Believing in your learners

Believing in your learners means valuing and having positive expectations about your learners

and working earnestly to bring them to those expectations. 

Teaching involves believing in your learners and allowing them to show that you believe in them. It goes beyond words and involves verbal and non-verbal expressions and actions. They should feel and see that you believe in them because by believing in your learners, you align belief and hope with actions. 

I have consistently taught learners who have been highly disobedient at home and in school, nonchalant with academic activities, and sometimes violent. However, I've realized that my success as a teacher lies in my ability to communicate how valued and useful the learners are and can be, irrespective of their behaviour. By the grace of God, they are all alive and doing great. My most wonderful moment is their response anytime we meet – 'Ma'am, thank you for believing in me.'

Conversations with several learners as a mentor have challenged me in this regard over the years. Let me anonymously share some positive feedback from some learners about teachers who believed in them: 

In 2019, a student narrated how being a kleptomaniac made him almost lose everything; his life, family, education, and friends. He concluded with tears that if not for his high school teacher, he wouldn’t have possibly been here today – probably dead or in prison. Today, he is doing very well in the financial industry. 

Another learner, who works in one of the reputable organisations in Nigeria, explained how she was the least in her class because of her very low learning ability. None of her peers wanted to play or talk with her. She was constantly in low-ability classrooms and even the low-ability learners hated her because her low ability was on another level. She was at a time nicknamed 'blocked head' by some of her peers. She stated that she almost lost hope in education because nobody believed in her, not even her parents and siblings, but only her science high school teacher who constantly reminded her that 'She can do all things through Christ that strengthens her' (Philippians 4:13). She said that the teacher constantly told her according to the piece in Mariah Carey’s song that the 'Hero lies in you.' Today, she is that hero who sits on the board of one of the most reputable organisations in Nigeria. The list is endless.

•  Acknowledge that each learner is unique and provide an inclusive atmosphere where each learner can thrive.
•   Allow them to lead learning, try new positive things, challenge themselves, and take reasonable risks. Be patient to correct them in love and provide constructive feedback when they make mistakes. 
• Encourage them to believe in their abilities and persevere through difficulties, as no mountain is too high to climb. Use positive affirming words to motivate them.
•  Apply discipline with love and always ensure that learners are encouraged when they are corrected, not broken.
•  Be their greatest cheerleader and celebrate their wins with them no matter how small. Use rewards that are motivating. Do not cause division or tear them down. 
• Show them that you genuinely care for their progress and well-being and are ready to help them reach their full potential without bias or prejudice.
•  Understand that learning is a process and be committed to helping learners overcome learning challenges.
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Additional resources

Why believing in your students matters (Dr Katie Martin)

Believing in Students:The Power to Make a Difference (edutopia-Richard Curwin)