Mother’s Day is quickly fading. The party’s over. Most people are on their way. Their belly’s full of food and drink. Happy memories of children laughing, milestones reached, and the joyous reflection of the journey of life flashes through mother’s heads. For most this is the norm for Mother’s Day. For others, this day is full of sadness. The woman who wants to have children but can’t, the mother whose child died before their expected time, the son or daughter who no longer have a mother to celebrate with or the child who is estranged from their parent.  

This makes me reflect on perspective. The same thing has many meanings to many people. Let’s think about this from a classroom perspective.  What are we doing that we see as positive yet our students may perceive as something else? This is why it is so important that we understand our students and know exactly how our students perceive what we saying.

Relationships are so important for this very reason. It is the job of the teacher to understand how their message is being received by the student. Does the white teacher understand how their student of color truly understands their message? Does the leader of the school understand truly see how their interactions are looked upon by their staff? How does the parent understand the communications between home and school?

The only way to ensure that what we are doing is truly being received in the matter that we intend it to is to keep constant communication with all stakeholders. This involves asking questions, sending out google forms, emails, conferences, and any other way to ensure that your message is being consumed in the way you intend it to.  It is our job to make sure that this occurs.

Q1 How do you send your message to your stakeholders?

Q2 Has any message ever turned out different than you intended? What did you do?

Q3 What do you do to understand your students so that your message comes across as intended?