learning and my own experience as a long-term substitute teacher.