Finding out what you’re good at is difficult for adults, let alone children. However, this idea by Meghan, a Kindergarten Teacher, from Cantonsville, MD, focuses on the strengths of each student. Instead of asking a child to explain his strengths, Meghan observes students to discover talents that they might not even know they have. Then, by advertising student experts, she creates a classroom community that celebrates individual skills that can help the class as a whole. While this idea originated in a kindergarten classroom, the practice and implementation could be used with any grade level. Imagine how excited even middle school students would be to be listed as an expert!
Advertising Student Experts
Idea by Meghan, a Kindergarten Teacher, from Cantonsville, MD
In the beginning of the school year, and as the year progresses, I make a point to observe both the academic and the personal life skills my students possess and display. These may include tying shoes, zipping coats, or using the computer or listening center. I then find something that each student is an expert at and, with the student’s input, create a yellow page advertisement for that student.
The page features their name and photo and tells what they are good at. I may even place a photo of that child engaged in their expertise. I place the pages into a notebook and place them in the class library. Whenever someone needs assistance with something, they consult our class yellow pages for help.
For a common need, such as shoe-tying, it is just fine to include more than one expert. Also, you can add or subtract pages as desired.
Celebrating students’ strengths has never been so easy – or so helpful!