When you first enter teaching and find yourself surrounded by people like Rebecka Peterson (the 2023 National Teacher of the Year), it can be easy to get discouraged and give up on creating transformative classroom relationships at that level.
I’m here to give you a little pep talk and keep you from getting discouraged.
Instead, the National Teachers of the Year can serve as an inspiration and kick your goals for classroom relationships into gear.
Pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea and pretend you’re sitting at a table with these outstanding educators. Listen to them tell you the secrets of the universe and teaching.
Rebecka Peterson Excelled Where Other Teachers Struggle
There are countless failure stories for every success story out there.
When Rebecka Peterson first started in the world of education, she was likely surrounded by people telling her “Teaching is too hard; you’ll be burnt out and looking for a new career before you know it.”
If I heard something like that, I would want to give up (and some teachers are). But Peterson came into this world with a whole lot of determination to create transformative classroom relationships and experiences.
How can you avoid feeling discouraged when people try to tell you that modern education challenges are too overwhelming and one teacher can’t make a difference?
Take a page out of Peterson’s book because as Jean Piaget said:
“The goal of education is not to increase the amount of knowledge but to create the possibilities for a child to invent and discover, to create men who are capable of doing new things.”
Peterson’s story is a testament to the impact of focusing on the positive, recognizing the good that happens every day in the classroom, and the power of sharing those stories to inspire others.
In the face of adversity and skepticism, it was her grit, determination, and the daily practice of finding and sharing “One Good Thing” from her classroom that not only helped her to persevere but also to thrive and inspire others in the process.
So, when you’re faced with the inevitable challenges and naysayers on your teaching journey, remember Peterson’s approach.
Embrace positivity, celebrate the small victories, and believe in the power of education to create possibility. Let her story inspire you to carry on with grit and determination, making a difference one student and one story at a time.
Kurt Russell: 2022 National Teacher of the Year
Kurt Russell has had a profound career impact. Look at these statistics:
- Statistic 1 – Over 20 years of dedication to teaching African American History, transforming how history is taught.
- Statistic 2 – Developed and implemented a groundbreaking “Race, Gender, and Oppression” course, directly impacting hundreds of students’ understanding of social justice issues.
- Statistic 3 – Under his guidance, the student-led Black Student Union has significantly contributed to a supportive and inclusive school environment for all students.
I could let those numbers speak for themselves, but you can’t learn from numbers alone. Listen to Russell fill this with life, “The foundation of this country and the greatness of this country begins with a teacher. Teachers are hope personified.”
Russell’s approach to education and his impact on creating transformative classroom relationships showcase the power of a curriculum that honors and reflects students’ diverse backgrounds.
His dedication to creating transformative classroom relationships demonstrates the significant role teachers play in shaping not just academic outcomes but also students’ sense of self and their understanding of social justice.
“Joyous and Just” Education
Like any wildly successful teacher, Julianna Urtubey (the 2021 National Teacher of the Year) does things a little differently from the status quo.
There are several reasons that Urtubey has had the success she has had with creating transformative classroom relationships. More than a few of those factors can be attributed to luck, but you can’t learn from chance.
You can learn from her approach to creating an inclusive and celebratory learning environment.
Instead of a one-size-fits-all teaching approach, Urtubey likes to tailor her teaching strategies to celebrate and include all students’ identities, families, and communities.
This is made possible by her “joyous and just” educational philosophy.
This approach defines her teaching methodology and interactions with students. The focus is on creating a space of happiness and equity in the classroom. As a result, students fee seen, valued, and capable of greatness.
Urtubey has built transformative classroom relationships through implementing gardens and murals to enrich the learning experience. She also focuses on developing instructional strategies that support her students’ varied needs.
By focusing on what makes each student unique and encouraging them to take pride in their identities, Urtubey has crafted an educational approach that stands as a beacon for what’s possible when teachers lead with empathy, creativity, and a deep commitment to justice.
Her “joyous and just” philosophy is a powerful reminder of the impact teachers can have when they choose to focus on joy and justice in their teaching.
Why Does Empathic Engagement Work So Well?
The practices of these National Teachers of the Year underscore a universal truth in education. Empathic engagement is essential for transformative classroom relationships.
These educators have demonstrated that understanding and connecting with students on a deep, personal level leads to a more inclusive and supportive education experience.
In contrast to teacher-directed, one-size-fits-all approaches, a more empathic engagement approach works well for creating transformative classroom relationships because:
- Reason 1: It personalizes the learning experience. Just as all students have unique backgrounds and identities, tailoring educational experiences to meet these diverse needs creates deeper connections between teachers and students. This helps education be more than imparting knowledge. It creates a meaningful and relevant journey of discovery for each student.
- Reason 2: It relies on active inclusion. By actively listening to students’ stories and including their cultural, family, and personal narratives in the curriculum, teachers can create classrooms where students feel seen, heard, and valued. This promotes a sense of belonging, building trust.
- Reason 3: It builds community. The approach emphasizes the importance of community in and out of the classroom. When students are involved in projects like murals, gardens, or student-led clubs, teachers help students connect their individual experiences to the collective, shared classroom and community experience. This increases student engagement and cultivates support networks between students and with teachers.
- Reason 4: It celebrates diversity. Celebrating diversity encourages students to explore and empathize with different perspectives. By teaching empathy along with academic subjects, teachers prepare students for meaningful, compassionate interactions in a diverse world.
How Can You Apply This to Your Own Classroom?
“Good for them,” I can hear you thinking loudly. “But this empathic engagement approach can never work for me and my challenging classroom environment.”
Chances are that if you’ve kept reading to here, you do have a clue that this technique is applicable for you.
Here’s how you can apply this approach to your own teaching strategies to create your own transformative classroom relationships.
- First, start by actively listening to your students’ stories and experiences. This could be through one-on-one conversations, class meetings, or reflective writing assignments where students discuss their backgrounds, interests, and challenges.
- Next, incorporate what you learn about your students into your lesson plans and classroom activities. For example, if a student shares a particular interest in a historical event or a cultural tradition, find ways to integrate this into your curriculum or class discussions.
- Then, create inclusive projects that celebrate diversity and encourage students to explore and share their unique identities. This could involve multicultural book clubs, presentations, or community service projects that reflect the interests of your students.
- Finally, create a classroom environment where each student feels safe, respected, and valued. Set clear expectations for mutual respect, celebrate achievements, and respond to conflicts with empathy and understanding.
And voila, you have successfully integrated an empathic engagement approach to teaching into your classroom.
Other Important Learning Points
The National Teachers of the Year have re-invented what high-quality teaching looks like time and time again. So, I decided to share the most recent award recipients to introduce you to.
Here are some extra strategies to help motivate you during remainder of the school year:
- Share One Good Thing Daily – Like Rebecka Peterson, start or end each day by sharing “One Good Thing” that happened in your classroom. This highlights positivity and creates a culture of appreciation and recognition among your students.
- Reflect Your Students in the Curriculum – Inspired by Kurt Russell, take steps to ensure your curriculum reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of your students. This could include incorporating literature, historical events, and figures that resonate with your students or creating projects that allow them to explore and share their cultural heritage.
- Create Spaces of Joy and Justice – Following Juliana Urtubey’s example, strive to make your classroom a space of joy and justice. Plan activities that beautify the classroom or school and integrate discussions on fairness, representation, and equity into your lessons. This supports students to develop empathy, social awareness, and community responsibility.
I’m not doing your homework for you, though! Get on social media with the hashtag #TeachEmpowered and let me know how you’re going to apply this approach to your own classroom.
The more specific, the better. 🙂
Quick Recap
Remember, all of these tips have been tried and tested out in the real education world.
After all, there’s little room for theories that have no real-world application.
When I first applied the tip about reflecting my students in the curriculum, I was sure it would be too time-consuming and perhaps not align well with the academic standards I planned around.
To my huge surprise this approach completely shifted the dynamics in my classroom. I saw students who were previously disengaged become active participants. The classroom became a community where every student had a voice and felt seen.
I assumed it was just a fluke at first, but every time I focused on relationships and incorporating students’ interests and experiences, I got the same result.
If you have any more questions on creating transformative classroom relationships, reach out to me here.
And in this blog post, I break down everything you need to know about culturally relevant teaching.
And if you’re really ready to take action, you can download my free Educator’s Guide to Culturally Responsive Teaching.
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