Risktaking in the Classroom
I have learned that taking risks and overcoming failure is one of those powerful things that we need to instill in ourselves in and in our students. However in saying that, it is also true that this needs to be balanced with providing students a safe place where they can make mistakes and to build trust with each student.
In order to take risks and overcome failure, students need to trust that they are not going to be mocked or punished for mistakes and failures. When I first started teaching, I found myself wanting to be the teacher who had students who never made mistakes or failed. It took me a while to figure out that their mistakes and failures were directly connected to me as the teacher. No matter how much I wanted them to succeed, if the foundation wasn’t there they were not going to succeed. And because they were terrified of failing, my students would not take risks or say, “I don’t understand this, can you help me?” I learned that this was not beneficial for my students.
So how do you teach students to take risks and overcome failure? The first thing you have to do is provide them with a safe learning environment and show them that they can trust you to make mistakes. At first it is daunting because you are met with huff and puffs and eyerolls as to why they can’t just give you what they have done and be happy with that. But as they are pushed to think, question, use trial and error on their own, they begin to push through the barriers and problem solve on their own.
As educators, we have to let go of the control which is so difficult. We want to manage our students and our classrooms in a way that makes us feel comfortable and safe as teachers. But we have to show our students that we are willing to take risks and that sometimes, we will be learning alongside them. I truly love when the conversation goes like this:
Student: How does this piece fit in?
Teacher: I’m not sure, I’m trying to figure that out as well.
Student: *snaps together all the pieces and makes it work* Oh I got it!
Teacher: Wait, show me what you did!
Student: *repeats and shows me then goes around and teaches the other groups*
Yes, letting go of control can be daunting and classrooms should not be UNcontrolled. But when it comes to risk taking, teachers have to allow their students some control. The environment we create in our classrooms decides what kinds of learners we will have. Are we creating an environment that allows risk taking and problem solving to take place or are we limiting that potential in our classrooms and ultimately, our students.
No comments:
Post a Comment