Teachers Just Don't Understand

In Milner's text, Start Where You Are but Don't Stay There, he proposes several mind sets and practices for teachers to employ when working with students in urban or marginalized communities. For the most part, Milner contends that teachers should seek to enter the world of their students' and allow students peek into the windows of their teachers' lives as well. I used to be on the fence and had mixed feelings about teachers allowing students access to their personal lives, however, I definitely believe teachers should make every effort to build meaningful relationships with their students. Often, students tend to group teachers with other adults, mainly parents, and conclude that they just don't understand. Because the purpose of schooling means different things to different students, teachers are in a unique position to have a significant impact on a student's life. For some students, the caring and support they receive from a teacher, is just as powerful as that from a parent or family member. One way teachers can show their concern for students is by providing opportunities for students to share their world view and concerns. Whenever possible, teachers should show students they understand the world from their student's point of view, which is an effective strategy towards building meaningful relationships with their students.