I enjoy this book because it was written by students who want future teachers to know how to treat their students. A lot of this advice seems to me to be pretty common knowledge, but I guess some of it can only come with experience as well. I work with kids now, and have for the last 3 years. At first I found it hard to not be a friend to them, because sometimes it just seemed like that was what they really needed or wanted. I quickly learned that as an adult, I needed to assume that role and be a mentor and a leader, not a friend. I know that this will always be a struggle for me because I relate to kids so well.
I found the story of the track coach really eye opening. The coach who was their friend took it easy on them, and therefore the students liked him, but they never won. The coach who never let up was not liked, but the team never lost. Even though the coach/teacher was surely hated and probably talked about negatively, he did his job and the students probably respected him more for it. This is what I hope I can be for my students, while still being liked by some of them. I want to be liked, but respected as well. Finding a balance between teacher, artist, and mentor will most likely be a challenge, but one that I look forward to.
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