Chapter 7 - Confidence
As I reviewed over the chapter, I underlined some key quotes. One particular sentence struck a chord with me: “There are so many individuals out there who have the potential for greatness but never use their abilities for fear of failure or because they don’t believe in themselves” (p. 150). Believe it or not, I am one of those people. However, I applaud my faculty and staff to help lift and support me in all of my personal and professional endeavors. They help me reach goals that I never dreamed imaginable. My family and friends are also a great cheering section!
When I attended my Principal’s Induction Class a couple of weeks ago, Morgan Lee posted a quote on the wall while we were doing an activity…It read: “Remember that we become our conversations. Our lives eventually look like the people we associate with. Surround yourself with people who are innovative, passionate, interesting, provocative, caring and doing great things and your life cannot help but get better” (Robin Sharma). When I read this quote, I immediately thought about my faculty and staff! Wow! Talk about a powerful testament to our school and our faculty. I am so looking forward to a wonderful year here at school, and I know that our school’s potential is yet untapped! We have so much to do, and we have so much more to accomplish! Anything is possible, and together we can do it!
On to Chapter 8….Humor…my favorite chapter…..especially from me the eternal prankster!
Chapter 7 Confidence indeed is an essential element in all humans and directly related to effort and success. I think the classroom environment and guidelines once again come into a place of importance here, as to build confidence, one must take risks and to take risks one must have a sense of comfort, mutual encouragement and know that their efforts will be worth the risk. Teaching our students that preparation lends to success and that preparation involves hard work, acceptance of constructive criticism and repeated effort toward improvement, lays the ground work for students to realize that only high effort will give them the ultimate success, yet is so rewarding it is more than worth it.
As teachers we must always remember that students will give full effort, when inspired, encouraged and believed in by us. Our confidence in them and their abilities, and our support and guidance, provides the framework necessary for our students to desire to and attain greater success, which naturally builds confidence and self-esteem (value). Encouraging this process and then rewarding with our comments and posting prized efforts, can only build our student’s confidence. I also like for my students to brag on each other, clap for each other and sometimes even give constructive criticism in a kind way to others, explaining in such an instance, why they make this criticism and how they think an effort will be enhanced by the suggested change. I found that this does not offend them, because they are required to explain in detail their complete thoughts.
He ends this chapter by commenting on how teachers who raise the bar high, must then, be sure to provide the information and teach the skills necessary to reach and make it over that high bar, a very important reminder that our expectations can only be accomplished if we are doing our part as well as our students.
~Teri~
“There is no other place to live than at the top of the mountain.” I have said this statement to many who have asked me about DME. We, as teachers, strive to be our very best - knowing that we are in an enviroment everyday that fosters our confidence to try something new. In turn, we instill this same mentality into our students.
I recently watched a motivational video clip entitled, “212 The Extra Degree”. The basis of the video is that at 211 degrees you have boiling water, but at 212 degrees you have steam and steam can move a locomotive. This “one extra degree of effort in business and life…separates the good from the great”! 212 degrees, I believe is at the core of the DME belief system. “To get what we’ve never had, we must do what we’ve never done.” So, we turn up the heat with confidence!
Confidence in ourselves will be shown in the confidence in our students. If we set the bar high, which we do, and provide the means for our students to reach it, then there is nothing they can’t do. Sounds great in theory. However, if the teacher does not have the confidence to teach great lessons, the students can not succeed. Consequently, if the students do not feel confident in thier ability to complete the task, they themesles will not succeed. I have struggled with parents that think the standards here are too high and that the students can’t do it. I know that they can and if I accept that they can’t, then they never will do it. The teachers and staff here at DME believe the students can acheive greatness and that is why I love working here.
Stephanie D.