it is easy to see we are affecting the students. Every time the studentent start looking diengaged in the topic I will start to tell a story of something that happened in the feild and they all perk up and listen.
I do agree we as educators have a large group of people that depend on us everyday. A very large number of these students are away from home for the first time in their lives. We as educators get to see alot of emotions from these students everyday. Some are overwhelmed and others just need someone to talk to. I belive we are role models teachers counselors mentors and even a little bit of friend to th e student.
Well, I would answer that with. No. We are in one business, but we wear many hats. At the end of the day, we must follow the mission/vision to educate our student. The other obligations we encounter, I say...change hats!
I agree that we are in more than one business because students come to us for guidance and skills. There are many issues they face as students and they look to their instructors for help in the emotional arena.
Thanks, Victoria.
It is important for teachers to realize that most career college students have life responsibilities that cannot be left at the door when the school day starts. We have to teach students how to find balance.
Absolutely! Without a positive "can do" attitude, it's unrealistic to think that students will succeed. Life presents a number of challenges and competing demands that range from responsibilities (i.e. work & children) to distractions (i.e. friends & social commitments) to self-sabotaging (i.e. procrastination & skewed priorities). If students don't actively work to overcome these roadblocks, they'll never achieve success.
As instructors we must work with our students and assist and encourage them to work past these obstacles. Check in when a student is falling behind or suddenly performing at a lower level then they had been. Reach out to share your own methods of overcoming these obstacles in day to day life or during your own academic journey. The more students feel that you can relate to them, the more open minded they are about assistance and support. By assisting and supporting the students you can maintain good "mental health" within the classroom that will benefit all participants in working through the material.
Once a proper mindframe has been established, learning can happen.
We are in the everything business as students need so much help from time to time. Students are looking for answers and information and that is where we come in to provide it.
I agree we are in more than 1 business. We need to help the students from the education side and also help them as mentors along the way.
Part of preparing a student for a skill or trade is getting the correct mindset for the job. A large portion of students have little to no job experience to build off of on how to approach certain situations. Your mind must be at ease to do a job correctly so it is up to us as instructors to prepare them. This may be done by simply telling them what to expect or it may be more involved on a one-on-one case.
yes. we have to help, listen and deal with so many different peoples day to day issues,lifestyles and personalities that i do beleive i feel that way alot of times
Dana,
It is a complements when students want to talk to us about these difficult issues. It is important for us to remember we are not counselors, th0ough we can be empathetic listeners. Does your school use a counseling service or have a list of available community services that provide students with the "human resources" they need to address these issues?
I believe we need to understand where the students are coming from and be willing to listen to them. I dont how ever believe we should be giving certain advice. I think it puts the educators in a bad position.
It would seem that we are one business with many facets. Students come wanting a better life, a brighter future. Education is the key but before some can realize their goals there are may be many layers that have to be dealt with. Since any business has to be profitable to continue the students have to be successful for it all to work. With this said, we tend to be not just educators but counselors, coaches, and resource finders just to name a few. We have to find ways to change the mind set of many students from I can't do this to I can be successful.
Absolutely we as educators are in the mental health business. If you have ever had an amazing professor or instructor, you know proof positively that they can effect your mental health. A strong, well organized, and caring instructor or professor can uplift your spirits and help drive your motivation to become a greater student.
Walking them to the correct help point is always better than sending them there! Thanks!
Jeffrey,
Great Point!!!
The strength of our faculty is their diversity. Many different situations arise that I am not nearly as qualified as someone else in the Department or within the School. I have never been afraid to walk with the student to another member of the faculty nor recommend to a faculty member (with the students "ok") that their assistance is needed.
I am going back to the TEAM!!! aspect, but that is what the Environment in Education is!!!
If you believe in assisting and identifying a students HABE's, then you must absolutely agree with this statement.
Our ability to assess, and stimulate a student's ability to "feel" and "Succeed" leads us to understanding the "molding" of a student's past into the Expectation to Thrive in their future.
TO keep with the analogy, students should also be made to feel that an "Open door with a couch" is always available to them to communicate difficulties and walls encountered in achieving their goals.
Though does this not lead to "Crossing the Line of Professionalism" which I have read in other threads within this site? Your feedback on this is appreciated as that line seems to negate our abilities in this manner??
Thanks for sharing this, Shauna.
Patti,
When I first startred in this business, I was told that I would know that my students trusted nme when they came to talk to me about things that I would rather they did not talk to me about. It sounds like you are in that place.
Take it as a affirmation of what you do and how you carry yourself.
My strategy is I always ask them, "are you ok?" That gives the students the opportunity to open up and share whatever information they wish. Some will tell me a lot of information, some will just say "yes." I leave it up to them to tell me what is wrong, but I always tell them that they can come to me if they need help. If I don't know what to do, I always refer them to the person they can talk to.
