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How to Post Your Reflection:
Step 1. Your Name.
Step 2. Comment on two previous reflections posted in the forum by your cohort members. If you are the first to respond, you will have no one to comment to. If you are second to respond, please respond to the first member’s response only.
Step 3. Paste Your Reflection from your backup google doc.
Assignment:
- Watch the Video
- Read the writing that follows.
- Please reflect on the following questions. Record the answers in a separate doc and copy the words to the forum link provided below at the end of this segment.
1. Who are my students?
2. What do they need right now?
3. What is one intention I have for how can I can approach my students (or family, etc.) them with an Assets-based vs. Deficit-based approach? (see video for explanation of this perspective). Can you imagine how this assets-based perspective could be upheld as a classroom and faculty culture at your teaching (or family) environment? Reflect on these questions provided under the Assignment explanation above. Please keep a separate doc(s) as a back up of your contributions this semester, and copy it to the reflection forum below.
Rachel:
1. Who are my students?
– Preschool
– High needs- (socially, emotionally, many IEP’s)2. What do they need right now?
– Lot’s of teacher guidance, modeling, patience
– Time and space to grow3. What is one intention I have for how I can approach my students.
– They are in need of my guidance
– They are teaching me and making me a better teacher and special educatorAssets-based perspectives would help to foster a much more positive approach to teaching and learning. Children would hear the modeling of positive talk and may be more likely to speak the same way to teachers and peers; as well as carry it through to their home environment. Thinking about assets also gives individuals a more positive mindset, that in turn will make them a more positive, and happy person.
Lisa Gariboldi
1. Who are my students?
Kindergarten class of 7 boys and 4 girls.2. What do they need right now?
I would have to say an engaging, motivating, fun, caring classroom environment.3. What is one intention I have for how can I can approach my students (or family, etc.) them with an Assets-based vs. Deficit-based approach? (see video for explanation of this perspective). Can you imagine how this assets-based perspective could be upheld as a classroom and faculty culture at your teaching (or family) environment?
I do believe that engaging in an assets based perspective would only increase the positivity in our classroom. I do feel that as positive as I am, there are a few tricky kids that cause a lot of stress throughout the day. I do see their behaviors as problems, but maybe if I try to think of them as opportunities it might help me to find more happiness and joy in teaching these kids. Maybe if I shift my thinking a bit, it will impact our relationship. There are times when I, myself, have to walk away and take some deep breaths before I go back to engage with a certain student. Maybe I need to think about somehow using my frustration, or his oppositional behaviors to think of what opportunities open up? What is out there for us to work on together?
Rachel, I totally agree, a positive mindset will create happy people!
1. Who are my students?
Pre-K 3-5yrs old, 21 students2. What do they need right now?
Love, laughter, light, safety, engagement, play, play, play, nature, outside time, safety, patience, time to explore, time to investigate and opportunities.3. What is one intention I have for how I can approach my students.
1 intention I have to approach my students is dependability.
They know that I will greet them every morning with a smile and my arms wide open, literally and figuratively. I approach each day as a new day to discover and learn right along with them.Rachel-
I agree that these little ones need lots of guidance and positive modeling. We lay the foundation. I think pre-k teachers have the hardest and best job of being the first to provide this foundation.Lisa-
I know that some days are harder than others and some students are harder than others. I admire your braveness and vunerability to show the times that you need to pause.
I think this positive modeling of mindfulness is so necessary for our students to see. It shows them that we also use the stategies that we show them! <3Roberta Melnick
Who are my students?
-My students are a group of 28. Their age range is between 9 & 10 years old ~ 4th graders who were together last year as a cohort. We have some additions and subtractions to our cohort which means some of the students are new to our cohort.What my students need right now?
-Connection: They need to be seen, heard, and they need to belong to themselves, their class, their community and their families.
-Consistency: Having a reliable system in place at school is one of the keys to safety in all aspects of being at school.
-A Reflection Practice / Mindfulness Practice: In order to achieve anything, you need to practice and put the time in.One intention to use with my students.
In addition to approaching my students with patience, I plan to approach them in a slow / observant way. “I am seeing…,” also, in a way that signals being trustworthy and understanding.
I am amazed at how sometimes students at this age group think that they are in trouble even when teachers glance in their direction, or try to hold them accountable for being their best student, being their best person. They seemed worried and unsure, therefore becoming defiant and hard to reach. After figuring out basic needs, I’d like to figure out how to get more traction with my students.With an assets based approach, it seems that it brings things to a core level where people are forced to make due with what they have in place and strengthen from there. With my students, it does come to a point where they themselves… are all they can rely on… in the moment when they will either do/try or not. We have lots of conversations about how to motivate themselves and make good decisions, ones that make them feel good and feel needed / wanted and ones that offer a sense of accomplishment. At school/work and home… I value taking this approach because we can only build up in order to succeed. I read a quote a few months ago about the importance of not spending any time, like no time, on things that are in a negative light… basically saying it is a complete waste of time to focus on deficits. I will say that sometimes schools have to get it all out and know that they are functioning in a deficit in order to be able to start to rebuild.
Lisa ~ walking away and taking a deep breath is a powerful practice, also very effective. When the teacher models this, the children definitely learn from it and learn to trust the process and start to take deep breaths for themselves.
Heather – this is such a great approach. I have a student who uses the quote, everyday is a new chance. At first, I was saddened, but then I realized the deep level of resilience in that statement and my heart opened even more. Also, I always tell my students that they are teaching me.
Hi Roberta- I agree 100% that is what all our students need right now “-Connection: They need to be seen, heard, and they need to belong to themselves, their class, their community and their families.” How do we get there?
Lisa, I do believe you re correct it is all about how we see the kids; I love your idea of “I do see their behaviors as problems, but maybe if I try to think of them as opportunities, it might help me to find more happiness and joy in teaching these kids.”
Who are my students?
-120 kids 4-13 years old.What my students need right now?
My students need to slow down, be heard, and learn how to listen to their bodies.One intention to use with my students would be:
I believe A shift towards assets-based perspectives in my classroom can promote a more optimistic outlook toward teaching and learning. This approach can encourage children to adopt positive language patterns and interact more positively with their teachers and peers, extending to their home environment as well. By focusing on assets, individuals can cultivate a positive mindset that can enhance their overall happiness and well-being.
Amanda – YES!! Our students definitely need to slow down, be heard and listen to their bodies. One of my intentions is to be a better listener/observer to what my students need. I also believe that the assets-based approach can enhance happiness and overall well being.
Lisa – I love your self reflection about approaching problem behaviors as opportunities to strengthen your relationship with your students. It’s amazing how a slight shift in thinking can create such a difference.
Who are my students?
I teach about 120 students in grades K-6.What do they need right now?
My students need connections with both peers and adults right now. They need to form positive relationships and feel a sense of belonging. They need to enjoy their time at school with their friends. They also need time to be kids and enjoy time in nature. Sometimes I think they spend so much time inside and on a computer, they don’t realize the benefits of spending time outside. Lastly, they need to move more! Students need opportunities to be active throughout their school day.What is one intention I have for how I can approach my students (or family, etc.) with an Assets-based vs. Deficit-based approach? Can you imagine how this assets-based perspective could be upheld as a classroom and faculty culture in your teaching environment?
One intention that I have to approach my students is to really focus on my students, what they are saying, what they are doing, and just try to be present in the moment with them. I feel like they are so busy, moving and talking, that I don’t always truly listen to them.
I’m also thinking about 144 acres of land adjacent to our school and grant opportunities available to us to use on that land. I feel that as a whole, we have been looking at it with a deficit-based approach. Teachers feel like they have too much on their plate to look at one more thing. However, I think if we look at the social and academic benefits using the adjacent land would provide, I think we would all gain from moving forward together. An intention I have with students is to provide them multiple opportunities to access the land to spend time connecting with each other and with nature.
I love the example that states…instead of “What’s wrong with us?”, we should say, “What is right with us?” It is immediately a different, more positive look on the same situation.
Who are my students?
Kindergarteners, 15 4-6 year olds2. What do they need right now?
Skills that will allow them to have social/emotional and academic success as they move on to 1st grade and beyond. Continued work on emotional regulation and problem soloving. Executive functioning skills that allow them to complete tasks with greater independence. More growth mindset in regards to approaching challenges and building skills.3. What is one intention I have for how can I can approach my students (or family, etc.) them with an Assets-based vs. Deficit-based approach? (see video for explanation of this perspective). Can you imagine how this assets-based perspective could be upheld as a classroom and faculty culture at your teaching (or family) environment?
How am constantly trying to practice in myself the reframing approach to children’s behavior. I remind myself of the phrase that we do not want to “feed the weed” by giving attention to undesirable behaviors. I try to remind myself that children use strategies that have worked for them in the past to get their needs met. As an educator I want to give them new/more effective strategies for the classroom. I also try to focus on building relationships with students, especially those I am finding challenging so that I can approach them with greater compassion. I always try to give positive feedback and reinforcement to students to build positive identity.
I agree with Rachel that it is always more important to focus on the positive than the problem which can be a struggle when behaviors present challenges in the classroom. Like Lisa I often find myself getting frustrated. As a new teacher I do appreciate hearing from other teachers what they might be experiencing so that we normalize our experience and can work towards more effective strategies in the future instead of getting frustrated with myself for the way I am feeling.
Veronica Eldred, K Rumney School
1. Who are my students?
I teach 15 kindergarten students (5-6 year olds)2. What do they need right now?
They need a learning environment that allows a focus on curriculum but also a lens in support of choice and exploration while competing motivating tasks.3. What is one intention I have for how can I can approach my students (or family, etc.) them with an Assets-based vs. Deficit-based approach?
An assets-based approach to teaching allows the teacher to model positivity and the concept of not “yet”. An open mindset can be something everyone can possess, regardless of academic potential or desire. I also strive to provide a safe space in which students feel trusted and able to make mistakes without judgment. I also want them to know how to advocate for themselves by reflecting on what they know to be right from wrong. Building their self esteem and personal autonomy gives them more assets to build upon in their future.Wed 2/14/24
Kelly Perline
Forum Response:I am so blessed to share both learning and growing opportunities with my life partner / husband, Kevin. We both watch our grandchild together, and we also co-instruct together at VSU. I am a huge advocate of co-teaching and co-creating.
Who are my current students:
Situation 1) one grand child age 2, and another soon to be born grandchild in April.
Situation 2) 13 Adult graduate students within the counseling program at Vermont State University at NVU,Johnson. Current course is Counseling Children and Adolescents. We also offer Incorporating Alternative Modalities within therapeutic settings in the fall with another cohort of 12-13 students. Typically half of the students overlap within both courses.What are their Needs:
Jackson needs opportunities to move his body throughout the day, to engage with play that includes problem solving, connection, exploration and wonder.
I am just starting to meet this semester’s cohort of participants/learners. Typically, our graduate students need: understanding and consideration for their very full lives as students and professionals, belonging, safety, connection, contribution, rejuvenation and empathic care. Our courses are run retreat style over long weekends in our home and I co-facilitate the course with my husband, Kevin.
My intention with incorporating an assets based approach:
Kevin and I practice nonviolent communication (Marshal Rosenburg) and mindful communication within our home and it is how we raised our own children and also an approach professionally in our former school (yes we taught together there too). It’s interesting because NVC is a needs adaptive approach and I hadn’t thought of a needs adaptive approach as a deficit based model. I will work to stay aware and open to learning more about this and to challenge my own thinking around this. I currently see needs as met or unmet and our actions are our strategies to get our needs met. Needs are universal. There are no competing needs, only strategies. I fully believe everyone has a right to have their needs honored, respected, and met. I will personally dig deeper into my understanding of this and work to ensure Im not bringing a deficit based, approach. I strive to be student centered and strengths based and see challenges as opportunities to learn. I am often in wonder and awe when Jackson does something unexpected. I am curious about how his mind is making meaning of his world and how we can grow and learn together. Both Kevin and I on a daily basis strive to model the language and perspective of all of his assets with his parents and his other grandparents because we are concerned with how how others label him already as “hard, difficult, needy…) Our intention is to maintain joy, wonder, adventure and connection.
With our graduate students, a large part of our approach is exploring decolonizing therapeutic approaches as well as incorporating alternative modalities, including Indigenous healing practices. A theme is “You are the Medicine” and we take considerable time within retreat exploring our own personal gifts and strengths as our Medicine Way. Each participant will explore their personal story in depth and highlight their resiliencies. We also discuss the Circle of Courage and ask each to explore their gifts and strengths within each area — I will make sure to also discuss the language of assets. We will bring the needs VS. assets conversation up as a group reflection and hope to discuss it within the context of therapeutic settings as well. Thank you for this nudge… I strongly believe in the importance of our language so I will take this seed and plant it!
Veronica,
I appreciate your focus on safety to make mistakes as well as building a sense of personal autonomy. 15 kindergarten students must be a beautifully dynamic flow of energy. I look forward to hearing more about how the metaphors within gardening and medicinal herbs will support the children in celebrating each of there individual assets and how they each of them can “blend” creating yourclassroom assets. So much magic much must be happening in your room each day!
My students are my teachers, the faculty, my 200 plus kids and their families, my family.
What they all need is to be heard, to be celebrated, to be acknowledged, to be listened to, to be read to, to be loved.
I intend to pause and think before reacting. I think I am programmed to see the negative/ deficits. I am imagining how this asset-based perspective could shift a whole school and or family culture, but that shift begins with me and my intentions, my awareness and my commitment to change me first.
I love this: Assets-based perspectives would help to foster a much more positive approach to teaching and learning. Children would hear the modeling of positive talk and may be more likely to speak the same way to teachers and peers; as well as carry it through to their home environment. Thinking about assets also gives individuals a more positive mindset, that in turn will make them a more positive, and happy person.
It’s so true that this aligns to what I was trying to articulate. One small shift can cause a chain reaction and who doen;t want a chain reaction of positivity!
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