#IMMOOC Challenge #4

​“Leaders are meant to unleash talent by bringing their people’s strengths to life, not ignoring them.”

This resonated well with me and it made me think of a conference I attended last week. Sir Ken Robison was the keynote speaker, at my conference, and he was telling a story about - The Beatles.  More specifically, Paul McCartney or Paul as he called him, and how Paul’s elementary music teacher told him he was not good at music.

Need I say more? Paul McCartney not being good at music….What? I’m pretty sure the whole audience laughed at that.
 
As educators, we are not there to judge our students. We are not there to tell them what they are good at and what they are not. We are there to provide a safe space for them to explore their talents. Our job is to encourage, spark curiosity, help them believe in themselves…. and most importantly open the doors to learning. When we judge, we immediately limit what a student is capable of.
 
When I work with a student that is considered “low” academically, I do not judge them on that. I keep an open mind and meet them where they are. If I were to judge and say they are never going to get somewhere, then they won’t. At least not when they are with me. But when I go in with the attitude that they can do it, their world can change. Their attitude towards learning can change because they have someone who believes in them.
 
Until next time,
Jackie

PS-Thank you George Couros for the quote above! :) I found it in his book.