As educators, we are optimists. We believe that we can make the difference in the lives of students, maybe even in the world! I know teachers can find the "diamond" inside the most difficult of students. We know how to find student strengths, how to build them up so they believe in themselves and how to show them what they are truly capable of.
However, hang out in a staff lounge in most schools and we will find educators that also are quick to identify problems. In fact, all of us do this on a regular basis.
We look for the learning gaps that we can fill.
We identify the behaviors that are holding students back.
We add labels to students based on the lack that we see in them.
Right now, as we look forward to welcoming students to our classrooms, our tendency might be to start looking for the signs of "damage" from the year of remote learning. We might want to focus on the gaps that we see, and the loss of content knowledge. We might even want to have frequent discussions with other educators about how "far behind" our students are.
I want to encourage you NOT to do this.
Why?
Well, I have a teenager at home.
She is lonely.
She misses friends.
She misses laughing with her teachers.
She misses having conversations with other students to help her understand a tough concept.
She is DONE with a computer screen.
And...she is unsure of herself in a way I've never seen before.
All this time alone, without peers and mentors and teachers has left her wondering how normal she is, whether she is really capable of great things, and if she has anything to offer the world.
Of course, I try to reassure her. But, let's be honest. Just because your mom says you're special, doesn't always mean it's true!
What she needs when she gets back on a campus is this:
She needs a teacher who sees her strengths.
She needs some social interaction within classrooms so she can learn again how to communicate and collaborate with others.
She needs to start believing in herself again.
She doesn't need to be reminded that she's behind.
She won't succeed if she is doesn't feel successful.
She will know if her teacher doesn't have high expectations for her.
Instead of finding the holes and looking for what we've lost, let's make an effort to see the strengths, to celebrate the wins (even small ones) and to find ways for students to be successful every day!
They need you to believe in them and see their potential.
Always have. Always will.
But truly...they need it now more than ever.
Find the good.
Celebrate it.
Every. Single. Day.
Have a great week!
Kim
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