My time spent as District C continues to become more enriching, especially as I become more comfortable in the school. I am also becoming more observant of small details -- things I feel add to the overall makeup of the school. One of these details is the interaction between Principle J and the students. Something as small as a handshake or a pat on the back as he is walking through the halls makes a big difference in how the students view authority figures. There seems to be a comfort level that should prove beneficial to the students' desire to succeed. As someone who went to a high school where the principle was rarely seen, It means a lot to me to see that Principle J hasn't lost touch with his school.
Another thing that was apparent during this day was the varied teaching strategies I saw. I feel as novice observes, we may have certain ideas about how a teacher should teach, and this may skew are impressions of certain classrooms. For instance, of the few classrooms I observed on this day, the math teacher's class stood out most. It was a fast paced classroom, where dialogue between students and teacher was continuous. This was great for the students who enjoy this type of class. But I did notice certain students who seemed removed from discussion. So, to these children this teacher may not be as great as we, as observers, perceive him to be. I think we sometimes fail to realize that there is no "right" way to teach. Loud and energetic may be great for some students, but others may fail in this type of classroom environment, and do better in a slower paced, teacher-centered class, the latter typically considered outdated and ineffective. Maybe that's up to the student to decide.
To expound more on the topic of comfort level: I've always believed that if you show someone else respect, you can expect to receive at least some level of respect in return. Even the toughest students won't feel the need to engage you in conflict if you can respond to their needs calmly and with respect. After all, most of these students are seeking attention or to portray an aura of dominance over the teacher. It is not the teachers job to participate in this power struggle, or to publicly exert your authority over the students. The more you can identify with your students, the more they will respect you. I currently work at a school; lets call it "School G," where the principal personally knows every single student, and interacts with most on any given day. While that cannot be expected at a school with the population size and with the fluid enrollment that District C has, the more administrators go out of their way to speak with students and make respect and expectations clear, the more he/she can expect to have those expectations met.
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