Thou shalt remember that “relationships” comes first.
The foundation of teaching is to develop a loving, caring and trusting relationship with the students. Teachers who show respect, warmth and love towards each child will be able to reach students socially, emotionally, and academically.
Thou shalt remember that learning never ends, and that a teacher must always look for additional growth opportunities.
Learning does not end once a teacher receives their Masters or Doctorate. A teacher should always aim to learn more, both about the subject matter which is being taught, and in pedagogical methods. It’s important to set aside time to learn from fellow educators and to make it an integral part of their schedule.
Thou shalt live with the times.
A student today is different than the student of ten years ago, and in another ten years, even greater changes and challenges will develop. The use of technology has changed our lives, and its pervasiveness is even more ingrained in the lives of each student. We should teach our students how to be productive digital citizens, how to use technology to properly research on the web, by finding accurate and reliable information, and learning how to recognize unreliable sources.
Thou shalt learn to recognize emotional struggles that a child may be having, such as depression, anxiety or personal things at home.
While a teacher isn’t the school therapist, always be on the lookout for social-emotional struggles a child may endure. Recognize the signs of distress and discuss them with the appropriate mental health faculty at your school. Know the protocol at your school for responding to such signs.
We need to remember that we aren’t teaching subjects, we are teaching children. We need to remember to educate the whole child, and not just focus on the academic goals.
Respect your students, in order that your teaching days shalt be most impactful to the students.
Students may or may not remember what you taught; but they will certainly remember how you made them feel. Speak to them with respect and make sure that any feedback is given is out of love and a desire to see them do better.
Thou shalt imbue your classes with thy passions and encourage thy students to do the same.
If you love music, bring a guitar to the classroom. If your passion is acting, go ahead and dramatize each concept being taught. The students will feel your passion and love towards the subject matter, and they will remember it forever.
Encourage your students to do the same, and offer them opportunities to bring their own passions and talents into the classrooms. Some students may need help “finding” their talent, or understanding how it can be brought into education.
Make your class a safe space, where students feel respected by their peers and want to learn from each other.
In addition to teacher respect, students must feel respected by their peers. R. Chanina remarked, “I have learned much from my teachers, more from my colleagues, and the most from my students” (Ta’anis 7a) Each student has so much to offer to the classroom environment.
Create an environment where students look out for the strengths in others and where students are encouraged to learn from their peers. Find opportunities to let your students know what you learned from them, both in a private and public setting.
Thou shalt recognize that growth comes from mistakes, both for students and teachers.
Don’t allow students to get discouraged by mistakes. Model growth to your students, and encourage them to change their mindset to be growth oriented. When you make a mistake, show how you are using it as a stepping stool to learn more. Fill your bulletin boards with messages of hope, the power of “yet” (not “I don’t understand”, rather “I don’t understand YET”) and the importance of effort.
Thou shalt recognize how different each child is, and adapt your lesson to reach each child.
Shlomo Hamelech teaches us to “educate the child according to his way.” Each student is a complete world, and we should do everything in our power to reach each child. One student might need more one-on-one support to succeed academically, and another may need to as their primary role model in their life.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe used to stand for hours giving out dollars and blessings to all who came to see him on Sunday afternoons. One week, an older woman, after standing many hours in line, asked the Rebbe who was 87 at the time: “How do you stand for so many hours and not get tired?” He answered, “When counting diamonds, one doesn’t tire.” As teachers, we too must see the beautiful, shining gem that is each child.
Children aren’t a statistic. Many of the critics of standardized testing in public schools point out how teachers can sometimes be trapped by the lesson plans or curriculum map, due to the risk of losing their job.
It’s important to remember that each child we are teaching is created in the image or G-d and it’s up to us to teach the whole child; their personality, their learning style, their habits or fears, and their moments of success. The students aren’t just a number, but are a whole world with a bright future.
Thou shalt remember that Judaism is not a subject, but a way of life.
Students should never view Judaism as a 9-4 subject, or half a day subject. Students should recognize that the values Judaism teaches are for ALL aspects of life. Train them to find the spirituality in their life, and show them how to imbue holiness into their everyday activities.
This can be done through a Tanach teacher showing lessons from stories of the past, or a science teacher marveling at “Mah Rabu Masecha Hashem.” Most of all, each teacher can demonstrate Jewish values by being a Mentsch, no matter what subject you teach.
What would YOU include in YOUR Ten Commandments? I’d love to hear!
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