SCOE Early Learning Department - December-Using a Strengths-Based Approach to Connect and Teach

Have you sought out your marigolds? Are you a marigold for someone else?

Using a Strengths-Based Approach to Connect and Teach

As educators and parents, we are all too aware of the fact that every single child comes with their own set of strengths and areas for growth. Theses skills, aptitudes, and knowledge sets affects learning, teaching, and our collective ability to build relationships and communities that meet the needs of all. Our own personal knowledge and mindset have a HUGE impact on the work we do in early education, in particular with our historically underserved demographics. Without knowing it, we often operate from a deficit mindset, becoming overwhelmed with all of the missing pieces to each child's puzzle as opposed to the foundational pieces they do possess.

This month, let's shed light on the differences between educating from a strengths-based/assets-based approach and a weakness-based/deficit-based approach. The stance we take makes an enormous impact on our ability to help all children, families and providers to reach their potential, as well as on our ability to create real, authentic, and powerful relationships with each and every individual we serve. Check out the resources below for a little inspiration!

Strengths-Based Videos

Educator Chris Wejr

Inspirational video on the POWER of teaching from a strengths-based lens. The video is about 18 minutes long, but the time goes by so quickly because of the stories he shares. We have many butterflies in our classrooms, but we need to seek out our fireflies as well! You can also explore strengths-based resources on Chris Wejr's website here.

Focusing on Strengths-Real World Applications

Many times we hear the arguments that the strategies we use in the classroom have no real world-applications and we're setting our kids up for failure. Chris Wejr addresses this directly in his Ted Talk next store, and Eva Katharina Herber highlights it here . She also specifically calls out how the strengths-based approach can counteract that pesky negativity bias.

With a Piece of Chalk

This short film illustrates beautifully how a child lights up once he recognizes and acknowledges the power of his strengths despite the negativity being thrown at him. This video is just under 4 minutes. A moving watch for adults, this would also be an appropriate video to share with students when talking to them about working to their strengths.

The Butterfly Circus

Find 20 minutes in your day where you can sit back and watch this award winning video. This powerful short film focuses on a fictional circus owner whose mission is bringing out the strengths in people that have otherwise been cast aside by society. He takes what others deem as "side show" attractions and frame them through a lens of wonder and amazement. It's a beautifully moving reminder of the world becomes how we decide to see it. If considering classroom uses for the video, this would definitely best be used with older students.

What Are Asset vs Deficit Teaching Models?

Kids Do Well If They Can: A Strength-Based Approach

The Deficit Model Is Harming Your StudentsRaise your underserved students' expectations by raising your own, and create a series of reachable, data-based goals, scaffolding your instruction and mitigating their fear of failure.

Approaching Marginalized Populations from an Asset Rather Than a Deficit Model of EducationToo often marginalized populations (e.g., some populations of people of color, students from lower economic communities) are approached with a deficit model. Attempts are made to instill in these g…

Benefits of Working From the Asset Model

How asset-based teaching can improve classroom behaviorAsset-based teaching improves classroom behavior because it supports students' positive strengths. Here are six more advantages to asset-based teaching.

From Deficit-Based to Assets-Based: Breaking Down the Wall One Essential Shift at a Time - Language MagazineThis is part two of our series Breaking Down the Wall. View Part 1 here. Dan Alpert: Debbie and Diane, tell us more about the urgency for using an assets-based versus a deficits-based approach when working with our English learners (ELs). Think about how many of us focus our attention on ELs by poring over […]

Culturally responsive teaching: What you need to knowCulturally responsive teaching helps create learning environments that validate and reflect the diversity, identities, and experiences of all students.

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