We will close out Chapter 5 this week focusing on
motivational quotes, historical images that reflect our students, posting names
and pictures of colleges and universities and posting names and descriptions of
careers.
Chapter
5 - Environment for Learning - Do I Provide My Students with an Environment of
Excellence?
Before
we begin, take a look in your mirror and ask yourself the following questions
about your students:
Do
I have motivational quotes and affirmations posted?
Do
I have historical images that reflect my students posted?
Do
I have the names and pictures if colleges and universities posted?
Do
I have the names of careers and their descriptions posted?
Posting
Motivational Quotes and Affirmations
Principal
Kafele wrote a book titled, "Motivating Black Males to Acheive in
School and in Life" in 2009 and included a list of 50 affirmations that
could be posted in classrooms around the country.
In
this text he highlighted 5 of the 50.
I
believe in myself and in my ability to achieve academic excellence.
I
have a definite purpose for receiving an education.
I
understand my obligation to excel.
I
am determined to achieve academic excellence.
I
have a vision for achieving academic excellence.
At
the end of the day it's about creating a positive environment to develop
positive students. Students must internalize these messages and see them and
speak about them on a regular basis. Let's get them posted in our rooms, halls
and common areas!
Posting
Historical Images That Reflect Your Students
As
educators we need to focus our attention on the models, examples and images of
success our young people have before them. Far too many young students
gravitate towards negative role models - we are in a position to provide them
with alternatives.
It's
a new millennium and the media continue to bombard us with black and Latino
imagery that is negative. Through the lessons we teach, we counter what our
students see in the media by broadening their exposure, which may require we
broaden our own as well.
Have
you posted positive images in your classroom that reflect the ethnic
composition of your students?
What
type of images do you have posted?
What
relevance do they have for your students?
Take
these questions into consideration as you continue to develop a classroom
learning environment conducive to closing the attitude gap in your
classroom.
Posting
Names and Pictures of Colleges and Universities
It's
never too early to start talking with students about college. In fact, I
believe we have grown in this area over the last several years and will
continue to share the benefits and ideas of post secondary readiness. To
enhance these conversations it's a good idea to hang posters on the wall that
feature the names and pictures of colleges and universities. Many students come
from households without college graduates, so it's up to us as teachers to make
the prospect of higher education real. It's also a good idea to invite college
graduates to your classroom to speak and well as take your students on field
trips to college campuses.
Posting
the Names and Descriptions of Careers
So
many students remain unaware of the endless possibilities that await them. How
can we expect our students to have diverse aspirations of the have not been
exposed to diverse opportunities that are our there for them? Students can
aspire regardless of their background but without access to information about
it, they cannot even conceptualize the possibilities.
Principal
Kafele recommends you identify a space in your classroom to post a list of
careers and their descriptions. Discuss these with your students, but also give
them opportunities to read them on their own. The keys here are exposure and
awareness. As these increase, students' attitudes about themselves and their
prospects change for the better.
That
concludes chapter 5 and there is just one chapter remaining. There is some
great stuff here folks and I look forward to seeing how these simple suggestions
can enhance our attitudes and the attitudes of our students.