Good time management, positive attitudes that indicate a strong belief the student will be successful and expectations that there is a special place where they can be happy fulfilled and productive, are the qualities that are strong indicators that a student can weather their storms and overcome as necessary. Pessimistic students who come and go with no plan or procedural interest tend to be unsuccessful. Often, they wonder what happened and are unable to identify goals and what is concretely needed to achieve them.
Great post, David. Leading by example is a key to developing these traits in our students who do not come to us with them already.
The succesful students have many things in common. They are self motivated with above average confidence. They exhibit behaviors such as always arriving early for class, staying after to ask additional questions, requesting tutoring even when they dont really need it. They tend to start conversations about a topic rather than observe others. They are not shy about asking questions. Some of them even take on the role of mentors to their class mates. The succesful student does not lack discipline either. With these things in mind we as educators need to showcase these habits and attempt to spread them to all students. We must also lead by example on all fronts, that is, we must be confident, arrive early, be self motivating, provoke conversations and thoughts, stay late with students, tutor, and be mentors to all.
Robert,
You are right on target here! Really listening to more than words is what it takes to help build relationships that lead to the development of the HABES needed for academic success.
Natalie you hit it on the money: being there to listen to students is the key! Listening will open the doors to HABE. IF you can take the cue from the student based upon what he or she says you can begin to earn their confidence and succeed in retention using the methods this course promotes. I always try to "hear" more than just their words , rather their emotions sometimes hidden within the words if acted upon can be a very powerful way to earn student trust.
Peter,
Thanks for this. One of our requirements then is to really teach how to do research.
Jeffrey,
The habit I would pick in the most successful students, is research mindedness. If they are willing to do research to find the answer they will succeed.
Peter,
If you had to pick just one habit that seems to be present in your most successful students that all students need, what would that be?
They have a deep inner drive to succeed. It is nearly impossible to change the students support system (family, friends, etc). Therefore my only real chance of impacting the students possiblities for success, is to focus on their believes and vision of what they can achieve. Then, attitude, habits and expecatations will follow suite.
Mark,
Support systems are a key to student success, but they are really not habits, attitudes, behaviors or expectations. When you look at your best students, what specific things do you see that they believe, do, think or say that distinguish them from your less successful students?
The HABE's of my successful students is their support system. They come from successful families where almost everyone has gone to and completed college and they are expected to do the same.
Natalie,
Your comments mirror the observations of a lot of teachers who are trying to help students reach their goals during these tough,stressful times. Students can lose focus rather quickly when the rocks in the road multiply or get bigger.
It is important to help students guard against negative expectations. Just as positive expectations usually lead to positive results, the Pygmalion effect can mean that negative expectations may need to negative results.
Thanks for being there for your students.
Many of our students are stressed, due to the current economic state of our nation. Fortunately, some of their habits have been excellent, but their attitudes have fluctuated. And although some of their beliefs and EQ's are high, their expectations at this point tend to mirror their attitudes. I was able to capture many tools however during this course, which will allow me to instruct my team in taking it to the next level, when it comes to students services and administration. I believe that what these students need is consistent encouragement, and someone to listen to them.
