Recently, one of the other teachers sent the following email out to everyone at my campus:
Self-sufficient – able to take care of your own needs without help from others
Colleagues, over the next several weeks I will be using some of my sponge time to explore the idea of self-sufficiency in school and at home. We have already learned the definition and brainstormed some examples. Now I am soliciting ideas from you.
- If you had to name one or two ways in which you wish your students were more self-suffcient, what would it be?
- If you have been successful in teaching your students to be more self-sufficient in school, what method did you use?
My personal response was:
The primary thing that I do in establishing self-sufficiency is to not give them all of the answers. If they ask me something, I ask them how they can find out the answer. Whether that be finding a fingering chart to figure out how to play a note, asking a friend for help (peer tutoring), or helping them better learn how to use online resources or search engines.
My question to you is, how would you answer him? What are some ways that you encourage your students to develop self-sufficiency?
