NOTE: This Blog Post was originally written for LeadupNow. It appeared as this week's featured Blog Post. To learn more about this forward thinking educational consortium go to: www.leadupnow.com
Within our educational system
today, and at the heart of all that we do, rests the proverbial “student desk”.
In that seat rests the most powerful, engaging, and often untapped school
resource. By taking and making time to include student perspective and voice
within the academic, social, and behavioral facets of the school day, you will
witness increased student engagement, increased student buy-in, and decreased
behavior concerns and issues.
Building relationships with
your student it a non-negotiable foundation to create authentic student voice
opportunities. Based out of Washington, D.C. Character.Org (www.character.org ) is a national organization that promotes, supports
and fosters the Character Education Initiative. Their 11 Principles, resources,
and local/state agencies can provide additional support in moving forward in
fostering teacher-student relationships via the character education initiative.
By establishing a positive school climate and fostering positive relationships
with our students, we will see an increase in how our students react, respond,
and refer to school activities.
So how do you begin? Why
should you empower student voice? Well, we know that our students arrive to
school each day with two questions. 1. Will I be accepted? 2. Can I do the
work? In addressing these two important questions, we can help our students
feel both welcome and accepted at school. We can also help them become better
connected with their academic work.
How can you empower students
by increasing student voice? Here are a few ways that we have been able to
begin this process:
·
Principal
Sound-Off: Each quarter provide students
with the opportunity to share their thoughts, concerns and ideas with your
Administrative leadership team. Counselors and administrators meet with the
student these topics. Many times our students will be able to help
problem-solve different areas of concern within the school community. They are
also able to generate “new ideas” and initiatives to incorporate into daily
activities. Provide feedback to students explaining which suggestions can be
implemented. Also provide information to explain why specific practices and
procedures need to remain in place. By giving the students this important
feedback, you are honoring their voice (even when you cannot implement some of
their suggestions and ideas).
·
Student-Led
Organizations: Allow students to take
the lead in facilitating, planning, and leading out your student organizations
(e.g. Honor Society, Student Council, W.E.B./Leader Link). This provides them
with authentic leadership responsibilities and opportunities. Our three key
student leader organizations each have a specific focus (National Junior Honor
Society: service to others, Character Council: promoting student voice and
character education, and W.E.B.: student mentoring).
·
Student-Led
Committees: Serving as facilitators,
school administrators, teachers, and counselors can work alongside students
with these committees. For example, two years ago we transformed how we
approached our annual Veterans Day Celebration. Allowing students to share
their voice and vision for this annual event, we were able to give this
celebration a very personal and authentic voice. Moving the celebration to a
school day assembly, adding a breakfast and including student speakers, our
school community witnessed a revitalized celebration. Three years ago two
student leaders approached our Administrative team with this vision in mind.
·
Classroom
Leadership: Using the Leader in Me( www.theleaderinme.org ) initiative or other research-based practices will
provide students with real opportunities to lead out class activities,
responsibilities, and lessons. Making time to offer different types and kinds
of leadership roles in the classroom helps to provide students with authentic responsibilities
(outside of academic work). At the same time you will be building confidence
and self-esteem for your students.
·
BYOD School: In becoming a Bring Your Own Device school
demonstrates your desire to further engage students on a level that they are
accustomed to performing. Please note that technology for technology sake is
not the reason to introduce BYOD to your school. Instead BYOD can be used to
enhance and further embed learning practices with your students.
·
Content
Curriculum: Student voice and choice
is another key to increasing student “connectedness” in the classroom setting.
Start by offering occasions where they have a choice within assignments. At
times you can offer different Project-Based or Problem-Based Lear
With all ideas, initiatives,
and programs, it is important to begin slowly. Assess your current reality and
then begin with a Backwards Design (based on your school’s Vision and Mission).
From here empower teacher and student voice in designing, planning, and then
implementing your student voice initiative.
Additional resources:
W.E.B. (Where Everyone
Belongs) Leaders: http://www.boomerangproject.com
Student Council: https://www.nasc.us
