Teachers and Responsibility for Learning

Students Can be Poor Learners. So What?

Be a champion for your students!

If you hang around any public school long enough you will hear a discussion of why some students just don't seem to get it. There are numerous "reasons," but often the reasons are  presented as excuses.

Are Demographics Destiny? 

There is no question that well-identified variables place many children at risk for learning well. Perhaps the most serious are issues involve family dysfunction, lack of support from parents, and poverty-related issues. Often all three of these come as a "bundle." 

Overcoming these and other issues that jeopardize the education of millions of children is problematic to say the least. Demographics affect motivation, opportunity to learn, general attitude toward learning, and a belief in one's ability to learn. Unfortunately, the same demographics can affect teachers' ability to teach-- especially when unfortunate student circumstances are interpreted simply as "laziness" or seen as an immovable barrier. 

Certainly students with baggage can be difficult in a classroom. Behavior, on-task time, basic skills, etc. can place additional demands on teachers. Many teachers find it easy to blame the student and/or the parents for failure. Some students seem to be ready and willing to fail on the first day, and teachers are often willing to let them.

"No Excuse" Teaching

The best teachers for at-risk students are those who can adopt a "no excuses" attitude. These teachers have a seemingly inexhaustible store of patience and a philosophy that includes accepting the responsibility for student achievement. They are armed with knowledge of the at-risk student and possess empathy that allows them to get beyond the superficiality of behavior and into the mind of the learner. These teachers do not blame students for failure, even when students are substantially handicapped. A failure to them is like a death is to a surgeon who analyzes what happened so that he can be better the next time. Failure may be an option, but it is not a welcomed one.

Teaching the hard-to-teach often involves non-traditional methods and exceptional understanding of the learning process.

• Motivation. At-risk students may require different types of motivation and teachers need to understand some basic issues about motivation. Battles must be avoided, hope must be maintained, threats of failure are pretty much useless. Maslow's Hierarchy is always relevant -- if students are overwhelmed by basic psychological and physical needs, they are not likely to be involved in learning.
• Avoid Battles. Confrontation-- especially with at-risk students -- makes teaching and learning more difficult.
• Attribution theory. Some students simply attribute their failure or success to circumstances beyond their control. Talk with students and try to gain insight into why they think they fail.
• Praise, don't criticize. At-risk students may well be so accustomed to criticism that they have developed immunity.
• Expect success. Let students know that you expect success. Make learning a "big deal" and acknowledge successes. Continuously remind students of how they are moving in a positive direction. Make the subject relevant. 
• Manage the class. Often the most difficult of necessities is the maintenance of an environment for learning. Teachers may have to give a little, but knowledge of where to draw the line is crucial. Use humor and diffuse negative thinking by respecting student opinions. Traditional techniques often fail. Many at-risk students are rude, but you don't have to return it, you have to help them change it.
• Read, Read, Read! There is lots of good information for teaching difficult students. Read as much as you can! Become the school expert! Be positive and avoid "teacher lounge" explanations. No single source has all the answers, but answers are out there. 
• Change! Teachers may be required to change traditional thinking and methods for success. We a willing practitioner of best practice.

Stand up for Your Students!

Be the champion for your students! You may be the single teacher in the school who is able to educate, not only at-risk students, but teachers as well. Avoid gossip, name-calling, loose talk about students. Seek out students at lunch or on other occasions just to say, "Hello." Shake hands, pat them on the back. Call parents with good news. Try to enjoy and acknowledge small victories every day.