[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n today’s world, one of the biggest challenges for teachers is to produce well-rounded students. How do you raise confident, well-behaved students while competing with the internet, which at times promotes the exact opposite? There are countless bullies online trying to make other students feel inferior. And then there are all kinds of bad content that promote moral decadence.
And it’s not the internet alone. Teachers also have to teach using a curriculum that doesn’t promote well-rounded education. Children’s abilities are being measured using tests. Consequently, students concentrate on academic achievements at the expense of their talents and other important skills.
So how can teachers produce well-rounded students amidst all these challenges? The 6 tips below should help teachers provide a well-rounded education to students.
Don’t Be Overprotective
We need to protect students from dangers, but we shouldn’t overdo it. There is a fine line between protecting students and overprotecting them.
When students are faced with challenges and risk being hurt physically, then you must come in and protect them. However, if they are in a situation where they can solve the problem, then let them be. Teachers shouldn’t rush in to solve their problems. When you let students fix their problems, they learn from them and acquire problem-solving skills.
Teachers should allow students to take risks, make mistakes, and solve them. It teaches them resilience and makes them appreciate that mistakes are part of life, and if handled positively, it’s what eventually drives people to success.
Encourage Students to Learn New Skills Through School Programs
We are gifted differently. It could be in cooking, music, sports, and much more. You need to encourage your students to participate in different activities so that they can discover their passion.
Once your students discover their passion, you should encourage them to get even better at that. For instance, if they love writing, they can learn more about essays from essay writers online and perfect their skills.
Teachers can also start different educational programs to allow students to take part in activities they are passionate about. These could be debate clubs, interclass football competitions, or even school cooking events. Unstructured play is essential for students as it allows for physical, intellectual, and overall development.
Teach Social Skills
Good social skills enable students to have better relationships with their peers. The benefits of social skills for students are immediate. Usually, kids are stressed when they are away from their family, especially when they first attend school. Students with social skills can avoid such stress because they can easily socialize with others.
Social skills also have long term benefits. Studies have shown that social skills contribute to success in adulthood.
Some of the social skills you can teach students in school include; sharing belongings, following directions, listening, and cooperation, among others.
Provide a Strong Support System
Just like adults, students need assurance too. Your students need to know that they can get the support they need at school. Supporting them will make them feel loved and appreciated. They will also feel confident in themselves and try out things without the fear of failure because they have someone who has their back.
A supportive environment gives students confidence and makes them ambitious. It helps them understand that we all need help at some point and the importance of asking for advice. They also learn to trust others, acquire a sense of safety, and they will be more likely to offer help to others.
Commend Efforts, Not Innate Abilities
A study conducted by Stanford University shows that when people focus on commending children’s innate abilities like intelligence instead of effort, it can actually result in underperformance.
It’s advisable to praise students for the effort they put in to tackle challenges. This teaches them that they can achieve anything they want, provided they are determined and persistent. Praising their effort also instills confidence as they can try out things on their own.
Molding Students Character
The main goal of teachers should be to mold the students’ character. While academics are essential, it is the students’ characters that will help them survive in the real world. The main goal should, therefore, be to teach students of their value and the value of others.
Most students also face difficulties at home, including financial problems and broken homes. Besides the family issues, they also have to deal with personal problems like adolescence and identity issues. This affects them a lot. Teachers must know their students well to identify such problems. They should then advise those students, offer assurance, and give them hope to overcome those challenges.
Raising well-rounded children is not one of the easiest tasks for teachers. While it is a difficult responsibility, it isn’t entirely impossible. The tips above should help teachers to raise confident, well-behaved, and responsible students who are successful and can live a happy life.
