Relationships: "When you teach to the heart, the mind will follow" goes hand in hand with
I strongly believe that one of the most important elements within learning communities is rapport. Without rapport, it is hard to have trust; without trust, learners will be reluctant to take the necessary risks. The Hands Free Mama website recently had a post entitled, The Index Card Every Kid Needs to Get Today which resonates with me as both a parent and an educator. The educator, a Mr. B., reiterated the importance of forging connections with each individual student.
Victor Rios' recent TED Talk, Help for Kids the Education System Ignores, relates to a socio-economic environment similar to that in which I used to work. He implores us to no longer label young people as "at-risk", but rather "at-promise". While the affluent environment in which I now work is a world away, Victor's focus on making connections, nevertheless, still resonates. In relating his experiences, he reiterates the importance of connection and references the mantra of one of his teachers, Ms. Russ, "when you teach to the heart, the mind will follow."
For me, "When you teach to the heart, the mind will follow" goes hand in hand with trust.