We all know that classic book by Norman Vincent Peale The
Art of Positive Thinking. I must admit that I have never read it although I’ve
seen it many times here and there. I do believe
in positive thinking, but like everyone else, I too succumb to negative
thoughts every now and then. I have done that often enough to know that negative
thoughts are not only unhelpful but are downright draining and they not just
affect you but also all those around you. You are truly spreading bad vibes
with negative thoughts.
I am thinking about this simply because I have been encountering
a number of instances of negative thoughts in the recent months. Usually it’s
after I’ve explained how to use a new or unfamiliar strategy for teaching
something or a different way of approaching teaching and learning. Sometimes I
get enthusiastic response; other times, there’s some doubt and scepticism.
These I can deal with. What I have problems with are the people who say to me
that what I’ve shown them cannot be used with their students. They say this not because they doubt the
strategy or the activity but they sincerely feel that their students will never
learn it even if they repeat the lesson a hundred times. And I see in their
eyes the frustration and the resignation. I see in their body language the
message that such strategies to write or read better should be shared with the
better kids and not theirs.
This is very sad. If anybody needs a new way to help them
learn better, it’s the struggling student. Good students find their way despite
the teacher. Yet, the very students who need the help are not always given it.
It’s true that teachers struggle against time and a host of administrative and
marking duties which take them away from focusing on their teaching. But that does not mean we give up on the
teaching. Who says that we can learn something just because we have been
taught? Have we forgotten our struggle to learn how to line dance, make a lava
cake, create that smoky eye look or even simply to watch our diet? Nothing is
that easily learnt.
Sure, some of our students need a much longer time than the
others. But in their journey, they should be given support and encouragement.
They don’t need to be reminded time and again that they are failures. We do
this all the time when we insist on giving them work that they cannot cope
with. We do this with good intention, of course, and that is to prepare them
for the PSLE. But deep down, we know they are not ready for the PSLE. Do we
persist in making them do those tasks and thus having them fail week after
week? What will happen to their self confidence and self esteem? Are we really
preparing them for the PSLE?
Maya Angelou once said: I’ve
learnt that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you make them feel.
Every day in our classroom, we make people feel a certain
way by what we say or do. We can make our struggling students feel better about
themselves by first showing some belief in them. Then we can make them feel
better by helping them in the best way we can. Finally, we can help them be
better by simply persisting in not giving up on them. We can’t all be Mrs
Chongs, but we can all have faith in all our students.
Be positive. Be encouraging. I believe these are the first
steps we can take to help our struggling students succeed.
