Editor's note: The following guest piece was written by Carla Probst, a grade 4 teacher at Christina School District's John Downes Elementary School and Christina School District’s 2022 Teacher of the Year.
As a mentor for novice teachers, there were many times when my duties involved observing a new teacher and providing feedback. As I sat at the back of the room taking notes, I also noticed the actions of the students. During an observation I would see students playing in their desks, whispering to a neighbor, or doodling on their papers. Why were these students uninterested in the lesson? There were many possible answers including boredom, challenging content, or work avoidance. Although I did not realize it at the time, those classroom observations had a profound effect on me as an educator and altered my personal beliefs about teaching and learning.
When I returned to my class of students, I adjusted my teaching practices to empower my students to own their learning. Many students enter school with a compliance mindset. They follow the daily routines, participate in learning activities, and complete their work because that is the expectation when they are at school. Are those students really engaged and growing academically, emotionally, and socially? My goal became to create a learning environment where students wanted to learn. Over time, and with my support and guidance, students take ownership of their learning and become empowered to set goals, learn from their mistakes, and strive to learn for the sake of acquiring new knowledge. Empowering students to own their learning is such a valuable gift because empowered students feel an increased sense of competence, confidence, and self-esteem that enables them to embrace new challenges.
Empowered students recognize that the efforts they put forth in the classroom lead to new skills and knowledge which enable them to move forward in their educational journey with fewer obstacles to overcome.
Many words can describe the role of an educator: teacher, counselor, coach, and instructional specialist are just a few. My mindset switched to becoming a guide for my students. As a guide, I provide meaningful opportunities and engaging activities that inspire my students to actively participate, share their thinking, and produce work that shows they value the process of learning. Educational research has shown that 21st-century students must enter the workforce as creative and critical thinkers who can collaborate and problem-solve. However, the focus should also be on guiding students to be life-long learners who continually seek education and knowledge for the sake of being well-rounded people.
Learning should not stop when you receive a diploma, and schools do a disservice when they talk about students needing to be prepared for college. Many students are unable to attend college due to a myriad of reasons. However, inspiring students to value the act of learning and providing them with the tools to empower themselves as adults will lead to more opportunities regardless of their education levels.
An interesting and very important part of empowering students is that any adult can act as a mentor and guide children and young adults towards being empowered and engaged learners. The first step includes supporting students’ social and emotional learning. Students develop socially and emotionally at the same time they are developing academically. Academics are negatively impacted when the development of social-emotional skills is not addressed in the classroom. When children feel nurtured and supported by the adults in their lives, they enter school with fewer behavior problems and less anxiety. Students who have developed social-emotional skills are typically more successful in school, and at home, because they respect the differences in others, make appropriate choices, and know how to manage their feelings and emotions in varied situations. Educators can also empower their students by developing authentic, learning experiences that allow students to explore, discuss, and construct meaning from situations that involve real-world problems that are relevant and meaningful. This approach helps students develop into life-long learners, who are empowered to acquire new information, while exploring and interacting with the history, people, places, and objects that exist in our world.
A person’s life experiences can be compared to climbing a never-ending staircase. Some days the climb contains opportunities to grow and learn, while on other days the climb is filled with challenges that seem insurmountable. Empowered students climb each stair willingly knowing they will be rewarded for their hard work and commitment to learning. It is truly an honor and privilege to be the guide that helps students climb their stairs as they acknowledge and embrace the notion that growing, learning, and facing challenges will open doors that lead to success, memorable experiences, and unique opportunities where choices are obtainable.
