One of the things I value the most in people it’s their independence and self-determination. I find it thrilling when someone demonstrates they can “do it by themselves”. Conversely, I find it difficult to deal with hopelessness. Yet, it is one of the character traits I encounter in one or a few of my students in each of my classes.
I consistently try to provide them with strategies and resources to achieve the goal of, eventually, not needing me (much or at all) to advance their learning. When I ask them to complete any task, big or small, I demonstrate how their class notes and / or bilingual dictionary can be useful. I also encourage them to ask each other for help and, as a last resort, to use me as a resource.
I consistently try to provide them with strategies and resources to achieve the goal of, eventually, not needing me (much or at all) to advance their learning. When I ask them to complete any task, big or small, I demonstrate how their class notes and / or bilingual dictionary can be useful. I also encourage them to ask each other for help and, as a last resort, to use me as a resource.
Some of them have grown in their ability to help themselves, and I am there only to challenge them a bit more every so often: I would simply point to mistakes they haven’t seen or show them how their work can be improved further. Others keep attempting to get an easy answer from me and we smile together as I send them away to look for themselves. However, a few of them have seemingly become reluctant to ask me for help.
That is clearly an undesirable consequence of my pushing for their self-reliance!
As a result, their behaviour has become increasingly challenging. I know part of it is a reaction to their frustration for not understanding or being able to independently do what is asked of them. I now feel they have grown to hate me for not understanding and attending to their needs. They probably have not found other ways of expressing those needs either. It looks like I am experiencing an older child’s version of a toddler’s tantrum when they cannot express their feelings with words…
Just an example of one of the complexities we teachers face in our classrooms.
Yet I have to find a way to get them expressing their needs in more effective and less hurtful ways.
I have tried the letting them know, with words, I am there to help them. They must not believe me anymore!
Well, as Jeff Li during EC14 in September suggested: “forgive yourself every night, recommit the next morning”. That is exactly what I will do!
That is clearly an undesirable consequence of my pushing for their self-reliance!
As a result, their behaviour has become increasingly challenging. I know part of it is a reaction to their frustration for not understanding or being able to independently do what is asked of them. I now feel they have grown to hate me for not understanding and attending to their needs. They probably have not found other ways of expressing those needs either. It looks like I am experiencing an older child’s version of a toddler’s tantrum when they cannot express their feelings with words…
Just an example of one of the complexities we teachers face in our classrooms.
Yet I have to find a way to get them expressing their needs in more effective and less hurtful ways.
I have tried the letting them know, with words, I am there to help them. They must not believe me anymore!
Well, as Jeff Li during EC14 in September suggested: “forgive yourself every night, recommit the next morning”. That is exactly what I will do!