What stuck out to me from Zaretta Hammond’s “Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain” webinar, was the notion of building a learning partnership between teacher and student. She says it’s on the teacher to use care as fuel to earn students’ trust. Once students establish that trust for their teacher, they will then allow themselves to be pushed more by the teacher.
This resonated with me as I strive for that balance between care and push within my teaching style. I believe I can help my students become more confident in themselves - and specifically be more willing to exercise in front of their peers - by establishing that trust first. I think it’s not that uncommon for a student to have been scarred by a PE teacher of theirs in the past, simply because that teacher may have tried to push too hard before earning that trust from students. It’s important to establish clear expectations - that you essentially have NO expectations - when it comes to their current level of fitness or athleticism. As long as you are giving an effort in class, your skill level or talent DOES NOT MATTER. Another example... This one specific to virtual learning... For whatever reason, students absolutely hate exercising on camera. For many students, if they’ve had a PE teacher who makes them do that, they are completely turned off to the idea of PE immediately. You as the teacher have lost their trust, and therefore, they will not want to be pushed. I made a promise to my students at the beginning of this school year that they will never need to have their cameras on when we are doing any exercise. I believe that has earned me some trust points with my classes and now students are more willing to engage with the class and be pushed!
2 Comments
Erica Reeves
11/11/2020 06:24:23 pm
Dustin, I love that the students are building confidence and trust with you! Trust goes so far with all students. I as an adult wouldn't want to exercise on a video for everyone to see, especially if I doubted my abilities! Thank you for establishing the trust and rapport needed for these young adults to believe in themselves and be willing to push themselves.
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Jason Chatham
11/11/2020 07:22:07 pm
My man! Just a quick comment here. There is NO CHANCE I would want people watching me exercise on camera. The risk of someone filming it while I damn near have an aneurysm doing chin ups would be mortifying. I like to work out (sometimes) and I like to sweat, but to be watched would be a different level of self conscious. They must trust you immensely to do this for you— and knowing you as I do, I am certain that’s the case.
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About Dustin Green:High School PE Teacher Archives
March 2021
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