Articulating a vision for students on day one of the semester is a crucial aspect in building relationships with your students. Students are always willing to work for a leader that they really buy into. This year, Carson has been filled with visions. While some carry on from year to year, others change quite frequently. From new administration, to technology, to new students, it seems that around every corner is a new vision. While some are cynical and let their inhibitions get the best of them, the changes occurring in Rowan Salisbury Schools are for the betterment of our students and our staff as a whole.
In my classroom, students know on the first day what my expectations are for the semester. While some come into my classroom full of excitement and happiness, others are scared, intimidated, and some flat out run. I don’t blame them, for I am not a perfect teacher. However, I do claim to be a very articulate person that strives for results and shares the vision. I know that getting students, parents, and staff to share in the vision is crucial to the success of all Carson students. The only way to continue to share the vision is to reflect and modify on where you are and where you are headed. There isn’t a single day that goes by that I don’t recount the things that worked and went well, and then look at what I could have done differently. Self-reflection is essential when it comes to modifying instruction and shaping student’s lives. I learned early on that I am way harder on myself than anyone else. My students see me fall flat on my face, they see me at the highest peaks of my teaching career and are able to partake in the most incredible lessons, and they have also had to bear witness to the most monotone, boring, heinous, “pieces” of lessons that they have ever heard, but somehow, at the end of the semester, they have still bought into the vision. They understand that failure and success are both key ingredients to the vision. My vision is to educate students in areas beyond the classroom. To teach them to lead better lives, encourage them to be role models and non-conformists, to make them question, critique, revise, and read, and most importantly to leave the world a better place than how they found it. I encourage them to contribute a verse to the powerful play.
I think if you were to poll any of my former students they would probably tell you that Mrs. Barrett isn’t always the “nice” teacher. She can be down right stern most of the time, and if you ask her how your hair looks today…she will tell you exactly what she thinks. But that is also what student’s love about my classroom, there is really no gray area. I don’t have to think about what I might say or what students need to hear, because I already know the answer. They will always get the honest truth, but at times the truth can be very difficult to swallow. They know what to expect because it is clearly articulated and demonstrated for them each and every day.
I implore you as you continue to grow in your educational endeavors that you will articulate your vision to your students, parents, and even staff. Where do you see them going? How will they even know when they get there? What do you hope they get out of your class? How do you create buy-in? What is your vision? Each semester as bright, smiling, youthful faces fill my classroom I tell them, “If you get nothing out of my class, I hope that you will at least leave a better person than when you came in.” Each day I strive to be a better person than I was the day before, because that is all I can do. I am human, I make mistakes, I learn, I grow, but most of all I teach. I push, push, push, and when I think I can’t push any more, I find myself a shovel, and I dig.
I leave you with one of my favorite quotes that continue to inspire students semester after semester to be a part of the vision.
“We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, "O me! O life!... Of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?" Answer. That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?” -Robin Williams as Mr. Keating (Dead Poet’s Society)
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