What role does school play in building students’ agency and identity?
One of our school’s visions is to create future leaders. Our school provides many opportunities for our students to practice leadership based on their strengths and abilities. At least once a week, we host Leadership Symposiums for each grade level where students learn about leadership and self initiative skills needed for the 21st century. Just today, our principal paid a visit to our classroom to inform my students that they have been selected to take different leadership roles and to model positive behaviors to all second graders. Building agency is the human capacity to make choices. In this case, my students will get to choose a leadership position and lead the rest of the second graders to promote positive behaviors and good habits in school. They will be helping and guiding other second graders make good choices to build a stronger community. My students and I are really excited to take the lead in this new project and to see positive outcomes
How aware are you and your colleagues of the impact our choice of words have on developing students’ agency and identity? Can you give examples?
Developing agency and a sense of identity is not something that can be imposed in a child; it has to come from within. However, teachers could play an important role in helping students by creating a safe environment. Choice of words can help crate an environment that fosters self-confidence and positivism. It could also help create a sense of belonging and create a safe zone for students to learn. Choice of words can provide positive feedback and make students feel good about their work and performance in school. Teachers can choose words to cultivate: encouragement, pride, accomplishment, respect, motivation, and more.
What would you do, if anything, to make using choice words a more conscious and accountable school wide practice if you were the school leader?
Teachers influence significantly in the life of their students. They are often role models and good examples of social interaction. If I were a school leader, I would integrate choice of words as part of the school mission and vision. I would focus on creating a choice of words environment and culture in my school. I would focus on bringing my staff on board and bringing awareness on this subject by providing direct teaching about the power of words and how they can make a positive impact in students. From that, I would ask staff to apply and teach students as well. Once that is in place, I would probably reach out to make connections at home by training parents and ask them to practice word choice at home.
4. What could you do, if anything, to make the use of choice words a more conscious and accountable personal practice as well as one embraced by others on your site? Are those things within your sphere of influence?
I could make choice of words an integral part of my lessons at work and my life and interaction with people around me. Plugging in positive words into my lessons such that students start getting familiar with them. Eventually, students could make good word choice part of their routine and use positive, encouraging words when interacting with their peers. Practicing choice of words is certainly within my sphere of influence and I am fully in control. It is my choice to use them.
5. Commit to 5 things you are willing to do this semester that will make your school choose words wisely?
1. Invite parents to use more encouraging words to foster a growth mindset environment.
2. Use Seven Habits strategies and terminology to help students create their own growth mindset
3. Consciously and consistently use words to help students find their identity and build agency.
4.Embedding social skills within the lessons such as: self-assessment, growing from mistakes, working collaboratively.
5. Provide opportunities for students to practice choice of words through the day.
One of our school’s visions is to create future leaders. Our school provides many opportunities for our students to practice leadership based on their strengths and abilities. At least once a week, we host Leadership Symposiums for each grade level where students learn about leadership and self initiative skills needed for the 21st century. Just today, our principal paid a visit to our classroom to inform my students that they have been selected to take different leadership roles and to model positive behaviors to all second graders. Building agency is the human capacity to make choices. In this case, my students will get to choose a leadership position and lead the rest of the second graders to promote positive behaviors and good habits in school. They will be helping and guiding other second graders make good choices to build a stronger community. My students and I are really excited to take the lead in this new project and to see positive outcomes
How aware are you and your colleagues of the impact our choice of words have on developing students’ agency and identity? Can you give examples?
Developing agency and a sense of identity is not something that can be imposed in a child; it has to come from within. However, teachers could play an important role in helping students by creating a safe environment. Choice of words can help crate an environment that fosters self-confidence and positivism. It could also help create a sense of belonging and create a safe zone for students to learn. Choice of words can provide positive feedback and make students feel good about their work and performance in school. Teachers can choose words to cultivate: encouragement, pride, accomplishment, respect, motivation, and more.
What would you do, if anything, to make using choice words a more conscious and accountable school wide practice if you were the school leader?
Teachers influence significantly in the life of their students. They are often role models and good examples of social interaction. If I were a school leader, I would integrate choice of words as part of the school mission and vision. I would focus on creating a choice of words environment and culture in my school. I would focus on bringing my staff on board and bringing awareness on this subject by providing direct teaching about the power of words and how they can make a positive impact in students. From that, I would ask staff to apply and teach students as well. Once that is in place, I would probably reach out to make connections at home by training parents and ask them to practice word choice at home.
4. What could you do, if anything, to make the use of choice words a more conscious and accountable personal practice as well as one embraced by others on your site? Are those things within your sphere of influence?
I could make choice of words an integral part of my lessons at work and my life and interaction with people around me. Plugging in positive words into my lessons such that students start getting familiar with them. Eventually, students could make good word choice part of their routine and use positive, encouraging words when interacting with their peers. Practicing choice of words is certainly within my sphere of influence and I am fully in control. It is my choice to use them.
5. Commit to 5 things you are willing to do this semester that will make your school choose words wisely?
1. Invite parents to use more encouraging words to foster a growth mindset environment.
2. Use Seven Habits strategies and terminology to help students create their own growth mindset
3. Consciously and consistently use words to help students find their identity and build agency.
4.Embedding social skills within the lessons such as: self-assessment, growing from mistakes, working collaboratively.
5. Provide opportunities for students to practice choice of words through the day.