It’s fascinating how, over my years of teaching, I’ve noticed a common thread: when students are removed from the regular classroom of their friends or distractions, they often flourish in a one-on-one setting. It’s like the environment opens up new possibilities for focused learning and growth. Even for the “bad” kids.
What strikes me most is how these individual settings create unique chances to form meaningful connections with students. In a classroom, it’s easy to focus more on the ‘troublemakers’ or the ‘star pupils,’ unintentionally overlooking those in the middle or the quieter, more reserved students.
I’ve always strived to understand each student on a personal level, capturing their unique traits in my end-of-year letters. Yet, as class sizes increased, it became increasingly challenging to maintain that personalized connection with every student.
However, in the realm of special education, there’s a silver lining: the opportunity to work individually with students by pulling them out of class. This has allowed me to truly get to know the students on my caseload, and I’m grateful for the chance to make a significant impact through this focused interaction.
