positive impact
I'm not socertain it is always right to be positive. Some things are not possible. There are times when it might be best to tell people to move on.
I agree. I have been in Dentistry for over 30 years and know that you may dig deep, but you find something positive to say. I have always been taught, if you can't say something nice do not say anything at all. It is hard with students that have been given every opportunity and I admit, I sometimes wonder if the story I am being told is the truth. Then, I remind myself, if it is a true story, I would want compassion from my instructor and ask myself how I would want to be treated. I think they all have good intentions of doing really well, life just gets in the way and they can't get it out of the way. So, the more positive we stay, the more likely they will stay in school.
I actually agree with you. I have about five students right now that have been given several opportunities to change their behavior about attending class and passing the courses they take, but to no avail. We have stayed positive in allowing them to continue but the students are negative about having to come to class everyday, aren't willing to turn in homework and don't do well on tests and yet they keep getting more and more opportunities to improve. Sometimes we need to allow our students to fail in order to teach them how to succeed.
Mala,
Nice post. My mother told me that we have one mouth and two ears for a reason. Listening is not always easy, but it is worth it.
Jeffrey Schillinger
When I speak with students and coworkers, my practice is to let them do most of the talking, while I do the listening. Often they vent their problems. I let them go on, until they say something--anything--that is positive. Then I tell them how great that is and support whatever is positive about it. When all they get feedback for is the positive, they feel (I hope) that that is what is important. It's not that I don't hear their problems. I do and I try to help if I can. But all my enthusiasm goes toward what works for them.
Maria,
What are some specific ways you "teach your students to be positive?"
Jeffrey Schillinger
Teaching the student to be positive during the career development time is important. A lot of these student have a lot going on in their lives. Some of them are single mom that are struggiling to come to school every day. You have to encourage them and give them positive taughts so they can feel that you believe on them.I have to deal with this every day in my class.
I have to disagree with this. There is always a way to present a topic with a positive but being honest on the potential outcome. I have definitely struggled in the area, but with guidance from my director we have been able to assist those individuals in finding a positive path for their learning experience.
Jean,
Even this conversation can be framed in the positive.
Jeffrey Schillinger
