myteachingphilosophy

Setting Children Up to Succeed

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Observation is the key. I watch my students closely as I teach them. Particularly at the early stages of the student's studies, I set-up the steps to learn each new idea in small, manageable increments. (For more detailed notes on how I explain to my students, see How Children Learn) Then, having set my student up to succeed, I look for that success and I am right there with praise.

My students figure out really quickly just how closely I watch them and they also learn that I am looking for for the "good stuff." As they come to realize that I am only teaching in steps reasonable for them to achieve they learn to trust me. They know, through repeated experience, that I want to see them do well. This knowledge brings out the best in children, they discover that they can do more than they ever thought they were capable of.

This close observation continues as the student grows more advanced. As I listen to my more advanced students, nearly everything that I tell them will begin with the good things that I see in their playing. When I make corrections, I nearly always am able to start with something good in their playing and use the example of what they are doing well to fix whatever errors are happening. This kind of positive teaching approach is very important to me! To always look for the good in everything a student does is rewarding to me and makes learning a nurturing experience for the student.