Every kid needs a champion | Rita Pierson

I recently attending a conference called Challenging Behaviours in Youth, and this is one of the videos the facilitator started the day off with. As I listened to Rita speak, I felt as if she succinctly said everything we should know about the key to supporting all learners in the classroom- and that is to make them know that they are worthy and have potential. Some of our students are used to a school experience where they are constantly reminded of what they cannot do...either overtly from teachers and peers or from internally as they struggle to complete work. By the time they reach secondary school, they have likely assumed their roles as "the dumb kid" so strongly that it seems impossible to shake. That is where we come in. Dedicated, caring educators who know that every child needs somebody in their corner. Somebody who knows their story, acknowledges their struggles, and works to find a solution.