A terrorist attack in Boston was followed by an attack in Somalia, which preceded an attack in Paris and most recently Brussels.

Politicians seeking to be elected talk to and about each other on television in ways that would send most children to detention or in-school suspension.

Our children have access to information and images of chaos that surround them on a daily basis.

The fear, anxiety, images of violence and disrespect of others they bring with them to class impacts their ability to connect, engage with others and learn.

Students have access and exposure to a myriad of information. In today’s society, the word “google” has become a verb. Today’s students need opportunities to process what they see in order to understand and effectively apply the information at their fingertips. When we create a culture and climate of empowered students, they are able to successfully navigate school and life.

My favorite definition of empowerment is leading others to lead themselves.

The top 5 ways of empowering students in the classroom are:

1) Involve students in choosing “real” issues to discuss. (Build social awareness) Information that is not relevant in a student’s eyes goes in one ear and out of the other. Obtain feedback about what is important to students and infuse it into classroom learning and teaching.

2) Provide educational experiences that foster mutual respect, exposure to diverse perspectives, empathy and psychological well-being. (Develop ability to identify emotions and self-regulate) This type of development occurs by infusing discussion and reflection into everyday activities. These experiences create opportunities to become more self-aware, aware of the feelings of others and lead to the development of an emotional vocabulary in a safe place.

3) Create opportunities for students to be teachers. (Develop responsibility) When students are responsible for sharing information they have ownership in gaining a deeper understanding of information and in what happens in the classroom. Ownership leads to increased confidence and engagement.

4) Develop supportive, respectful relationships between staff and students. (Build relationship and conflict resolution skills) Advisor/advisee, mentoring and peer leadership programs develop mutually beneficial relationships that allow students an opportunity to unplug, connect with one another and increase a sense of hope for their future.

5) Encourage meaningful technology use in the classroom. (Develop decision-making skills) Learning can happen anyplace and at anytime. Take advantage of new ways to engage topics, problem solve and critically think through mediums that students are drawn to.

If you would like some assistance in achieving any of these objectives, please contact me by clicking and completing our contact form.