BMS-Bridge Builders: Recent Episodes
José M. Peterson-Torres
BMS Bridge Builders is a podcast focused on cultural awareness and culturally responsive teaching strategies. Its purpose is to provide Berry Middle School Staff with the skills and knowledge of working with their diverse population in the classroom.
A look into Black History Month, it's origins, and our contribution here at Berry Middle School.
Ms. GC gives her account on how to build relationships with our students. She provides us with ideas on approaching students by asking key questions to entice students to open up and trust you as a teacher invested in their wellbeing and progress.
It's important as educators for us always to be transparent and tell the truth to our students. We want to demonstrate to our students that we, too, had a series of rough patches and illustrate how we overcame them and not use these challenges as excuses. We the experience we have, it's an opportunity to become their mentor or coach in life. "Your transparency can save a life" (Jackson, 2019, p.85). Being transparent and coaching our students through difficult situations can guide them in learning how to cope with difficulties. In that process of relationship building, admitting mistakes as adults is paramount. We are modeling how to apologize. As educators, we are teaching them not to dwell on past mistakes but learn from them, pivot, and move forward.
Jackson, R. (2019) Becoming the Educator They Need. ASCD.
The school year has started, and you know your students. Now what? What things can you do to continue to build relationships with your students and dig deeper into understanding them and their interests? This episode of Bridge Builders looks at what you as a teacher can accomplish to build on the relationship you have already started.
This is our very first BMS-Bridge Builder episode, previewing what this podcast is about and what topics we will share with staff in the course of a few weeks.