Michigan’s 2017-18 Teacher of the Year knows a thing or two about inspiring students to want to learn. He shares his thoughts in this June 6, 2017 blog posting which was also published in Bridge Magazine April 17, 2018.
Luke Wilcox teaches math at East Kentwood High School and mentors other teachers to help them perfect their art of educating our future community leaders and world citizens. His suggestions include five strategies that would work beautifully in classroom circles. They include:
- Promote growth mindset over fixed mindset.
- Develop meaningful and respectful relationships with your students.
- Nurture a community of learners in your classroom.
- Establish high expectations and establish clear goals.
- Be inspirational.
If you’re looking for techniques to get more students engaged in learning, consider engaging your class in community-building circles. Mr. Wilcox’s five strategies can easily be adapted to, or introduced and fostered in, circle.
Learn more about running circles in our trainings and resources such as the Michigan Department of Education on-line restorative justice training (which I developed for the MDE in 2014) or the Minnesota Department of Education website’s restorative practices section. Contact me to see how I can support your school in adopting restorative paradigm!