Rita Pierson an Inspiration

I viewed Rita Pierson TED Talk on Every kid needs a champion and found it very appropriate, useful and inspiring to my teaching practice.

Rita Pierson once heard a colleague say, "They don't pay me to like the kids." Her response: "Kids don't learn from people they don’t like.’” A rousing call to educators to believe in their students and actually connect with them on a real, human, personal level.

I will have to agree with Rita Pierson’s response to her colleague as I believe students are more likely to learn, stay focused and be motivated if they have a good relationship with a teacher. In the world of teaching every single student is affected by their teachers in some way, it can be positive or in a negative way. If a student is treated badly by a teacher or has had a confrontation with them, do you think the student will have respect for that teacher?..... I don’t!!! 

I feel to get the best out of a class, a teacher must have a good relationship with their students.

It is impossible for a teacher to like every single student in a class, however Rita suggests every single student in the class should get equal support from the teacher. But does this happen?....... 

I agree that every student should have the same support from a teacher, however I believe this will never be the case as when students and teachers have a disagreement, there is a loss in respect with each other, then the student will be to anxious or afraid to ask for help. I have seen this happen in the past and through my teaching observation.

In conclusion I am a strong believer that teachers should have a good relationship with their students to get the best out of them and to make sure that they have the best education as possible. Even if a teacher doesn’t like a certain student or students, they should still make them feel wanted by encouraging them and using positive reinforcement.