I was moved to write this blog after an experience with one of my 8th grade students today.

Yesterday, for whatever reason, Little Susie decided to look at my classroom library. She said that she wanted to start reading again.

After she looked for a bit, I grabbed a book and told her that I bet she would like it. She looked at it and asked what it was about. She read the back of the book and decided to check it out.

The next day, the first moment I saw her in the hallway, she said, “How did you know I would like that book?”

I responded with a smile on my face, “Because I know you.”

What’s Most Important

The most important thing in education is building relationships with your students.

Those relationships can be built in many ways. Meeting students at the door of your classroom. Having conversations when the opportunity presents in class. Going to extracurricular activities.

The reason why I was able to choose an appropriate book is that I got to know this student. I talked to her as she entered school each day, went to her basketball games, and asked how she was doing on assignments.

Obviously, she was not the only student I did this for, but because I did this, I can relate to her.

I told her I chose the “perfect” book, “Because you have a big heart. You care for people, especially children, and what happens to them.”

As I said those, she beamed with pride.

The Connection

The book I chose for her was A Child Called It.

It is a personal story written by an author that was forced to live through one of the most appalling child abuse cases ever in California. Despite his terrible upbringing, he overcame it to become a successful adult who is able to shed light on what some children are forced to go through.

She related to this book because she has a big heart that would care for that character. That heart may carry her to a career where she is a caregiver for people in need.

I wish I could say something like this happens every day, but it doesn’t.

Why It Matters

However, this will be a day that she remembers, not because of the book, but because her teacher noticed her, paid attention to her, and understood what kind of person she was.

Build relationships with your students. It is the most important thing in education.

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