Propp’s Propaganda
High School English teacher discusses high school curriculum and student issues
Favorites?
As a teacher, how do you feel if someone says: “I heard you have favorites”. This idea has come up twice this week. If a teacher works hard at building a rapport with students, does it mean that the students that actually respond automatically become the teacher’s favorites? A student teacher in our school just recently went for an interview where she had to arrange in order of importance ideas that were written on cards. She mentioned that rapport was one of those words and in this district’s mind, rapport was number one! Perhaps this saying, ” you have favorites” comes with the profession?
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When students ask about favorites, I generally reply as my mother does, inanely vaguely.
“You are my favorite student named Jamal” (If he’s the only Jamal)
“You are my favorite student who plays right defender on girl’s varsity”
When they push about the favorites issue, I try to point out that my relationships with them are unique. Rapport does not imply favorites. You can have great rapport with students who are introverted or who may hate the subject you teach. Rapport is a relationship, and relationships are unique. If you have rapport withg your students, you have provided an environment in which a positive relationship exists and fosters student achievement. This may be academic, it may be emotional, but students feel as though you are invested in them.
Everyone has favorites. Students and Teachers. What matters is keeping it out of the classroom. If a student gets too close to a teacher and one day the teacher yells at them they think “Oh my jeez they don’t like me anymore!!!” It’s a big blow. I’ve been there (maybe i care too much though) =[ So honestly who cares if you have favorites as long as you keep it out of the classroom???
