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Does Caring Matter in the Classroom?The education system in the United States has incorporated accountability measures into schools. But it hasn’t looked carefully at whether or not students are engaged in learning. Gallup, a well-known research organization, says that’s a big problem.
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Gallup reported in their article that in order for students to be successful, they need someone at school who cares about their development. But instead, “…we have insisted on setting up an accountability system on a narrow set of measures: grades and test scores. And we have gone insane over it.” What Caring MeansGallup said that caring and emotional support have three crucial elements:
- A teacher who makes the student excited about learning,
- A teacher who cares about the student as a person, and
- A mentor who encourages the student to pursue his or her goals and dreams.
Sonia Nieto, author of Nice Is Not Enough, writes, “Teachers may think of caring as unconditional praise, or as quickly incorporating cultural components into the curriculum, or even as lowering standards. On the contrary, others have argued, an ‘ethic of care’ means a combination of respect, admiration, and rigorous standards.”
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PARAPROFESSIONAL OPEN HOUSE
In partnership with Denver Public Schools, we are hosting an informational session for paraprofessionals and parents who are interested in becoming teachers. Snacks provided.
Janaury 6, 2019
1:00 to 2:00 PM
Center for Urban Education
1059 Alton Way
Denver CO 80230
RSVP here.
REFER A FUTURE TEACHER
It takes a village to prepare teachers for success in urban classrooms. Do you know someone who is interested in becoming a teacher? Ask him or her to watch a short video about why UNC Center for Urban Education is a an excellent option for people who want to gain experience in classrooms while attending classes.
HELP KEEP CUE STUDENTS IN SCHOOL
Want to help a future teacher stay in school? Sometimes a financial emergency, like a car battery dying or an unexpected doctor visit, can mean a student has to leave school for a semester. Contribute to our students’ success! Make a donation of $100, $250, or $500. Click here to send us an email about making a contribution to the Center for Urban Education, or call CUE Director, Rosanne Fulton, at 303-637-4334.
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In other words, teachers have to go beyond “nice.” They must work with students to establish and maintain caring communities. Teachers must demonstrate caring in their interactions with all students, and they must engage students in dialogue about caring in order to improve upon the practice of it.
Caring at CUEThe mentors and professors at the UNC Center for Urban Education (CUE) ask the teacher candidates to show care for their students. They demonstrate the practice by integrating caring into their own teaching. For some of our students, it may be the first time they’ve seen caring modeled in a classroom.
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| In fifth grade, a teacher told Devin Frunzi—now a junior at the Center—that he would probably never graduate from high school. He was labeled as “special education.” Frunzi said, “And the education I received reflected the teachers’ belief that I couldn’t learn."
Luckily, when he transferred schools in sixth grade, Frunzi’s teachers, “…believed in who I was and knew I had the potential to succeed.” He went on to graduate high school, thanks to the foundation those teachers laid. But when Frunzi went to college, “There was no community of caring people,” he said. After leaving two colleges, Frunzi enrolled in the Center for Urban Education.
At CUE, Frunzi flourished, thanks to, “…the umbrella of caring teachers, mentors, students, and staff.” Frunzi said, “The teachers and staff at the Center build personal relationships with the students and provide multiple opportunities for students to connect with each other through discussions and group projects. Teachers are dedicated to helping students succeed, and they’re always here for us.”
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Caring in ActionFrunzi (pictured above with his grandparents, Kay and Jerry Frunzi, who are avid supporters of the Center) cited several examples of how the mentors and faculty at CUE show they care:
Of a professor: “Whenever I see him at school, he shakes my hand or waves to me and asks me how I am.”
Of another professor: “She sometimes invites students to her mountain cabin, which builds relationships and shows her caring nature.”
Of another professor: “She makes sure that I understand the content. Several times, she has sat down next to my desk and asked, ‘Do you understand?’ or, ‘Did you have any trouble with the assignment?’”
Of his mentor: “She listens to my concerns, asks what help I need, and then helps me come up with solutions. She gives me ideas on how to improve. She invites me to call her if her recommendations don’t work. She doesn’t push ideas on me, but lets me put my own theories on how to improve my instruction into practice. She is very patient, establishes trust, and is always willing to listen.”
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Self-Assessment: How Much Do You Show You Care? Questions that will help you evaluate where you on the spectrum of showing your caring for students:
- I demonstrate caring in my interactions with all students, not just some of them.
- Most of the time
- Some of the time
- Never
2. I actively and regularly encourage the students to develop caring communities among themselves.
- Most of the time
- Some of the time
- Never
3. I seek opportunities to learn about the cultural practices of our school community, including those of staff, families, and students.
- Most of the time
- Some of the time
- Never
4. I engage students in dialogue about caring in order to improve upon the practice of it.
- Most of the time
- Some of the time
- Never
5. I make an effort to get to know my students as people—their hobbies, hopes, and goals.
- Most of the time
- Some of the time
- Never
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Share Your Stories of CaringIf you’d like to submit a real-life example of what caring looks like in the classroom, or how it has impacted a student, email us. We’ll gather them and recount the best of the best to your fellow readers in a future issue of the newsletter. We look forward to hearing from you! Further Reading
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25 Graduates Ready to Teach in Urban ClassroomsOn December 15, the Center for Urban Education graduated 27 students. Seven of them now hold a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, 15 in Elementary Education, and five in Special Education.
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Dr.Frank Dávila and other Latino members of the American GI Forum NationalVeterans Outreach Program, Inc. presented the colors to kick off the CUE graduation ceremony.
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We partner closely with school districts and are fortunate that Mr. Gabe Trujillo, Athletics/Activities & Human Resources Director at Westminster Public Schools, served as an honored guest and speaker. “I am one of them—these graduates who overcame obstacles in order to go into the profession,” said Trujillo. “This is an exciting celebration, and I want to support the Center’s efforts to help solve the teacher shortage.”
When asked what she treasures most about her time at CUE, Jillian Jurgens (pictured below, right) said, “How amazing and supportive everyone here has been—the students, mentors, and faculty. They’ve been my anchor. I wouldn’t have graduated without them.”
Stephanie Richards (pictured below, left) said that what she is most looking forward to in her career as a teacher is, “Making changes in the lives of children. Here at the Center, I’ve learned how to support and love them. It’s a whole other way of teaching, and I can’t wait to practice it in my own classroom.”
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More than one-third (35%) of those who graduated from the Center this month are people of color. Seventy percent of them are first-generation college students/graduates.
We thank UNC Provost Mark Anderson (first photo, on right, with CUE Director Rosanne Fulton) for addressing our graduates. We thank the friends, family members, mentors, and faculty who dedicated their time and energy to support these 27 wonderful people who will now go on to be confident, competent teachers in urban classrooms.
Congratulations to our December 2019 graduates!
¡Felicidades, graduados!
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Newsletter Archive
Did you miss previous issues of the Chronicle? Visit the Leadership Council page on our website, scroll down, and click on past newsletters.
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