I really liked your point about having good colleagues. They are there to help you through the rotten times, and what many don’t remember is that teaching is actually a remarkably solitary profession. With the exception of the odd visit from a PT or member of the SLT (or Director if you’re in East Lothian!), the teacher is on his or her own in the classroom…

* I should just point out that the expected replies are almost always good advice based on experience, but what works for one teacher may not work for another — that’s when you need good colleagues!

Speak soon

Keep trying – it is worth it.

Without doubt the most influence period of study for me was the MEd module ‘Interpersonal skills and consultancy in education’ with Alison Closs of Moray House. We worked with Carl Rogers’ core conditions, from where we get ‘unconditional positive regard’ (copied from http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-rogers.htm#core_conditions):

Realness in the facilitator of learning – the most basic attitude is realness or genuineness. When the facilitator is a real person, being what she is, entering into a relationship with the learner without presenting a front or a façade, she is much more likely to be effective.

Prizing, acceptance, trust – it is a caring for the learner, but a non-possessive caring. It is an acceptance of this other individual as a separate person, having worth in her own right. It is a basic trust – a belief that this other person is somehow fundamentally trustworthy.

Empathic understanding – when the teacher has the ability to understand the student’s reactions from the inside, has a sensitive awareness of the way the process of education and learning seems to the student, then again the likelihood of significant learning is increased. Students feel deeply appreciative when they are simply understood – not evaluated, not judged, simply understood from their own point of view, not the teacher’s.

It’s about these core conditions being intrinsic in a teacher, not merely that they have the ability to mimic them. I feel very fortunate to have been exposed to the work of Carl Rogers – check out Rogers, C. and Freiberg, H. J. (1993) Freedom to Learn (3rd edn.), New York: Merrill. It transformed my teaching, however this was done within a Masters and would never have occurred through awareness raising INSET; I needed time to think it all through (I’ve got a copy of the assignment somewhere if you’d like a look!)

Speak to you soon.

Do you realise there is still respect there if he still says Miss? I can remember seeing graffiti at my old high school which mentioned the headteacher doing some rude things. But, it still had his proper title i.e. Mr ??? etc.

The pupil in your case may seem nasty, may sound like he doesn’t care, but from what you’ve said, it sounds like there is still some form of respect there.

It was really great to be able to put a face to the blog, and like you, I’m really looking forward to heading over to Isaly in June!

Cheers!