Reply To: Lesson 4: Psychological Safety & Assessment – Discussion

[AJ Ellison]

I find that this key points in this lesson ebbs and flows in my classes depending on how comfortable the students are feeling with the content. On days where the content is difficult and students are struggling to find a path, my students have a more difficult time being vulnerable with each other and handling conflict. Those days require much more of me reassuring, praising progress, helping students find the next step on the path, and helping students manage their conflicts and insecurities. Those are difficult days but I am always super proud of the persistence students show in moving forward in constructing their math thinking. We often end those days with a quick consolidation of amazing strategies that were used and a round of applause for all the hard work.

[AJ Ellison]

I find that this key points in this lesson ebbs and flows in my classes depending on how comfortable the students are feeling with the content. On days where the content is difficult and students are struggling to find a path, my students have a more difficult time being vulnerable with each other and handling conflict. Those days require much more of me reassuring, praising progress, helping students find the next step on the path, and helping students manage their conflicts and insecurities. Those are difficult days but I am always super proud of the persistence students show in moving forward in constructing their math thinking. We often end those days with a quick consolidation of amazing strategies that were used and a round of applause for all the hard work.