Acknowledge Every Student

Does this classroom door look welcoming?

Research shows that you're supposed to watch out for "the invisible student" each day. The invisible student is the quiet smart kid in the back, the ELL student, the shy female in a male-dominated class, etc. You know who they are. There's always a few in each class and it's often an uphill battle each day to get them to participate (actively and audibly) in the class. Usually, if you're successful, it's an immensely rewarding experience because these kids are often incredibly insightful--their quietness is a way of taking it all in (and they are!). We all know the tips for including such students: circulate throughout the classroom, draw names randomly for responses, offer students opportunities to write or share their ideas in small groups before contributing to the class, etc. Recently, I observed a teacher practice a new tip for acknowledging the invisible student. Each day, as the twominute warning bell rings and students begin to scurry to class at BHS, she stands outside her classroom door and personally greets each student as they enter the classroom. She greets each one by name, interjects a positive comment or observation, asks about their weekends or lunch breaks and welcomes them into the classroom. While a seemingly small step, this teacher's simple action sets a positive tone for the day and invites each individual into the classroom space. A simple tip, but a valuable one at that!