Introduction
In the examined article, Sonia Nieto addresses the importance of caring in the teaching context. She intentionally connects three vital terms – teaching, caring, and transformation – to demonstrate that cultural integration and a deep understanding of students are necessary for this line of work. The current essay investigates the concept of caring in the teaching position and provides a personal reflection on the topic based on the article by Sonia Nieto.
Reaching and Teaching Students
One of the essential ideas presented in the paper is that teachers should reach out to students on personal and cultural levels to stimulate the learning process. Nieto (2012, p. 29-31) emphasizes three primary steps – “Learn about ourselves, learn about our students, and develop allies” – that might help teachers achieve this goal. The first lesson concerns personal reflection since educators need to understand themselves to eliminate potential bias against their students. For instance, unconscious stereotypes and judgments might shatter the teacher-student relationship. In this sense, educators need to reflect on their behavior and beliefs to establish deep bonds with their students. Hence, the second lesson is to learn more about each learner since every student is a unique individual. Lastly, teaching is a physically and mentally demanding job, and educators need to “develop allies” to “grow and survive” (Nieto, 2012, p. 31). It implies that teachers need to form bonds with their colleagues for emotional support, knowledge sharing, and to make the work process more enjoyable. Ultimately, these three steps are crucial to successfully reaching and teaching students.
The Importance of Transformation
The educators who deliberately follow these guidelines undergo a cultural transformation that allows them to perceive students as unique individuals who require distinct approaches to learning. In turn, it helps teachers form a bond with pupils, which is essential to the teaching process, according to Nieto (2012) and many other prominent scholars. Education is inseparable from the “sociopolitical context,” implying that teachers can only achieve maximum efficiency if they show genuine respect and care for the students (Nieto, 2012, p. 29). As a result, it is necessary for an individual to undergo a cultural transformation to teach and understand their students better.
Personal Reflection and Teaching Skills
My position on teaching aligns with Nieto’s perspective on cultural transformation. I genuinely believe that an educator can provide a satisfactory teaching experience only if they care about their students. In this sense, I intend to take Nieto’s advice and focus on understanding myself, learning about my students, and forming deep bonds with my colleagues. After all, it is my genuine desire to help students grow as learners and individuals, and that is why I want to develop as a teacher. Hence, I hope to acquire the necessary teaching skills, such as effective communication, a student-focused mindset, cultural sensitivity, and other soft competencies, in the graduate program. I believe that it will help me grow as a professional and provide a more effective and pleasant learning experience.
Conclusion
Caring and transformation are vital concepts in the teaching process that allow educators to understand their students and adjust their learning practices. My teaching philosophy aligns with this perspective, and I want to acquire the necessary teaching competencies to help me grow as a professional and an individual. After reviewing the article by Nieto, my understanding of cultural sensitivity and caring education has deepened, and I intend to implement these concepts in my practice.
Reference
Nieto, S. (2012). Teaching, caring, and transformation. Knowledge Quest, 40(4), 28-31.