Grace In The Classroom

Honoring dignity of those who aren't doing well is something I try bring my highest awareness to. The author said "So if my students know in their bones that I have given them a dignity that is independent of their performance, then I can have honest conversations with them about their performance. " This is the key! People don't care what you know until they know that you care. I had an experience with one of my children when they had engaged in especially unskillful behavior. I explained to that child that they were loved and would always have a home to come home to. I explained there was no behavior that could cause separation between them and me. I think they were shocked they didn't get reprimanded. Corrective teaching came over the next few days. Consequences came as well, heavy ones. But we led with love and belonging first. The fruit of this seemed to be trust.