I'm more than just their teacher.....

My students are my first priority. My job is to teach them the NCSCOS for 7th grade Mathematics, but what about Life Skills 101, Social Skills 101, and Goals 101? Do I just do my job and not worry about "Johnny" not being able to hold a conversation with someone without cursing? Do I not think about how "Sally" does not know what a bank account or checkbook is, let alone know how to balance one? Should I not care that "Tommy's" only wants to turn 16 so that he can drop out of school? NO!!!!! I care too much about MY students for these things not to matter.

Since I have developed a relationship with these kids, I find myself being more than just their teacher. They ask me my opinion of things they have done or are planning to do. They talk to me about things going on in their life outside of school. They expect me to be Ms.Johnson (the teacher with the strict rules and no smiles) and Ms.J (the teacher they can talk to about anything).

When I find out that "Johnny" cursed out "Mr.Doe" for not letting him go to his locker, I talk to him about it. I show him his mistake. I tell him that "Mr.Doe" is still an adult and that he should respect him the same as he respects me. I teach him that it is inappropriate to talk to adults that way and inappropriate to talk like that at school period. Will he do it again? Maybe. But hopefully he won't and if he does I'll teach him again because I am his teacher.

"Sally" may not have banks in her neighborhood. So when I'm teaching fractions, decimals, and percents, she may not be able to make connections with the things I'm talking about. I take the time to explain to her the importance of managing your money and how to maintain your finances. If she doesn't begin to learn these skills now, then where will that leave her in the future? Broke? Receiving government aide? Living check to check? I refuse to have my students become another negative statistic because I didn't take the time teach to them a simple life skill.

Why does "Tommy" want to drop out of school? Is it because another teacher along the way told him he wouldn't amount to anything because of what side of town he lives on or what his other family members have done? Has he been retained? Does he just have no other goal to strive for? Many of my students are "Tommy". They have nothing to look forward to. I ask him what he enjoys doing and show him career opportunities incorporate the things he like. After EOGs, I hope to have speakers come in and talk to my students about different careers and how they got started. I hope to encourage "Tommy" to finish high school and go to college if he wants. He needs to have a goal to motivate him through the pitfalls of life.

This week I learned that I am more than just a teacher to my students. I have to expose them to new things and show them basic life skills. I must show them how to interact with others. I must be their #1 fan even when they are losing the race. I must be a support system for them even when I'm tired or frustrated. These things are not options to me. These are the things in fine print of my teaching contract and I signed my name on the dotted line.

Blog posted by March writer Janel Johnson, 7th grade Math teacher at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Charlotte, NC.