Moving Forward

If you really want to positively impact students, especially students with histories of behavior problems or academic failure, you need to face forward. What the heck is he talking about, you might be thinking to yourself right about now. What I mean is that in order for a student to make a positive change, they need you to truly believe that they are capable of change. You must be willing to forget their past mistakes, and move forward. Do not pay attention to teachers who have had these students in their class in past years and are eager to share all the horrible things that these students have done. They may even expect you to share their anger, hatred, or disgust. Worse yet, colleagues may expect you to share in their firm belief that these students are not capable of improvement. Do not let yourself fall into these traps. Your belief, or unbelief, in students capabilities is conveyed daily, whether you choose to acknowledge it or not. Often, these messages are transmitted in subtle, seemingly invisible ways. Do you believe that all your students are capable of growth and improvement? Do you have high expectations for every single individual who walks through your classroom door?