Be authentic in classroom by Dr. Aswathy Rajan

 

Are you Authentic in the Classroom?

 
Should I feel free to be myself in front of my students or just pretend to be someone else?


should we bring our authenticity to a room full of young people? This is the dilemma that many teachers face during their interactions with students.


Let’s dig deep!


When teachers feel free to be themselves at school, it has a lot of benefits for them and their students. When we bring our true selves to our classrooms, we enhance the learning environment and improve our overall job satisfaction.


Here are 3 WAYS TO BE YOURSELF AT SCHOOL


1.    Share your personal life…with boundaries: Tell your family stories occasionally, but be careful to not share information that is not required. For Eg. tell funny toddler stories about your kids, talk about your memorable trip, your hobbies etc.

2.    Feel free to Express yourself: Try verbally labelling your feelings for your students. “I’m frustrated that the classroom was left messy yesterday” or “I’m really sad today because my uncle isn’t well.” Let the kids into your thinking process, and you will have shared both your personality and your expertise.” When you make a mistake, laugh about it, demonstrate how you’re correcting it, and if needed, apologize.

3.    Do it in your way: It is good to be inspired but great to be yourself. Do not copy anyone just to pretend as perfect. Handle circumstances in your own way. Bring your personal touch to the class and watch the magic happen in your classroom.

Teachers should be authentic in the classroom for several important reasons:

Building Trust: Authenticity fosters trust between teachers and students. When teachers are genuine and sincere, students are more likely to feel comfortable, safe, and open to sharing their thoughts, ideas, and concerns.

Positive Role Modeling: By being authentic, teachers demonstrate to their students the importance of being true to oneself and embracing individuality. This can inspire students to be authentic and confident in their own lives.

Establishing a Positive Learning Environment: Authenticity contributes to a positive classroom atmosphere where students feel accepted for who they are. This supportive environment can enhance learning outcomes and overall classroom engagement.

Enhancing Teacher-Student Relationships: When teachers show their authentic selves, they become more relatable to students. This can lead to stronger teacher-student connections, which are crucial for effective teaching and learning.

Encouraging Emotional Expression: Authentic teachers acknowledge and validate their emotions and those of their students. This encourages healthy emotional expression and helps students understand and manage their feelings.

Admitting Mistakes: Authentic teachers are willing to admit when they make mistakes. This sets an essential example for students, showing them that it's okay to be imperfect and that mistakes are opportunities for growth and learning.

Fostering Creativity and Critical Thinking: When teachers are authentic, they create an open environment where students feel free to express their thoughts and ideas creatively. This can stimulate critical thinking and innovation.

Tailoring Teaching Approaches: Authentic teachers understand and embrace the diversity of their students. They are more likely to adjust their teaching methods to suit the individual needs and learning styles of their students.

Encouraging Honest Feedback: An authentic teacher is open to receiving feedback from students, parents, and colleagues. This promotes continuous improvement and helps create a collaborative learning community.

Maintaining Personal Well-being: Pretending to be someone else can be mentally and emotionally exhausting for teachers. Embracing authenticity allows teachers to stay true to themselves, leading to improved well-being and job satisfaction.

Overall, authenticity in the classroom benefits both teachers and students by creating a positive and conducive learning environment that promotes growth, understanding, and personal development.


Dr. Aswathy Rajan

Founder-Director

Success E-Learning

www.successelearning.in

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