Teacher's Ed with Edward DeShazer

Empowerment and Growth in the Classroom

• Edward DeShazer

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What if the key to revolutionizing education lies in empowerment? Join me, Edward Eshazer, as we explore how teachers and administrators can unlock the full potential of their students and staff through strategic delegation and collaboration. This episode promises valuable insights into assigning meaningful responsibilities that transcend traditional roles, fostering an environment where leadership and confidence can thrive. By implementing specific leadership positions in group projects, educators not only instill independence but also prepare students for success in a team-oriented world. And for school administrators, find out how similar tactics can lead to a more engaged and committed staff.

Delve into the art of creating collaborative classroom environments where students learn from each other, enhance their critical thinking, and stay engaged. This episode goes beyond just individual empowerment, encouraging teachers to reflect on how structured lessons that promote peer-to-peer learning can invigorate the educational experience. For both educators and administrators, the conversation is a call to action to consider how delegating responsibilities fosters growth and empowerment. And, as always, we'll share essential well-being tips to ensure that taking care of yourself remains a priority, because being your best in the classroom starts with looking after yourself.

www.EdwardDeShazer.org

Speaker 1:

Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers Ed podcast, the place where the best and brightest in education come to be inspired to learn to connect and grow. I'm your host, edward Eshazer, and today we are diving into the idea of empowerment and how teachers can empower their students, their colleagues and even themselves. Empowerment in the classroom goes beyond giving students responsibility. It's about giving the people that we serve the confidence to lead, to collaborate and to grow, and today we're going to talk about practical ways that we can make that happen. We'll also take a second to talk about some school-wide strategies that administrators who want to create a more empowered environment for their staff are able to use. And always we'll end with some special well-being tips, because we know that taking care of yourself is key to you being the best in your classroom. So to get us going, the first tip, tip number one, is to delegate responsibilities to your students. One of the most effective ways to empower our students is by giving them responsibility in your classroom, and I don't mean your typical classroom jobs. We got those job boards by the doorway where it's sweeping the room and handing out the papers and the paper collectors and those things are great, but I'm talking about meaningful relationship or meaningful responsibilities that really engage your students and help them build leadership skills. And an example is in group projects, giving them specific leadership roles. One student in that group you can give them a role of being the team leader, another may be the researcher, another may be in charge of presenting the findings of the group. And by giving these student roles, you're showing them that you trust their abilities to manage part of the learning process. You're not just throwing them in and saying, hey, make this happen. You are helping them get these roles and get some leadership skills and helping them share in the process and allowing them to, and your students to, develop their confidence and independence.

Speaker 1:

I am 41 years old and when we were growing up, where I think education is starting to the society has shifted is when I was in school we were learning how to go into a blue collar world. It was very straight line. It was very factory mentality, and schools today cannot be factories. We need to teach and empower our kids how to be successful in the world that they are walking into, and more often than not, they are walking into the world of teams with different roles and different expertise. So now is the time to start training our kids for those roles, and when we start to do that type of delegation, it's empowering because it makes our students feel valued. They see that you're giving them ownership of what's going on. It motivates them to rise to the occasion. And guess what? When students feel empowered, they're more likely to engage deeply with the content that they are involved in and they're more likely to engage with each other.

Speaker 1:

For the administrators that are listening, I want you to think about how you can empower your staff in similar ways. Maybe it's giving the teachers more ownership over professional development sessions, or letting them lead in initiative in the school. And, just like with the students, when your staff and teachers feel trusted to lead, they become more engaged and more committed. They become more engaged and more committed. So I want us to take a second and think about this what is one responsibility you could delegate to your students? For the teachers out there, what's one responsibility you can delegate to your students this week that would empower them? For the administrators, is there a staff member that you can think of in your school that could take on a leadership role in a project or initiative that would help them grow themselves? So then, while we're thinking about that, I want us to start thinking about after we delegate responsibilities and help empower the individual, in individuals, in our school and in our classroom. Next, we have to create an environment where collaboration thrives, because that intakes collaboration, takes empowerment to the next level.

Speaker 1:

So our second tip is creating opportunities for students to collaborate. Collaboration in the classroom is powerful because it allows students to learn from each other. When they work together, they share ideas, challenging one another, and it teaches our students to think critically. As teachers, we can create these collaborative opportunities by structuring lessons that require group work or peer-to-peer learning. No student wants to be in a classroom where the teacher is standing and talking for 45 minutes. And, let's be honest, as teachers, no teacher and I could be wrong. If someone's listening and they're like I, love to stand and teach for 45 minutes, you are a dying breed. No teacher wants to stand and teach for 45 minutes. You are a dying breed. No teacher wants to stand and teach for 45 minutes.

Speaker 1:

So, by getting our students to collaborate, instead of always assigning individual work, creating these group challenges or group projects where students have to solve problems together Think about something like a debate, where students are assigned different sides, or research project where they split up roles and collaborate to complete the work. When students work together, they don't just learn the material, they learn how to communicate, compromise, support each other. These are skills that go far beyond the classroom. And remember collaboration is not just for our students, it's for us as teachers too. Are there ways that you can work more closely with your colleagues? Are there ways that you could be co-teaching a lesson or even co-planning a unit? These are great ways for us to bring new ideas and energy into our classroom. It's also a great way to model the power of collaboration for your students.

Speaker 1:

Administrators. Think about how you can create more opportunities for your teachers to collaborate, whether it's through formal structures like the professional learning or more informal team meetings. Collaboration strengthens relationships and strong relationships create strong school culture. So I want us to pause for a little reflection. The question I want us to think is how can you create more opportunities for collaboration in your classroom this week? Maybe it is a peer learning activity, or maybe you reach out to a colleague down the hall or in another department and plan something together. Collaboration leads to stronger relationships and better learning outcomes. It's that simple. So the two things as far as the teaching aspect that I want us to think about before we transition into the wellness. Number one, I want us to begin to delegate responsibility to our students, and once we start doing that, we have to start creating more opportunities for our students to collaborate.

Speaker 1:

And before we move into today's wellness tip, I want to take a moment to tell you about the Be Well Teacher Academy. The Be Well Teacher Academy is an online community that is designed specifically for educators who want to prioritize their well-being while balancing the many demands of the classroom and the school. Here's what we offer Monthly self-care workshops led by wellness professionals, guided meditation and reflection sessions to help you reset. We'll have journal prompts to help you reflect, reduce stress and recharge. And, most importantly, it is a private and supportive community where you connect with other educators who understand what you are going through. And here's the best part the first 250 members who join the Academy will receive lifetime free access to all of these incredible resources. That's right Lifetime free access. So head over to wwwbewellteachercom to sign up and secure your spot in this amazing community. And remember, taking care of yourself is essential to being the best teacher you can be. Visit wwwbewellteachercom and be one of the first 250 members to get lifetime free access.

Speaker 1:

Now let's talk about our well-being tip. This is something that is simple but often overlooked, and that's movement. As teachers, we spend so much time focusing on our students that we often forget to focus about our own physical well-being. Whether you are sitting behind a desk grading papers or standing in front of the classroom all day, it can be easy to forget to move your body. Sometimes we forget to even eat lunch. Incorporating small moments of movement throughout our day can make a huge difference. Even a quick stretch between classes or taking a short walk during lunch can help you clear your mind, boost your energy and reduce stress. Movement isn't just about physical health. It's about taking a mental break and giving yourself a chance to recharge. Here's something to think about when was the last time you really focused on your well-being? We're always running around putting out fires, making sure everything and everyone else is taken care of, but we forget that we need care too. Even just five minutes of moving, breathing, stretching can completely reset your day. You deserve those five minutes, you are worth it, and your well-being is not a luxury, it's a necessity.

Speaker 1:

Now here's your challenge for the week. First, I need you to delegate a meaningful responsibility to your students. It could be a classroom job, it could be something bigger, like leading part in a group project, but give them the chance to take ownership and watch how it empowers your students in the classroom. Second, I need us to find a way to foster collaboration in our classroom, whether it's with a group project, peer-to-peer learning activity or even a co-teaching opportunity with a colleague. I want you to see how collaboration can strengthen the relationship and boost the learning in your school.

Speaker 1:

And lastly, don't forget to take care of yourself. Try incorporating just a little more movement into your day, whether it's stretching between classes or taking a short walk when you get home. However, you can do it. But when you take care of yourself, you will be able to take better care of your students. And remember, when you take care of yourself and those around you, you're building a stronger, more connected school community. Keep believing in yourself, keep believing in your colleagues and, most importantly I said that backwards Keep believing in your colleagues, keep believing in your students and, most importantly, keep believing in yourself Until next time. I need you to stay inspired, stay connected and keep growing. See you next week, if you have not, please like, please subscribe, please share this episode and don't forget to head over to wwwbewellteachercom and join our community. First 250 get lifetime free access. But let's keep going, let's keep growing, let's stay connected and I'll see you all next week. Thanks for tapping in.