Have you ever felt reluctant about a new learning situation, like a weekend workshop? Perhaps you had things you would rather do than attend the class. Maybe you were preoccupied by things going on in your family. We’ve all been there. What if the instructor verbally acknowledged that you were choosing to give up a weekend in order to continue growing professionally? You would relax, knowing that the instructor understood!
It is important to acknowledge your students’ current experience. You might say, “It may have been a little bit difficult to leave home this morning, as you had things on your mind. Thank you so much for coming. I’d like to invite you to set those things aside and focus entirely on these experiences so that you can benefit from our time together.”
After summer vacation, you might say, “I am sure that you had a wonderful summer vacation and that you were doing many fun and exciting things with your families and friends. The weather was lovely, and I understand that you may be missing it a little bit. We will be outside doing projects so that we can continue enjoying the good weather. We will also be doing a lot of physical activities outside, and you will continue to be with your friends. Thank you for being here.”
Potential Functions for This Tip: Building Relationships, Teaching, Planning for the Future, Responding to Objections, Encouraging Students, Resolving Conflicts
Adverbs
What is it about the ability of words that end in -ly to convey positive things even more powerfully? Use words that end in -ly to increase the intensity of your students’ experience and help students to feel excited about what you are discussing. It’s amazing how using these words will not only encourage students but make you feel good as well!
We can use adverbs such as the following:
• absolutely
• beautifully
• completely
• confi dently
• continually
• delightfully
• easily
• elegantly
• enthusiastically
• excitedly
• friendly
• fully
• gladly
• gratefully
• happily
• heartily
• hopefully
• intensely
• internally
• joyfully
• lovely
• possibly
• powerfully
• probably
• quickly
• rapidly
• readily
• skillfully
• spontaneously
• steadily
• strategically
• successfully
• totally
• warmly
• wonderfully
Here are some examples of such adverbs in practice:
• “You will be surprised and delighted at just how quickly you are learning the material.”
• “As you are working steadily, you may notice just how delightfully you are progressing.”
• “As you are continually progressing toward your goal of ____, you may notice just how instinctively you are applying your new learnings and understandings.”
• “In the process of completing your assignments, you may be pleased with just how spontaneously you are doing the work.”
• “As you complete this class, you may be noticing just how rapidly you have internalized your insights and understandings in order to bring about lasting changes in your life and in the lives of others.”
• “I’m sure you are pleased as you realize how steadily you have been progressing toward your goals.”
• “In what ways might you skillfully and enthusiastically apply all of the exciting things that you are learning?”
• “This is absolutely the hardest-working group of learners that I have seen in my 20-year career!”
• “As you fully involve yourself in the process of learning, you may notice just how quickly and easily you are grasping these concepts!”
Potential Functions for This Tip: Building Relationships, Teaching, Planning for the Future, Responding to Objections, Encouraging Students, Influencing Students, Resolving Conflicts
Read More : Tips for Talking Effectively With Student - Teacher Guide
