LEAven Blog
The Road Doesn’t End There
With the growth of social media and technology we are able to keep in contact with each other more frequently than previously. We can stay in touch with family and friends, and believe it or not, we can stay in touch with our students. Schools have different policies for the ways in which teachers communicate with students. However, it is acceptable to remain in contact with students, and there are a number of advantages in doing so.
As teachers we put in a lot of time and effort to educate our students; this is an investment we hold dear. Keeping in touch with our students helps them see that we continually care about them and that our time with them doesn’t end when they move on. Keeping in touch also keeps the door open for up-to-date information about what’s going on or what’s new in each other’s lives. Remember you are not trying to make your former students your best friends or buddies but keeping in touch with former students can help them with growth spiritually and with future academic success.
Teachers are Good References
As students grow, they build networks and have a need for good references, who better to give references than their teachers. These references can be for a job, volunteer opportunities, or for academic purposes, and having an open dialogue with former students makes it easier for them to approach you for a reference. We are also biblical references for our students, and with all the struggles kids face on a daily basis, it is great to have someone whom they have built a relationship with that can direct them to God’s word, especially if they are not active in the church.
Teachers have life experiences that can be beneficial to their students regarding their journey towards adulthood. With these lifelong experiences, teachers can help steer their former students in the right direction and provide assistance with vocation in the church.
The teacher-student relationship is a two-way street that doesn’t have to end when a student moves on to another grade or school. As teachers we have invested in the future of our students, and it brings us great joy when we hear of their success and when we are involved in their growth and their success.
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
