My Favourites

The complexities of teaching are rarely understood by anyone who isn’t a teacher themselves. There are the usual technical aspects of teaching which are themselves complicated: the comprehension and delivery of the curriculum; the design and integration of topics; motivating and challenging the students and much, much more. However, the most misunderstood part of teaching is often the essential aspect of the relationships a teacher builds with each and every student.

Students are individuals, human beings (yes, you read that right) with their own needs, problems, worries, dreams and hopes and they need to be treated as such. There’s a whole complexity of humanity which walks through the door each morning and each individual is worthy of our time and support. It never surprises me that the accusation from students that someone in the class may be our “favourite” arises every year. However, they may not see the girl who started the year without friends and who needs a little more attention and more of a teacher’s time; or the student whose friends have found new pastures and who also needs extra support, a few words and a few smiles to rebuild their confidence; the student who is so independent and confident they rarely need any “targeted” time but who can be pushed and prodded to rise even further; the student with an outgoing sense of humour who can take the jokes that we would never say to a more sensitive child; the student whose desk we crouch at each day to check they have understood and are okay with an activity because we know they feel anxious when putting their hand up in class; the student who doesn’t speak often and needs more one-on-one attention to draw themselves out of their shell. The lucky ones, those who don’t need or want any added support, may view this as some sort of favouritism. But we know they’re okay, they are, as I said, the lucky ones.

I suppose the fact that some students think we have our “favourites” means that our classroom skills, the way we give “extra” support to some students, is actually working. It may be misunderstood by many in the class but that’s okay, as long as each and every student gets what they need in order to get through their day and has a chance to learn like everyone else.

15 thoughts on “My Favourites

  1. I know that there is no favourites

  2. WOW. Mr Hope, I never knew that we were so important, to you.
    PS: That guy with the good sense of humor sounds like a great guy.

  3. dear Mr hope i really like your blog post and i didnt no the we were so important to you because what you said in your blog post thankyou mr hope

  4. That’s a good explanation Mr Hope.

  5. Mr Hope
    I know there aren’t any favourites, and I’m glad that you care about us that much. Thanks for everything!
    Alyssa

  6. Hi Mr Hope, that sounded very intriguing. I never actually wondered about all the different personality through out the classroom!
    Kind Regards
    Mia

  7. Dear Mr Hope
    I really didn’t think you work this hard everyday and i know teachers don’t have favourites, thank you for spending so much time on us.
    Iman

  8. Iman, to be honest, this is the best bit about teaching, getting to really know you all and helping you to grow.

  9. Mia, yes, there are a lot of different personalities and it’s part of our job to watch you all and help you out if we think you need it.

  10. Alyssa, teachers always care, that’s why it becomes such an exhausting job! We love it, though.

  11. Liam, all our students are important, no matter how mad they drive us!

  12. Kye, we become teachers because we want to try and make a positive difference in a young person’s life.

  13. Alyssa, I think the fact that teachers care is what sometimes leads us to being so frustrated and exhausted.

  14. Mia, this is the best part of the job, getting to know you all and helping you to be happy and grow as young adults.

  15. Thank you Mr Hope! So lucky to have you 😊

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