"Fear of Failure"

In my position, as a mentor, I often model lessons in classrooms.  Truly, I love engaging with students in the classroom.  It keeps me fresh and honest! 

A recent experience has led me to articulate one of my biggest frustrations.  I encounter large numbers of students of all ages and abilities who have an overwhelming fear of failure and a mistaken focus on getting “the correct answer.”

I have found that many students are so afraid of sounding stupid or dumb that they won’t even attempt to answer a question or begin a task.

When I probe as an attempt to get a student to delve deeper or to justify his or her original response, I am amazed at the change in body language and tone of voice, as if the student automatically assumes I do not agree or accept the response.

Sadly, in too many cases, we have programed students to give back to us, the teacher, the response we want, as if there are no alternative or divergent responses.  Equally, disturbing, too many questions may only have a single close ended response; thus, requiring very little thought.

My mother always said, “You learn from your mistakes,” which was why she probably allowed me to make them and problem-solve a bit on my own.  It may sound trite, but if most us would think back and identify the most meaningful learning in our lives, a few mistakes probably played a role in significant learning experiences.  We must make our students comfortable in this type of thinking.  Questioning, risk-taking and yes, mistakes are okay!

I always liked Larry’s story with respect to this subject.  It’s about a guy we’ve all admired as one the world’s greatest athletes.

"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."
…. Michael Jordan

Of course, Michael Jordan led the University of North Carolina to an NCAA championship during his sophomore year in college.  He led the Chicago Bulls to five NBA championships.  Jordan's individual accolades and accomplishments include five Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards, ten All-NBA First Team designations, nine All-Defensive First Team honors, fourteen NBA All-Star Game appearances, three All-Star Game MVP Awards, ten scoring titles, three steals titles, six NBA Finals MVP Awards, and the 1988 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. He holds the NBA records for highest career regular season scoring average and highest career playoff scoring average. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.

Michael Jordan is a successful athlete, as well as a successful entrepreneur.  We might say his ability to take risks and confront failure fearlessly is unique, but it shouldn’t be!

We can start helping our students be fearless through a few simple first steps:

• Designing questions and tasks that open-ended.  In other words, there is more than one answer.  There is more than one way to solve the problem.  There are multiple perspectives.
• When a student offers a response we consider “off target,” be prepared to ask a second question to probe or draw on what you deem to be the student’s prior knowledge.
• Offer students choices in how they might demonstrate their understanding of important content and concepts.  It doesn’t always have to be verbal or written.
• Make certain we are practicing accepting and positive body language.

We must be intentional, consistent and reflective as practitioners if we want to successfully shift student attitudes and behaviors in a more positive, productive manner!

"Food for Thought"

I’ve been reading numerous articles and blog entries relating to building a positive, supportive culture in our schools and classrooms.  Many discuss empathy as a major factor in creating a safe, supportive environment; thus, contributing to greater student success.  I ask myself, then, “What does empathy look like?”

I truly believe the spirit of the human heart is the source of empathy and positive, effective teaching.  We must first reflect upon our own behaviors and motivations before we can serve as an example to the students in our classrooms. 

Here’s a bit of “Food for Thought:”

• Presume positive intentions from students and all stakeholders.  “In presuming positive intentions, one seeks multiple perspectives, rather than single causes”.  Robert Garmston, The Adaptive School: Developing and Facilitating Collaborative Groups

•  “Don’t make assumptions!  Communicate as clearly as possible to avoid misunderstandings.”  Don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements.

• Remember: “Conflict can be seen as a gift of energy, in which neither side loses and a new dance is created”.    Thomas Crum, The Magic of Conflict

• As teachers, our words have power.  Use the power of your words only in truth, with compassion and with positive intent.

• Lead by example!  As teachers and educators, we do not impose our will on students; rather we introduce and guide students to the ideas, ideals and behaviors we value.

• Respect the dignity of every human being!  Episcopal Church, Book of Common Prayer.  We do not know, nor do we understand, in so many instances, the overwhelming stresses and burdens our children bring to school.  "Remember everyone you meet is fighting a battle you don't know about"... Anonymous

• Reflection, reflection, reflection!  We all need resources to support our reflection.  I mentioned a few above.  I have found over the years that even with the best intent, I fail to meet my own expectations.  So, I stress, we must be intentional in our own behavior and reflection if we want to be effective.

Isn’t it strange that princes and kings,

And clowns that caper in sawdust rings,

And common people like you and me,

Are builders for eternity?

To each is given a bag of tools,

A shapeless mass, a book of rules,

And each must build ere life has flown,

A stumbling block or a stepping-stone.   

R. Sharpe

A Balancing Act It Is!

As we approach the beginning of yet another school year, many teachers are thinking about priorities, building a positive culture and setting the stage for a successful school year for both students and adults.

When I worked with the National Schools to Watch Program, they provided in their vision three equal components necessary for high performing schools: academic excellence, developmental responsiveness and social equity.  Below, I am sharing a few thoughts around each from some of my recent reflections and conversations with teachers.

Academic Excellence:

• Pay attention to those rigorous academic standards! Let standards guide lesson and unit planning, as opposed to designing instruction around text books and other resources.

• Be intentional! Know exactly why you are teaching everything you teach.  Likewise, with respect to instruction, know why you do everything you do. 

• Frontload teaching “processes!”  There's a pay-off as the year progresses when processes become a habit of mind.

• Replace "What" questions with "How" or "Why" questions when designing essential and guiding questions.  Vary questioning strategies to engage all students.  *See Questioning Tips and Strategies   http://edtalkwiththelocks.blogspot.com/2012/10/questioning-tips-and-strategies.html 

Developmental Responsiveness:

• Classroom agreements should be established on the first day.  I like allowing students to participate in this process. * See Rules Vs. Group Agreements 
http://edtalkwiththelocks.blogspot.com/2012/08/rules-verses-agreements-control-or.html

• Provide opportunities for student voice and participation in decision-making.  (i.e. student choice regarding reading materials, flexibility with groups and work space, choice in demonstrating learning, etc.)

• Frontload teaching protocols and setting expectations!  Learning progresses more efficiently and more expeditiously when students have mastery of procedures and expectations.

• Be flexible with scheduling.  Blocks of learning should be scheduled around the needs and goals of the learners.  Schedule activities, conferences, meetings, etc. when time and transportation are easiest for students and families.

• Make time for team and community building.  There are a number of resources out there with age appropriate team building activities and ideas.  Even to have students pair share, then move to small groups to discuss their interests, goals, favorite activities, likes, etc. is a good start to building relationships.  Chief Seattle said, We are but one thread within the web of life. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together; all things connect." It's important to connect!

Social Equity:

• Hold high expectations for all!  Make certain all students are held accountable for the same rigorous standards-based goals; however, differentiated resources and strategies can be utilized to achieve those goals.  

• Focus on building positive relationships with students and families upfront. Use every means of communication possible. (i.e. newsletter, e-mail, social media, home visit, conference, you name it!) I have found in my career the greater connection I could make to a caregiver, the greater success I could ensure for the student!

• Respect every student’s culture through providing alternative resources, reading materials and activities that reflect diverse cultural experiences.

• Make sure students have an opportunity to work in mixed or heterogeneous groups.  Multiple perspectives are developed from collaborative social conversation; likewise, diverse thinking is collaboratively shared and modeled among group members.

I think it’s easy in the ever-present testing environment we live in to get caught up focusing on academic excellence.  I question whether our efforts toward academic excellence could be sustained if we did not address our students’ compelling developmental and social needs.  It is critical we give careful attention to how we teach students, how we treat students, and how we schedule students as we try to balance the three attributes of high performing schools within a meaningful, supportive context.  A balancing act it is! 

Best wishes for a successful school year my dear colleagues!