#7 The world looks different from up here

"I've gone to my table to remember to look at things differently. The world looks different from up here "

Dead Poets Society.

As stated by Professor Keating in the film "Dead Poets Society", things are different if you look from another perspective. Sometimes, as teachers, we insist on follow everything is disclosed in the curriculum and we do not stop to think about the needs of our students and what they really want to learn.

As N.Maldonado says in his article "Rethinking classroom management", we have to stop and think what we teach and what we want our students to learn. For this, it is necessary for the teacher manages the classroom taking into account the three main areas that live  in the classroom and have to be linked to get meaningful learning: classroom organization, curriculum objectives and social values​​.

To get these three areas are related and complement each other, it is necessary that the student participates in classroom management. Their opinions and feelings are very important for the teacher to know where you need to improve management and that changes must carries out for the student to feel comfortable in your classroom.

As for classroom organization, N.Maldonado raises the idea that the class rules are developed by the student group because it is they who have to live every day with their peers. In this way, you create an atmosphere of respect and empathy among students who will get to know more and bind as a group. The teacher must also agree to these rules but should only supervise, at any time change, students are those who have spoken and it is they who have decided

Another example to resolve the issues of curriculum is, again, to give voice to the students. Students are eager to learn things. Why not ask them what they want to know and then try to relate it to a curricular topic? One idea that came to mind while reading this paragraph was asking a question each time you start a new topic:

What I want to know about the human body?

Once the teacher receives all student responses, can start organizing your classes as long as answer each of the questions from the students.

And finally, to social issues, one of the most difficult areas to work in the classroom and in real life, the teacher has to highlight the positive aspects of students rather than wasting time on the mistakes. What I mean is, if you tell a student who never learn to multiply, the student will believe it and never try. But, if you encourage try it, looking for other strategies to teach or get himself understood using a different methodology, the effort and the ability to overcome has to be assessed. If we value our students and believe in them, we will create a comfortable, friendly and warm classroom. Teachers are the mirrors where children watch, so it is in our hands to create a good atmosphere of companionship.

Clara ***