|
|
Our last newsletter looked at
the top five ways teachers wound kids. Now the good news: five ways teachers have a constructive, life-long positive impact on kids.
|
|
November 18, 2009
| Volume 10, Number 33
|
|
|
|
|
Greetings!
Our November 3rd issue of Get Ready to Lead was the most opened, forwarded newsletter we've had for a long time. It was tough medicine--how adult influencers can wound young people, resulting in long-term scars. This week we'll look at the top five positive things teachers do and prayerfully commit ourselves to being adults who leave a life-affirming legacy. Make it a great week! 
Dr. Jeff Myers
(Email) (Website) (Facebook) (Twitter) |
|
Five Ways Good
Teachers Change Lives
In October, we surveyed Get Ready to Lead subscribers about
the adults who influenced them growing up. Among other things, the survey
asked: "Think back on a teacher who had a significant positive influence
on your life and share briefly about who this person was, what they did that
influenced you, and how old you were at the time."
Of the 464 survey respondents, 367 gave replies to this
particular question. The stories were evenly spread throughout respondents'
schooling years: there were stories of influential elementary teachers, college
instructors, and every grade level in between.
How Adult Influencers Build Up Young People
Here in our office, Paige took
all 367 responses and organized them. Whereas the stories of negative teachers
were depressing and hard to read, these stories were delightful to see:
- "She took time to listen
to me. She asked about my plans and dreams and encouraged me to follow them."
- "This professor gave me
confidence to step out. Without his help, I would not have succeeded. I
have now been in education for nearly 40 years."
- "I got the feeling that he
not only liked me but that he wanted me to succeed in everything I did."
- "She had very high
standards, but communicated them clearly and made me feel like I could
live up to them."
- "I was having a little
trouble, so I pushed myself under a table in the classroom. Well, she
pushed herself under the table with me. It just seemed like she would do
anything for me. I loved her."
- "My only memory of my fourth
grade teacher was of him playing basketball with a few of us guys after
school. It was meaningful because he willingly invested his time."
- "Many of us would linger
outside his classroom between classes. On some nights we'd drop by his
house...girls & guys, football players & Key Club Sweethearts, just
to chat. Mr. Grant cared about more than history--he cared about us."
Five Themes: How Teachers Avoid Negativity
and Make a Positive
Difference
We expected to read more stories about brilliant educators
who captivated students with their knowledge. However, actual teaching skill
had little to do with the constructive actions our 367 respondents remembered. Here are the top five:
- Encouragement
(66 respondents): These teachers encouraged their students, from "Come
on, you can do it...you've got this!" to "Hey, I believe you can achieve more; give
it your all!" Uplifting words made the difference.
-
Support (65
respondents): The memorable teachers conveyed a belief that students could
succeed. This went beyond encouraging words to crafting assignments to fit
their needs, personal after-school tutoring, etc.
-
Caring (56
respondents): These respondents knew the teachers cared about them and
had the students' best interests in mind. Good teachers demonstrated liking,
respect, and a desire for students to do well.
-
Investment (51
respondents): These teachers went beyond the call of duty to invest in their
students outside of the classroom and take an interest in their lives. They
knew students personally, and this is what made the difference to the
respondents.
-
Challenge (44
respondents): These teachers set high standards and pushed students to
excel, calling out the best from them. They didn't just raise the
bar, though--they also knew how to help their students jump over it.
Other teachers were described as kind, patient listeners and were remembered for modeling the faith, being
good examples, teaching passionately, helping students discover their strengths,
and encouraging a love of learning.
Negative vs. Positive: Small Actions Yield Big Consequences
Interestingly, not one of the 367 responses mentioned a positive
teacher who was easy. In fact, many of the positive teachers were noted for having
been strict or firm. Yet two differences became clear: the positive influencers
had (1) an attitude of expectation and (2) a willingness to exert slightly more effort on their students' behalf--often, a few minutes of a personal touch made all the difference.
The five constructive things teachers do are in many ways
the inverse of the harmful actions described in our last newsletter:
Five harmful things Five
constructive things
Humiliation Encouragement
Devastation Support
Indifference Caring
Poor punishment Investment
Anger Challenge
The Bottom Line
What to do: speak uplifting
words of blessing, let students know you're pulling for their success, build
them up, express caring and personal interest, form relationships, and
call them to a higher standard of excellence and maturity.
What to not do: speak words
of devastation (expressing an expectation of failure), cause humiliation (highlighting flaws and mocking faults),
express indifference, use authority to cause fear,
or act out of anger and frustration.
In Response: A Prayer
"Lord, be merciful to me. Forgive me for the times I've
wounded others. Make me a fruitful
cultivator. Increase my care for the next generation, and through your Holy
Spirit give me the strength and wisdom to expect the best and work toward
it--both for myself and for those I influence."
What do you think of all of this? Please e-mail me at
jeff@passingthebaton.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
