TL;DR:
- To empower students, teachers should be their champions, knowing them as individuals and fostering a positive classroom culture through positive reinforcement and tailored instruction.
- Autonomy, a growth mindset, and purposeful learning are key in motivating and inspiring students, with teachers playing a crucial role in believing in their students’ potential.
- Success in education relies on factors like teacher support, positivity, classroom management, and reinforcing satisfaction in the learning process, highlighting the vital role teachers play in shaping lifelong learners.
The Power of Positive Reinforcement and Authentic Learning Experiences
As a teacher, I believe it’s important to be my students’ champion. What does that mean? It means that I am their advocate, their support system, their cheerleader. It means I believe in them, even when they don’t believe in themselves. And it means that I am always looking for ways to help them succeed.
We’re educators. We’re born to make a difference. ~ Rita Pierson
Building Connections with Students: The Importance of Knowing Them as Individuals
Being a champion for your students doesn’t mean pampering them or giving them a free pass. It means that you hold them to high standards, but you also support them in reaching those standards. It means that you give them the tools they need to be successful, and you hold them accountable for using those tools.
One way to be a champion for your students is to get to know them. Take the time to learn their names, their interests, and their backgrounds. Show them that you care about who they are, not just what they do in class. When students feel like their teacher knows and cares about them as individuals, they are more likely to engage in learning and take academic risks.
It’s the little conversations that build relationships and make an impact on each student. ~ Robert John Meehan
Tell them that you know they can succeed, that you see their potential, and that you are there to support them. When students feel like their teacher believes in them, they are more likely to believe in themselves. Click To TweetFostering Positive Classroom Culture
Another way to be a champion for your students is to use positive reinforcement. Catch your students doing something good and make a big deal out of it. Praise them publicly and let them know that you appreciate their efforts. When you focus on the positive, rather than the negative, you build a classroom culture of success and support.
Scaffold your instruction to meet the individualized needs of each student. Every student comes to the classroom with different experiences, knowledge, skill sets, and abilities. Some students need more support, some need more time to learn, and others need more challenges. When we offer a variety of access points, learners of different backgrounds and abilities are more likely to succeed.
Provide opportunities for authentic learning experiences that allow learners to engage in the real-world inquiry and problem-solving. Critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and effective communication skills are required for success in the 21st century. As such, it is important to provide engaging and authentic learning experiences that require students to think critically and solve real-world problems.
Good teachers know how to bring out the best in students. ~ Charles Kuralt
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Autonomy, Growth Mindset, and Purposeful Learning
Champions motivate their students to succeed by giving them a sense of autonomy, prompting a growth mindset, and encouraging a sense of purpose. Teachers who give their students a sense of autonomy in their learning process help to build intrinsically motivated learners who are more likely to take ownership of their own learning.
Encouraging students to develop a growth mindset can motivate them to persevere in the face of difficulties and setbacks. Helping students see that their work has a purpose, that their ideas matter, and that they can make a difference in the world is another way to motivate and inspire.
In addition, be sure to show your students that you believe in them. Tell them that you know they can succeed, that you see their potential, and that you are there to support them. When students feel like their teacher believes in them, they are more likely to believe in themselves.
As we prepare for the start of the school year, I encourage all teachers to think about what it means to be their students’ champions. Remember that you have the power to inspire, motivate, and support your students. By doing so, you can help them achieve great things both inside and outside the classroom.
Every child deserves a champion, an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be. ~ Rita Pierson
In conclusion, success in education depends on a world of factors, including teacher support, a positive attitude, effective classroom management skills, and reinforced satisfaction about the learning process. Teachers should reappraise their roles in this regard, and realize their importance in shaping the educational system to set their students up for a lifetime of learning.
About Colissa R. Jordan
Colissa R. Jordan is in her 20th year as an English Language Arts Educator. Currently, she teaches ELA 11th and 12th at Great Oaks Career Campuses in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is a former Adjunct at the University of Cincinnati. She has a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and enjoys sharing best practices with other educators. Teaching and learning is her passion. She is dedicated to teaching and empowering her students with the skills to be exceptional individuals!
