Dear Santa... What an English teacher wants for Christmas

Автор: Звонкова Татьяна Юрьевна

Организация: МБОУ Cредняя школа N2

Населенный пункт: г. Смоленск

The greatest gifts are not wrapped in paper but in love.

     Teachers are people, you know. Between lesson planning, grading papers and handling the endless amounts of student drama, they deserve a little something to show that we care. Wine, chocolate and candles are all well and good, but what teachers really want is something quite different... Most of them are INTERESTING people. They have actual LIVES, lives that really don’t include ten thousand candles, statues, picture frames, and “World’s Best Teacher” mugs. They don’t really want more wax and ceramics, but they could really, really use some gifts that give them a little breather and useful things they can actually use at home or in the classroom. Not only do they need something material, but also they want positive emotions and sources of inspiration and good mood.

    Has A Christmas Carol and Scrooge taught your class that giving equals happiness? Perhaps it’s something they’ll bear in mind when choosing you a Christmas present. Of course, at this time of year there are always articles about gifts for teachers: should they be expected, financially capped - or given at all? Personally, I’m always grateful for cards or presents. It’s nice to be included in pupils’ thoughts at this time. And while chocolate, wine, cosmetics and novelties are all appreciated, what most teachers really want for Christmas is rather more abstract and long term.

   In the spirit of the festive season, I’ve taken the word Christmas to spell out the gifts that would transform the profession into one that would be self-sustaining and life-affirming.

C is for…collegiate profession

   A structure that is energized by teacher initiative, that thrives on equal discussion between colleagues. One that’s self-directing rather than dictated top-down, driven by what teachers think works well in the classroom, and which sees teaching as an art as well as a science. Researchers, politicians and exam boards should be sources of support and reference.

H is for…high spirit of the pupils

    A release from the monotony of examination criteria and liberation to a wider curriculum that promotes arts and humanities, as well as science, technology, engineering and maths subjects. Perhaps it could even stretch to an understanding that pupils are not units of productivity, but have ambitions and desires beyond the functional remit.

 

 

R is for…remuneration

      It’s absolutely vital that employers and government get this right. It’s not just about pay that will attract new graduates or a salary that will keep them in the job for another five years, but about justice. Longer-serving teachers should not be seen as a drain on the system to be discarded or overlooked should the budget require “efficiency savings”. Most of all, it should mean a fairer deal for teachers in FE and sixth-form colleges.

I is for…information technology that works consistently

     How many hours have been wasted in school by online platforms for registration and data input? These may be the mode of the future, but they aren’t yet sufficiently robust to support all the work they have to do and the number of teachers working on them. Too often workload is added to by contingency planning; onerous though it is, it’s vital to avoid glitches in sound and problems with websites. Trouble-free technology is vital to a smooth learning experience.

S is for…schedules 

    Scheduling is not only important for you as a teacher, but it is also important for your students.  Knowing what to expect throughout the day and, more importantly, when to expect it, can help alleviate a lot of student anxiety. When anxiety goes down, students are able to focus, behavior management issues go down, and the classroom has a much more relaxed feel to it. 

T is for time to do the things that matter not what the accountability system demands.

M is for…money

     Schools must be able to afford textbook resources and have better teacher-pupil ratios. What better means of providing social justice than by giving all pupils a fair deal in the classroom, whatever part of the country they live in?

A is for…artificial intelligence

     Teacher education and professional development programs should not ignore generative artificial intelligence either. Engage with generative AI tools with your students in person, when possible. Otherwise, share AI-generated responses to questions during class time and ask students to consider them or have students experiment with the technology at home, document their experiences, and share them with the class.   

S is for…sustainable workload

      This would make the world of difference to all teachers. Cutting the fat of overassessment, overplanning and excessive data entry, as well as rationing bureaucracy and record-keeping, could all contribute to a much healthier and more efficient education system. Having more personal and family time would be the best Christmas present of all.

 

    To sum up, whether it’s something practical like school supplies or something more personal like a mug with their name on it, taking time to say “thank you” to these hardworking individuals is always appreciated!

Опубликовано: 31.01.2024