When students are not meeting your expectations, it can be easy to become overwhelmed. You can implement a strategy called “connect before correct.” This strategy emphasizes building a strong relationship with your students and models using specific language relevant to this situation. For example, if a student is struggling to complete their work, you could say, “I’m noticing that you are having a hard time today concentrating on your work. Tell me what is going on. What do you need to get your work completed?”
Another way to use restorative language is to implement affective statements. An example of this would be when a student is constantly interrupting their neighbor in the classroom. You could say, “I feel sad when you interrupt your neighbor. What I’d like to see is you helping your neighbor instead.”
When you use these strategies throughout the school year, your students are more likely to exhibit a growth mindset and engage in using restorative language with you, other students and their family members.
At Grand Canyon University’s College of Education, our teaching and learning cycle provides a structure for reflection for teacher and principal candidates. It provides guidance based on research regarding the professional teaching and learning process and is grounded in our rich Christian heritage. The teacher and principal candidates personally progress through the teaching and learning cycle. Learn more about earning your education degree from GCU and return each week for a new Teaching Tuesday post.