Welcome back to our second week of Wise Wednesdays. In my last post I discussed the importance of having your students understand what their strengths are, in order to help them feel confident in accomplishing difficult tasks. However, in order for students to feel comfortable in motivating themselves to push further, there needs to be a positive classroom environment. Creating this positive environment is essential in helping students to feel comfortable in taking on challenges and risks. Who is in charge of initially creating this positive environment, you ask? Well, it starts with us, the teachers. As an educator, it is so imperative that we build that foundation for trust and support that goes into creating that positive classroom environment for our students. This is something that I strive to do everyday in my own classroom at my practicum school. Improving the self-confidence of my students is one of my major goals for my practicum. Is it an easy task? No, but nobody ever said that being a teacher was easy.
Rita Pierson emphasizes the importance of establishing a connection with each student in the classroom in her Ted Talk. Her Ted Talk is powerful and speaks volumes about believing in every single student in your class, even if they don’t initially believe in themselves. A relatable comment that Pierson made, was when she asked herself how she was going to take her “low” class from where they are now to where they need to be within nine months. Instead of making the students feel bad about themselves for being a challenging class, Pierson told her class that they were the best students and that they were somebody. The students began to believe in themselves and in their own abilities over time, as their self-confidence improved. As Pierson says, “every child deserves a champion, an adult who understands the power of connection and insists that they can be the best that they can be.” I encourage you to watch the video below:
Reference:
Pierson, Rita. (2013, May). Every kid needs a champion. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/rita_pierson_every_kid_needs_a_champion#t-196559.
Yes, it is a complex position we are in, isn’t it? I appreciate the connection you are making between your inquiry, your observations and research and goal setting in the classroom. This integration of theory with practice will support your journey to become a ‘Champion’!
Question: How might a teacher go about building the foundation of trust to which you refer? Have you come across any specific strategies or ways of doing this?
NB: I am really beginning to look forward to Wise Wednesdays Sophia. Thank you for initiating these posts.
Thank you for your response, Yvonne. Indeed, I have come across some strategies that teachers use to build trust with students.
Perhaps the biggest point that has continued to be emphasized is to respect your students and their ideas. Our students have a wealth of knowledge and too often, teachers implement very controlled and authoritarian measures in order to “keep students in line.” This does not help to build trust between the teacher and students. Instead, teachers can build trust by being honest with their students, such as admitting when they have made a mistake, being fair by setting the same classroom rules for all students, and by being reliable to your students by following through with what you promise to them.
I personally have built trust with my students through how I teach and communicate with each individual. I believe that it is important that when students make a mistake that we don’t tell them, “you’re wrong” but instead to say something such as, “You almost got it, try to sound it out again.” I also make it a point to celebrate the highs when students improve or do something well, which also helps to build trust.
Glad you’re enjoying the Wise Wednesday posts! Stay tuned for next week…