Opinion
Student Well-Being Opinion

The Humanity of Homeroom

February 26, 2019 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

The hope for the future lies within my 15-minute block of 24 students.

For eight years, I have greeted students at the door of Room 138 with a high five, a smile, and a cup of coffee in my hand. Though this isn’t the most academic or rigorous interaction students have with my classroom--it’s the foundation for everything we do over the course of a year.

I learned a long time ago that students don’t want to learn from someone they don’t like or from someone who has no interest in their lives or their stories. As educators, we must be purposeful in establishing these relationships and having day-to-day interactions with students. Homeroom provides the perfect opportunity to lay the foundations of this important work.

During our morning time together, we talk about our families, experiences, and our hopes and dreams for a brighter future.

These conversations play out in every lesson we do. We make connections to the outside world and to the worlds in which we find ourselves--some of those worlds are perpetuated by societal norms. The outside world says, “You won’t be anything because you are a young girl from this part of town...” But it’s also a small moment in time during which I can intentionally put new dreams and words into their minds. I can say, “Have you heard of this college nearby? You would make a great teacher, nurse, law enforcement officer...”

Humanity is found in a relationship with another human--with our students.

Humanity is found in homeroom.

With our busy schedules and never-ending to-do lists, we often overlook the true purpose of homeroom. Beyond clerical work, the time spent checking in with students on a personal basis and asking them how their weekend went, with the intent of forming relationships, is a small investment that has the potential to pay great dividends.

Relationships between students and passionate teachers will always be the foundation of successful classrooms. Our kids deserve a little humanity.

Derek Voiles is the 2017 Tennessee Teacher of the Year and a member of the National Network of State Teachers of the Year (NNSTOY).

Image courtesy of NeONBRAND on Unsplash.

The National Network of State Teachers of the Year believes expert teachers will lead the way to a more equitable and exceptional future for all kids. Do you agree?

Then help ensure that great teacher voices keep coming your way by donating to NNSTOY now. Donate Now

The opinions expressed in Teacher-Leader Voices are strictly those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects in Education, or any of its publications.

Events

Jobs Virtual Career Fair for Teachers and K-12 Staff
Find teaching jobs and other jobs in K-12 education at the EdWeek Top School Jobs virtual career fair.
Ed-Tech Policy Webinar Artificial Intelligence in Practice: Building a Roadmap for AI Use in Schools
AI in education: game-changer or classroom chaos? Join our webinar & learn how to navigate this evolving tech responsibly.
Education Webinar Developing and Executing Impactful Research Campaigns to Fuel Your Ed Marketing Strategy 
Develop impactful research campaigns to fuel your marketing. Join the EdWeek Research Center for a webinar with actionable take-aways for companies who sell to K-12 districts.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Student Well-Being Opinion 4 Steps Students Can Take to Help Make Tough Decisions
When students feel stuck, they can harness the power of the nonconscious mind to help them move forward.
Kennon Sheldon
2 min read
Images shows a stylized artistic landscape with soothing colors.
Getty
Student Well-Being From Our Research Center Students Think Social Media Is Fine, But Teachers See a Mental Health Minefield
It's important for adults to recognize and understand teens’ perspectives in order to teach healthy social media habits.
8 min read
Custom illustration showing a young female student floating above a cell phone while in a protective bubble that looks like a split happy and sad emoji. Digital and techie textures applied to the background.
Taylor Callery for Education Week
Student Well-Being Q&A 'It Terrifies Me': Clinical Psychologist on Tech Overuse in the Age of AI
Lisa Strohman has dedicated her career to connecting the dots between tech overuse/misuse and mental health problems.
4 min read
Custom illustration showing a young female student wearing a book bag and standing inside a protective bubble that looks like a split happy and sad emoji.
Taylor Callery for Education Week
Student Well-Being From Our Research Center Social Media Is Hurting Social-Emotional Skills. How 4 School Districts Are Fighting Back
A majority of educators believe social media negatively impacts students’ social-emotional skills, an EdWeek Research Center survey found.
7 min read
As part of a SEL lesson, 6th grade students at Swope Middle School in Reno, Nev., practice online safety measures.
As part of a social-emotional-learning lesson, 6th graders practice online safety measures at Swope Middle School in Reno, Nev., on March 19, 2024.
Emily Najera for Education Week