Give encouragement to students
Sometimes just saying good job can motivate the student.
It sounds silly, but sometimes I use stickers to motivate students. It amazes me how excited adults can get over a sticker!
Hi Linda,
I love your positive attitude! I am sure your students must adore you. We must continue to be our students biggest cheerleaders. Let's keep encouraging our students.
Patricia
These are all interesting posts. I call my class, the "positive class", and that is something I start out talking about on day one of class. I explain to students about how being positive and thinking positive can make a huge difference, and I give them examples I have lived by. I tell them that they are already successful, and that I am there to help them become even more successful. I do believe that; because making the decision to go back to college after so many years is a huge commitment, and is something that I want students to be proud of; making that first step towards their higher education. So I just try to encourage them right from the start. I share common anxieties about going back to school, things I know they must be feeling, and that I too once felt as they, but I always encourage them to stay positive, and don't give up. Now, this method gets through to some students but not, all, sometimes people are just negative and nothing you say is going to make any difference. I don't let that stop me, if I can help some of the students to become more successful, and not all, then that is still an achievement.
I agree. Everything we say can impact a student positively or negitively.. we want it to be positive.
A good chunk of the student body lacks self-confidence and the positive support system at home. To truly be successful in their careers, they need to have the confidence that they are good at what they do and that they will be successful in their careers.
A little encouragement will go a long way with these student.
One of the most rewarding days in my career happened no less then 2 weeks ago. When a student was asked who helped them to succeed in school, they said that having me step into a class mid-term and give her the information necessary from the class and the encouragement to finish and succeed is what kept her enrolled. This student was ready to drop out do to lack of satisfaction in instructors and classroom management. It took a couple kind words of encouragement and proving to her that the information she was recieving would be useful in her career.
Many times, I find that our students are just looking for someone to listen to them, their concerns, and care about their success.
Not much to ask of their instructor...
Hi Jeremiah,
Great story! Everyone is good at something. We all have challenges in life, but we must continue to press on.
Patricia
Hi Kristi,
Constantly praise/encourage students. A lot of our students do not have a support system at home. They look to us to cheer them on.
Patricia
That's great to hear! something as simple as that
gesture gave your student the added confidence
to continue on. Career based college ed is full
w/students out of school for several if not many
years and getting back into a learning setting
can be undaunting.
A simple "you can do this" or "good job" will go a long way. I agree... some of the adult students in our environment don't hear it enough.
I have also found in intern/ externships... if you verbally express appreciation for their hard work, they will want to show up and do a good job. At the end of each session I try to say "Thank you" to each person. They will know instructors are paying attention and value the students.
Absolutely. I had a 50 year old college algebra student who was dyslexic and couldn't remember her times tables, putting her in tears on the first day of class. By reminding her that I do allow calculators (to all you nay-sayers, it is the best tool for the job) she was able to move past this and at least try the next bit of material. She was able to understand what we were doing perfectly and by encouraging this, she was able to move past her fear of numbers and actually become fairly adept at algebra.
Hi Geraldyne,
Yes, we must be our students biggest cheerleader. A sincere praise goes a long way.
Patricia
I agree! It only takes a second to impact the students lives and to give them that motivation to do well in everything they attempt.
I've found this to be so very effective in
turning disruptive, angry, and students w/low-esteem completely around positively. It need
not be w/elaborate praise, but sincere for a task or job well done.
always praise the good things they do
Simple words like "Thank you:, "Good comment", and "I'm glad you asked" can go long way in making a student feel valued and respected.
Hi Riley,
I like your military trainer's saying. I agree wholeheartedly. I've had several students to tell me I have more faith in them than they have in themselves. Words can go a long way either positive or negative.
Patricia
Many of our students have been exposed to countless negative reenforcements. The use of positive reenforcements, i.e. encouragements, can be the difference between a graduate and a dropout. My old military training says to compliment in public and criticize in private. This has served me well.
