Championing others is such a powerful thing to do - Emma and Tom, teacher colleagues
Growth
Do you do this enough?
I recently released a teaching positivity journal and included a bunch of wise and humorous quotes in it.
Not quotes you’d find anywhere else online.
Quotes provided by my friends and family.
On the one hand, I thought it is a wholesome touch that makes it different.
On the other, they’re genuinely functional - I’ve included them because I am surrounded by people who give me so many reasons to be positive.
Amongst them, my colleagues Tom and Emma who reiterated something I see with increasing regularity: championing others is such a powerful thing to do.
Now, to quote Marge Simpson, ‘kids can be so cruel’.
It happens - children can be hurtful to each other.
Last year, we taught a group of children who bonded in many ways but who also had a range of long-standing disagreements annd emotional barriers that led to many arguments.
There was never any need for it.
It was almost always avoidable.
And no one gained anything or climbed any higher by upsetting someone else.
They were still a talented, memorable bunch of children and I learned some fantastic lessons from teaching them
But they were children. They argued. They - like most people their age - still had much to learn about being kind.
This year - as I’ve said many times - we’re teaching a spectacular group.
And, amongst everything they’ve learned, kindness seems to be one of their strongest traits.
One child who finds writing a massive challenge recently completed a history essay.
Just think about that:
A otherwise bright, gifted individual who both struggles with and severely dislikes writing wrote a history essay about the Civil Rights Movement at the age of ten.
Think back to the thing you hated most about school.
Why did you hate it?
And what would have made it more bearable - even enjoyable?
Here’s what made the difference for us…
We provided scaffolds to make the writing possible one chunk at a time.
We provided sentence stems and prompt questions to encourage relevant sentences.
The student was guided through the whole thing.
But, at the age of ten, with aspects of academia proving a significant challenge, this is what is required. We need more
Why?
Here’s why…
You should have seen the look on their face as they proudly brought their writing to me, wafting their hand in the air to shake off the writing cramp.
We didn’t just support them to write.
We supported them to enjoy the process, making it easier next time.
But I haven’t even told you the best part.
Work submitted, smile beaming, hand wafting, the student turns away to proudly return to their desk. With that, the entire class - to the last child - broke out into a calm, polite and encouraging applause.
Every one of them dropped their pens to cheer said child through the middle of room.
I didn’t announce their success. I didn’t ask their peers to applaud. Those children weren’t even part of the conversation.
But, in this group, they support each other.
And, every day, I’m reminded of how powerful an act that is.
They clap and cheer each other all the time. The high fives ring when they win awards or receive high praise or score a basketball hoop. They recommend each other for prizes and rewards points. They recommend books to one another and, if one or two children finish their work quickly, they scan round the room for someone they can support.
They have each other’s backs.
What’s the biggest thing they’ve learned about this?
Doing so doesn’t hold them back. Not one bit.
In fact, I think they fully understand the benefits of helping others - solidifying their own learning, building community, their own dopamine hit when they help someone and so much more.
Last year’s class did many things well; celebrating each other’s successes was not one of them. They were still good children; most left school as I expect any child to in terms of their emotional intelligence. If it was a round of golf, they’d have been on par.
This year’s group champions each other and, bit by bit, we’re seeing many of them exceed our expectations of them. Some are setting course records.
Not just in their ability to work but their willingness to.
Championing others is such a powerful thing to do.
Giggles
In art, our class have explored the flying machines designed by Leonardo Di Vinci and had a go at making their own out of ice lolly sticks, straws and tape.
At the first mention of ‘flying machines’, one brilliant individual had a bright idea.
‘Flying machines?’ they enquired.
‘Flying machines.’
The lesson continues and, around a minute later, an absolute army-grade paper aeroplane (this thing was honestly a work of genius) glides across the classroom with consummate ease.
We turn to the origin of its flight and see the cheeky genius standing with their arms out in admission of their own brilliance.
‘There. Flying machine.’
The gall and confidence to do it absolutely sent me.
Gratitude
I recently wrote (click here) about a young student in my class who’s discovered a streak of feminism running through them like a stick of Brighton rock.
Then - rather belatedly, I must add - I sifted through my bookshelf at the back of the classroom and rediscovered a book I’d bought.
This excited the budding little Marie Curie no end.
Whenever we sit for a few minutes of silent reading, they’re quick to grab it and continue reading about the female scientists who have changed the world.
I feel good about the influence I’ve had. As a male teacher, it’s not easy to be a boost to feminist beliefs - not least because female students have a natural tendency to seek such support from female adults.
But, whether I’m viewed that way or not, I recognise a positive show of support for their personal beliefs on this occasion.
I done good.
This is what I’m grateful for more often than anything in this job - the opportunity to make a difference.
Lesson learnt from the children - championing others is such a powerful thing to do.
Heck, I just love doing my job more than I can put into words sometimes.
Shameless plug
If you like my process for finding the positives in my work and want it for yourself then good news - my positivity journal is out now and it has everything you need to improve your outlook on teaching.
Reflective practice and active gratitude are simple ways to transform your happiness in any area.
With this journal, you’ll have the space to reflect on moments of growth, giggles and gratitude every week for the next 3 years.
Along the way, you’ll find a tonne of suggestions from me on what to look for and a bunch of wise and humorous quotes from my nearest and dearest that keep me smiling and seeking the positives.
It’s also currently part of a 5%-off-4-items offer so get a look in while you can!
If you do order one, I’d be beyond grateful for a review.
Click here or on the image below to get yours.
Surrounded by positive people is really a blessing Jack. Ofherwise some people don't even waste a single time demotivating you.
Could you kids please teach our politicians to be so supportive and encouraging? I'd love that. We all need to see each other doing this, adults and kids alike. Sadly, these kinds of loving community actions wane too quickly. May it stick with your kids forever - and be contagious to all.