The Importance Of Personally Meaningful Education

It is a commonly known fact that students who can relate to their teachers, subjects, or even the content that is being taught in the classroom, those students will succeed better than the students who do not care, or are not interested. When teachers are able to get those students to care, be interested, and put in the extra effort, chances are they are practicing Personally Meaningful Education. Personally Meaningful Education is when a teacher is able to go above and beyond to actively engage their students and perform better in the classroom. Teachers can achieve this goal by building a rapport with their students and having a positive learning environment, being able to identify how each of their students learn and adapting their class

If that student see their teacher outside of the classroom at school function, the students will know that they care and want to be involved. They will be more apt to like that teacher and have something to talk about the next time they see them. Plus, if students get to class early, ask them how their day is going, if they have any plans for the weekends, or how their game went. “Talk to the students informally whenever possible.” (Ertel, p.115). Basically, just talk to that student one on one and really get to know them. Another way teachers can build rapport with their students, is having an open door policy and be honest with them so there can be a mutual trust and respect. Not only is having a strong rapport with students important, it is also key to have a positive learning environment. A positive learning environment should be where students feel both emotionally and physically safe in the classroom. There are several ways that teachers can have good classroom management to ensure they have a positive learning environment. Every student is assigned a number that only they know, and if they are acting up, not following the rule, or being disrespectful, they

Most of my teachers did practice Personally Meaningful Education, because they would talk to about things I thought were interesting, they came and supported me at my games, and they were honest with me. I felt safe in their classroom and did not have to be afraid or embarrassed to be who I was. Since I am kinesthetic learner, they found way to reach out to me. In classes like Physical Education and math it was easier for them, because they just had me be demonstrate whether I knew how to do it or not, on the other hand for classes like history they would sometimes have us role play, or do presentations. In all of my classes, I was allowed to use a stress ball to keep my hands busy to stimulate my brain, and the teachers were all okay with that. Also, we would do some form of a current event in my classes, and that was fun because it was something that was recent and interesting because we go to pick it. I can highly attest to the fact that the teachers who practice Personally Meaningful Education, will have their students perform better in the class, become more involved in extra-curricular activities, and have more self-confidence than the teachers who do not. Clearly it is evident that Personally Meaningful Education plays a key role in students success because it all falls back on whether or not