Build a Heard Mentality

When teachers take time to hear students and make them feel seen, research shows students are more engaged at school and motivated to succeed academically. Traditional classroom management strategies often center around a herd mentality where students are grouped together to move, act, and think together. After all, it’s easier to manage a group of students who remain silent and think the same way instead of allowing time for students to embrace their own unique voice. When we shift to a heard mentality and take time to hear students, rather than dismiss them, students believe that their ideas and opinions matter in the classroom. Students are then allowed to distinguish themselves from one another and step into their individuality showcasing their truth, rather than conform to what others are doing. The truth is that when teachers adopt a heard mentality, they show students that they are loved and accepted just as they are.