{"id":4428,"date":"2022-04-21T00:07:27","date_gmt":"2022-04-21T04:07:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/edt431-531\/?p=4428"},"modified":"2023-01-27T16:33:29","modified_gmt":"2023-01-27T21:33:29","slug":"resistant-learners-or-resilient-learners-a-great-tool-every-teacher-needs-in-their-toolbelt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/2022\/04\/resistant-learners-or-resilient-learners-a-great-tool-every-teacher-needs-in-their-toolbelt\/","title":{"rendered":"Resistant Learners? or Resilient Learners? A Great Tool Every Teacher Needs in their Toolbelt."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In every classroom there’s that one student who just can’t sit still. They jump out of their seat, yell and cuss, and distract their neighbors around them. As a teacher what can you do? How do we get students to behave? Most would say throw the book at them, discipline is what kids need in order to live healthy academic lives, but what if I told you we’ve had it backwards for centuries now? Shocker, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Kyle's
Students today in every administrator’s office<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

A great novel that I have recently picked up is called Fostering Resilient Learners by therapist Kristin Souers and . In her book she describes how students may not be looking for attention, they’re just settling for it, and their outburst have a hidden meaning underlying them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students come prepackaged with their own little set of life experiences and it is our job as teachers to build upon those experiences to raise up their learning potential. On the one hand, what if that package comes with trauma? In Souers’ book she explains how students come with not-OK events categorized as ACE’s, or adverse childhood experiences, and how these events impair the learning experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

It’s important to recognize that trauma is real. It’s also prevalent and toxic to the brain. Affecting development and learning in multiple ways. To children these events that induce trauma are experiences such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • Substance abuse in the home.<\/li>
  • Separation of parents or divorce<\/li>
  • Mental illness being present in the home<\/li>
  • Witnessing domestic violence<\/li>
  • Suicidal household member<\/li>
  • Death of a loved one<\/li>
  • Incarceration of a parent<\/li>
  • Experience of abuse (being emotional and\/or physical\/sexual) or neglect<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    We have learned that we need to create an environment where students can learn. To do that we need to set up our classrooms where students can feel safe. If students feel that they are in a hostile environment they will never be able to relax and think logically. They will be in fight or flight mode or what Souers refers to as the upstairs and downstairs brains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"
    The upstairs and downstairs brains<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Starting with the “downstairs brain” this is where people, not just students, go when faced with conflict. This could be feelings of insecurity, confrontation with another person, or when presented with challenges that overwhelm them. They simply react and allow their emotions to overrun their thinking process. The upstairs brain is where one goes when feeling secure. This mind space allows one to think critically and logically. They are able to assess the situation that they are in and come up with solutions that logically resolve their situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For example, say a student has not developed the skills they need to complete an in class activity. This overwhelms the student and they react by horsing around and throw a pencil across the room. The instructor then approaches the student upset that the student is not doing what they were assigned and goes to scold the student. Both individuals are in their downstairs brains as they are simply reacting to the situation without thinking about it logically. As the adult in the situation the instructor needs to be the one to move into their upstairs brain so that they can further assist the student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Female<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    In order to help our students we first need to calm ourselves down. Remember to take care of your own emotional needs first. As they say you cannot fill a basket from an empty bucket. Do activities that you enjoy outside of school hours, so you do not feel drained. Then you will be able to be the best teacher you can be!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Going back to our scenario, the teacher is now in a position where they can pause and take a deep breath to assess what the student is trying to tell them. This helps to avoid a power struggle that could erupt into distrust between mentor and student. Schools are so strict with discipline that the natural method may be to scold the student for not being able to sit still or maybe the instructor might demand that the student begin sitting still, start the assignment, and be quiet. The student being confined like this might even react more negatively as they feel their autonomy is not being protected. This could result in a power struggle so horrible that it ends with the student being kicked out of the classroom or even suspended from the school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Now obviously that is the least desirable outcome. This sense of harsh discipline results in thousands of students being suspended from school or even expelled. What can you do as a teacher to ensure you are reacting in the way that best benefits your students? Souers describes how through every interaction we need to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Listen<\/li>
    2. Reassure<\/li>
    3. Validate<\/li>
    4. Respond<\/li>
    5. Repair<\/li>
    6. Resolve<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Often teachers are doing steps 1, 4, and 6, but without doing 2, 3, and 5 the behaviors that students are doing will just continue. As instructors we want to keep the lessons going with as little distractions as possible, but that is not how life goes, and we cannot simply bulldoze over the emotional distress of one or two students just to keep our lesson plan on agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Check out this video below as Bob Stilger discusses resilience in classrooms abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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