Modeling
As a Spanish teacher, I often told my students that I was going to be their “modelo” and then, I would jokingly “strike a pose” as in Madonna’s song, Vogue.
They got a kick out of that, but honestly and truly, I felt that I was a model for them in everything that I said and did every day.
The word “model” can mean many things today, but mostly we use it to refer to someone in the fashion industry or when we refer to cars/appliances/ technology.
One of the definitions of “model” is “a system or thing used as an example to follow or imitate”.
The etymology of the word is from Latin, modulus, meaning “a standard for imitation or comparison.” (etymonline.com)
So, as teachers, we are setting a “standard for imitation” for our students to follow.
Our words, our actions, our tone, our body language, our choices, our everything.
So, this could go either way.
If we yell, disrespect and dismiss our students, we are modeling and setting a standard for them to imitate and do the same to us and others.
If we speak kindly, thoughtfully and see and hear our students, we are modeling and setting a standard for them to imitate and do the same to us and others.
This happens everywhere, not only in the classroom.
As teachers, we are not just role models to children, but also as humans, we are role models to other humans.
Let me give a few real world examples I have experienced.
The other day, my husband and I were walking in the park, which was littered with trash because of flag football practice that had been held there over the weekend.
It is frustrating and aggravating to see all the trash, especially when it blows in the water where it pollutes and endangers the animals living in that habitat.
It is easy to get indignant, angry and just complain saying things like: “what is wrong with people? Why can’t they pick up their trash? Why aren’t the park personnel picking up the trash? That’s their job they are being paid for! And so on…”
Instead of going to that negative place in our heads, we decided instead to take action and get a plastic bag and start picking up trash along our walk route.
Other walkers noticed and either avoided eye contact out of shame or they thanked us and picked up a few things to add to our bag.
A couple of other walkers declared: “that’s a great idea! I think I will bring a plastic bag tomorrow.”
But the best part was that there was a group of young men playing soccer on the field, and they noticed what we were doing.
They shouted “thank you”, stopped their practice and started picking up trash that they had just been running past or jumping over while playing.
Modeling…it’s powerful!
In the classroom, I modeled kind behavior, good manners and thoughtful gestures.
We wrote thank you notes to chaperones after field trips thanking them for taking the time to help make the experience possible.
When we did projects or presentations, I would state a positive affirmation or compliment to the presenter and then, encourage every student in the class to also do the same.
We had a “Kind Hearts” board where students could write a little note of recognition for something a student did or said that was kind, thoughtful and inspiring.
We did service learning projects to help others in the community.
We had a “share” table where students could share supplies, materials, food, etc. for students in need or who might have come unprepared to class for some reason or another.
I could go on and on, but you get the idea.
Children are always watching and listening, even when we think they aren’t.
They are not born into this world knowing everything or even wanting to know things sometimes.
We think we are not making a difference or teaching them anything sometimes, but when we least expect it or when we give them a chance, if we have been modeling behaviors we expect, then, they will be mirrored back to us.
“Picking up Trash” by Kulturlabor Trial&Error is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
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