When you Google "AGAPE", this definition is the first to come up:
a·gape
əˈgāp/
adjective
1. (of the mouth) wide open, esp. with surprise or wonder.
"Downes listened, mouth agape with incredulity"
Not exactly the definition I was looking for, but I think we can go with it for now. You see, AGAPE is a word that, in the Greek, refers to unconditional love. In Christianity, it refers to the unconditional love that Jesus displayed when he died on a Roman cross for the very people who demanded his death. Unconditional love. Let's see how this translates to the world of education.
In education, AGAPE can be described as an acronym: Association, Generativity, Adaptation, Presence, and Engagement. These five qualities together can create an environment where students are invited in, welcomed, and given a chance to learn. It’s the image of how unconditional love and caring plays out in the classroom.
In my classroom, these five principles have guided and changed my interactions on a fairly regular basis. Association refers to creating a community in which students feel welcome. While this has always been a goal of mine, I have learned how important it is to learning. Without it properly in place, other learning structures become difficult to implement.
Generativity refers to creating a mindset that we are not alone in what we do. We need to consider the future. I read an article that describes the mindset of Japanese families. From a young age, children are told about their obligation to their families. This creates a tight-knit, hard-working family unit. Our American culture may find it hard to accept, but we all have an obligation to future and past generations to care for them and to want to make life, including our education better. In the classroom, this translates to a shorter time frame – caring about the next class that walks in the door by taking care of class supplies and cleaning up after ourselves.
Adaptation is a quality that I, personally, feel has not changed much for me. One of my strengths has always been to try and meet students where their needs are and to be flexible in my teaching strategies.
Presence is also a strength that I now see in myself. I also have become aware that there are times when maybe my presence is not as strong as it needs to be. My eyes are open to how students may view me if I take a moment to sit at my desk or seem disengaged. Obviously I can’t be 100% there for 100% of my students 100% of the time, but awareness can spark change and cause one to be proactive.
The final part of AGAPE is Engagement. This is when I wish I taught something like Social Studies or English. It is Waaaaaaaaaaay easier to find ways to engage students when you have a subject that is even remotely relatable to students’ personal lives. Math,…ok,…I try, I really do. I think the best way I engage my students is not through my content, but through side conversations about work, families, or hobbies. I engage my students by inviting them to stay after school for extra help…candy helps this, too. I’m still searching for ways to engage students in meaningful ways. This is probably the area that I need to focus more on.
I can’t help but relate Agape to my own personal life. I think about unconditional love, both in my faith life, and in my own love for my children. I express that love in a much different way for them. But as for my students, A-G-A-P-E is definitely how I express agape for them.
