Teacher Responses-The Big 5

     In order to make the most out of my classroom and respond to my students needs of affirmation, contribution, power, purpose, and challenge.  The teacher cog consists of five key ways to respond to the student needs.  The big five elements of teacher response are: Invitation, opportunity, investment, persistence, and reflection.  

INVITATION

     When students walk into my classroom for the first time and every time after that they must instantly feel like the belong.  I used the phrase "my classroom" above, but when the student enters the room they must know that it is no longer my classroom, but "our classroom".  My job as the teacher is to make each student feel welcomed and valued.  Students are very good at picking up on people faking it, so I must let them know that I am sincerely happy that they are in the class and that they are valued for who they are and what they can bring.

OPPORTUNITY

     Each student who enters into the classroom is full of potential.  The teacher's goal is to turn that potential into skills, abilities, and knowledge.  In order to make this transformation teachers need to provide opportunity for growth, and growth is challenging. Every student needs to know that the lessons they are being taught are important and are applicable to making them better.  The things that teachers ask them to do will not be easy, but will help them discover new things about themselves.  Opportunity and challenge can never stop as students change potential to ability and skill new potential is born in them that must be reached.

INVESTMENT

     Investment seems to be the simplest response to demonstrate, but it is also the easiest for students to see and feel when it is not present.  Investment simply means time, not just time but quality time spent by the teacher making sure that student needs are met.  Investment is a teacher making time to get to know each student and making the classroom work for them.  Investment is finding new ways to help each student.  Investment will be demonstrated by lessons that challenge each student know matter their skill level.  When teachers are fully invested it is evident by the level care they have for each student as anything we put our hearts and souls into mean more to us. The level of investment can be seen instantly by walking into a classroom or by watching student interact with the teacher.   

PERSISTENCE

     Very simply persistence means that I will not give up on you.  Working together we can overcome any obstacle and find success.  Once success is reached we will find new challenges and work together to over come them.  Student learning is a never ending process, but I will be by your side the entire time.  If the first method I try does not work I will continually work to try new ways to make the student success.  Hallmark number 5 of a "Way Up" and never a "Way Out" is applicable.  We will not accept excuses on not meeting our goals, but we will find other paths that lead to our goals.  

REFLECTION

     The text makes reference to the film Apollo 13 movie in which the statement "Failure is not an option" is made.  When we are working with students failure can not be an option as students are much too important to allow failure to happen.  As a teacher it is my duty to ensure that I am always improving my lessons and skills.  This will require me to seek additional training, input from experts, and discussion with my team.  It will incorporate the responses mentioned above of persistence and and investment as it will take time and I must continually find ways to better myself.  If improving my classroom and the lives of my students are always on my mind we will not fail as I will find ways to improve myself and help students reach higher goals.