To believe? Is it human nature or human condition, I wonder? Is there a gene in our DNA that makes us want to believe, to hope and to accomplish?
Anatomically, modern humans have been around in our current form for around 200,000 years but while our physiological capacities have scarcely changed we are cognitively very different according to Philosopher's Beard, Human nature and the human condition (2011) Our upbringing, experiences, every teaching, cultural background, philosophy represents our movement pattern including mind, heart and body pattern coordination. This allows us to create a sense of who we are and believe in a vision. We create new patterns as we grow, learn and exercise capacities for thinking and feelings; drawing upon our talents and gifts which in turn is then reflected through our actions. We tend to believe when these movements/actions ignite passion, pleasure, joy or healing. Our immediate impression is that the practice is true, and it is because it allows us to discover ourselves to enable and unfold. When we believe we ignite in ourselves the passion, feelings of vitality, direction and belonging. It is addictive!
This probably explains why I believe in what I believe. But then what does this have to do with me believing in my students?
Then I came upon a blog post by Dr. Richard Curwin that only reaffirmed my thoughts. The 2 strategies to connect with students is to meet the real needs of students and use challenge instead of threat.
Image credit: cricristina via flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Five Ways to Reach Out
Believing in students is not simply telling them that you believe in them.
1. Stop Using Rewards
Rewards are not needed if you believe in a student.
2. Encourage Effort More Than Achievement
Encourage every child can to do his or her best. Ironically, the harder students are encouraged to try, the better they do in our assessment driven curriculum
3. Give Second, Third and Fourth Chances
School is for all children and mistakes are part of the learning process, not just for academics, but also for behavior. Rather than strike them out, teach them the skills they need to overcome their deficiencies.
4. Don't Say "You Failed" - Say "You Haven’t Done It Yet"
Encourage hope by letting students know that, no matter what they do, they can still do better.
5. Increase Opportunities to Learn
Punitive measures and consequences should not disadvantage students from learning opportunities.
So what happens when we believe in students?
There’s a lovely commentary by Paul Corrigan in College Teaching that affirms all the reasons to believe in students. We have to embrace them in all their academic inadequacies including their lack of motivation.
" It may seem obvious that students achieve at higher levels when teachers believe in them, but few would have predicted how much a simple message from teachers can change students’ whole trajectories and achievement." by Jo Boaler
Research by Cohen & Garcia (2014) indicated the use of this sentence “I am giving you this feedback because I believe in you.” had a positive effects on student achievement. Innovative teaching, positive inspiring messages and most importantly, high expectations and belief from teachers and parents is sure to have a marked impact on student improvement.
And this quote sums it all up:
" You can be the person who turns things around for students and liberates their learning path. It usually takes just one person—a person whom students will never forget."
Do you want to be that one person; a teacher who can make a difference? Then BELIEVE that every student can grow. As an educator, I have come to trust more and more in the power of believing in my students. I do this by articulating my vision through my lessons, sharing quotes and inspiring messages, sharing stories and enabling them to see the bigger picture beyond school and beyond subject specific knowledge. To believe they can make a difference and it is their choice to make this happen. A recent lesson reiterated my belief that true and real intentions along with inspiring quotes can bring about not just the 'shining eyes' but a look and glow I have never seen before in my years of teaching. Like I had touched not just their mind and heart but their soul. A student coming up and telling me "That was great Ms" was reassuring. I am uncomfortable and troubled deeply by the thought that some teachers underestimate, judge and have preconceptions about their students. To empower students to believe in themselves we must believe in them and give them an opportunity to fly.
So along with John Hattie's 10 mindframes I choose to add an 11th mindframe #ibelieve. I remember sitting down and having a discussion with Prof. Sugata Mitra; airing my frustrations about not having BYOD at my school, problems with student motivation and engagement and as a teacher being scared about standing back and giving up control to enable SOLE (Student Organised Learning Environment). Then it dawned upon me to create a SOLE I must first of all believe that my students are capable of taking responsibility and following through. It's all about our mindset! Believing also builds a classroom culture of respect and student self created boundaries.
Image credits: http://www.ascd.org/ASCD/pdf/journals/ed_lead/el201210_ferlazzo-poster.pdf
References:
Boaler, J. (2015). Mathematical Mindsets: Unleashing Students’ Potential Through Creative Math, Inspiring Messages and Innovative Teaching.San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Cohen, G. L., & Garcia, J. (2014). Educational Theory, Practice, and Policy and the Wisdom of Social Psychology. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 1(1), 13-20.
Corrigan, P. T. “How I Came to Understand That My Students Would Need Training Wings in Order to Learn to Fly.” College Teaching, 2011 59 (4), 127-128.
Curwin, D. R. (2012, 12 26). Believing in Students: The Power to Make a Difference. Retrieved from Edutopia: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/believing-in-students-richard-curwin
Ferlazzo, L. (2012, 10). Educational Leadership: Students Who Challenge Us. Retrieved from ASCD: http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/oct12/vol70/num02/Eight-Things-Skilled-Teachers-Think,-Say,-and-Do.aspx
Human nature and the human condition. (2011, 03 2). Retrieved from The Philosopher's Beard: http://www.philosophersbeard.org/2011/03/human-nature-and-human-condition.html
Ph.D., K. L. (2010, 6 1). Why We Believe What We Believe. Retrieved from What a body knows: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/what-body-knows/201006/why-we-believe-what-we-believe