Act as if.
This philosophy is one we have heard before, 21 Keys. Act as if is about doing. Once someone is doing something, we can help them. We can see if they are having problems, where there might be a way to lead them in the right direction. I liked how Moorman also brings it back to us as professionals.
posted by Sarah @ 3:52 AM
13 Comments
13 Comments:
I hear the "I can't"s when my students feel frustrated, and I try not to tell my students to just try...because if they could, they would. This approach turns it around, making it possible for the student to have a positive image of them completing the task, rather than it being a stumbling block. I will try this in my classroom.
I am sure many of you have heard the phrase, "Fake it, till you make it" My students and I use this as a reminder that belief is 90% of the battle. We laugh about the phrase, but it is a reminder for all of us. Act as if, does the same thing, it focuses the positive.
I think this approach could be a breakthrough for some reluctant students as long as they are in a safe environment to 'act as if'. So many times, their obstacle is their lack of belief in themselves.
I like it for everybody! I find that mind set very helpful in my own life. Using it with myself has had a surprisingly strong effect on the kids I am working with.
"Children learn what they live"
One of my bathroom mirror quotes reads "Plaster a smile on your face every morning, and one day it will fit"
I've been trying to use this with my daughter who has been complaining lately about how difficult some of her high school classes are. After trying it a few times, I actually gave her the book and had her read the article for herself.
This is another way to turn a negative into a positive. Like positive affirmations.
I like this for both myself and my class. If one thinks they "can't" do something but are told to "pretend," "fake it," or "act as if,"the pressure is off of them.
I understand what they are saying, but I'm not sure about the whole"fake it till you make it" thing. I understand being positive and believing in yourself, but it also feels like telling them to be fake. When they say I can't, I tell them, show me the way you think it should look. (in kindergarten it is usually spelling a word or drawing a picture)
Another great idea to implement in the classroom. I like how the "Act as if" approach with students provides a more positive motivation for students. The story about the middle school science teacher who had a group who did not know what to do next. His response of "What would you do it you did know" was very impressive on what the student were able to do with this thought as a motivational piece to produce the required learning within the student.
I use this strategy a lot, but I also fall into the other pattern of "just try it". Today during math I used the words "What do you know about the problem?, let's start with that." It worked and a student who is reluctant to start, or to do anything at all, completed the problem and 3 more like it.
Janet has a great story about one of her students using the phrase "take a risk" because that is what she has been saying to them.
I think "act as if" could work the same way, because some of us shoot ourselves in the foot by giving up too easily. "Act as if" may encourage us to "take a risk" and surprise ourselves at how much we do know or can do.
I also liked the example of the teacher who said, "What would you do if you did know?" It is so important to recognize all students for taking risks. For many of them it is a huge step out of their comfort zone.
I have found this true in my feeling of inadequacy on the computer. I have made myself just act like I can - and believe it or not,success sometimes follows!
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