The best way to help reluctant learners is to show them that you care
Even a student-centered, Results Only Learning Environment has reluctant learners. In most cases, they are reluctant because they have been exposed to so many years of traditional teaching, which has made them believe school is boring and learning is not fun or necessary. |
| via eHow.com |
Spare the rod
Teachers have to fight the immediate urge to discipline reluctant learners, who may also appear disruptive. They socialize more, leave their seats and resist completing class activities. I used to send these students to our Student Management Room, a euphemism for detention center.
My justification for using the SMR as a disciplinary tool was that reluctant learners were distracting the rest of my students from completing activities.
Now, as a results-only teacher, I realize that anytime a student is not in my classroom, she is losing an opportunity to develop a thirst for learning. Overcoming the years of conditioning that reluctant learners have received from traditional teachers is challenging.
The best way to "turn these kids around" is constant rapport-building. Reluctant learners do not readily view teachers as their friends. More likely they see teachers as authority figures, who only desire to control students.
I have found that when you show reluctant learners that you care, learning follows. What is your experience with reluctant learners?
Mark Barnes is an education author and consultant and the publisher of Brilliant or Insane. Learn more about Mark on our Team page. Follow him on Twitter here.
This is my biggest challenge. I'm still working on it and building rapport takes time. We're more than half way through the year and I still haven't quite won them over. Still working on it. :)
ReplyDeleteHey @educatoral, not sure if you saw these two articles by Reed Gillespie:
Deletehttp://www.brilliant-insane.com/2014/03/10-ways-to-kill-relationships-with-your.html
http://www.brilliant-insane.com/2014/02/10-reasons-to-greet-students-at-door.html
I think both of these provide specific details for building rapport. I'd also highly recommend the book Hanging In by Jeffrey Benson (new from ASCD). It is all about dealing with the toughest kids.
Meanwhile, hang in there.