“Sometimes the nicest thing a teacher can do for a student is let them come in, lay their head down, and go to sleep.”
8th grade Teacher Brandon Holeman’s Tik Tok video is going wildly viral, for the best possible reason.
When you’re working with kids, it’s so important to recognize that sometimes, the best thing you can do is to support a child EXACTLY where they’re at in any given moment. And Holeman clearly understands this.
When Holeman noticed that a student in his class looked off – with his head down on his desk on the day of a big test – he wondered what was going on. But instead of badgering this kid, telling him to sit up and pay attention – Holeman took the time to see what was wrong.
And he found out that his student’s grandfather had passed away the night before. Holeman wanted to help. And his message of caring is resonating with millions of people. Because what Holeman did next was the simplest thing – and the most powerful.
See for yourself:
@bcholeman This is for all the teachers and students out there. Life can hit hard, and we all need some grace. ##teacher ##middleschool ##fyp ##foryou ##studyhacks
“Our tests are not as important as a student’s personal life. And we all need to recognize that. Students and teachers both.”
And this is why I love teachers. I’ve worked with so many amazing teachers over the years. And the ones that stand out above the rest are the ones that see students as whole people, who need adults to support them in all the messiness of life. They are the teachers who know their students as full people – beyond the walls of their classroom.
Tests are important, of course. But the emotional well-being of our kids is more so. And a student who feels truly supported by an adult is a student who will continue to show up for school, day after day, even when things are tough.
Especially when things are tough.
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