Teaching Independence

(Now that summer is here, it is time for me to discuss different educational topics alphabetically. Please join in the conversation and tell me what you think!)

Teaching independence in the classroom is an important skill that will help students succeed in school and beyond. Here are some tips on how to teach independence in the classroom:

• Create a positive and supportive learning environment. Students need to feel safe and supported in order to take risks and try new things. Create a classroom environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and making mistakes.
• Set clear expectations and routines. Students need to know what is expected of them in order to be independent. Take the time to explain your expectations and routines clearly, and provide opportunities for students to practice them.
• Give students choices. When students have choices, they feel more in control of their learning. This can help them to be more motivated and engaged.
• Scaffold learning. Provide students with the support they need to be successful, but gradually withdraw that support as they become more independent. This will help them to develop the skills they need to learn on their own.
• Provide feedback. Feedback is essential for helping students to learn and grow. Provide regular feedback to students, both positive and negative. This will help them to track their progress and identify areas where they need to improve.
• Celebrate successes. When students succeed, be sure to celebrate their accomplishments. This will help them to feel good about themselves and their abilities.

Here are some additional tips that you can use to teach independence in the classroom:

• Assign students self-directed projects. This will give them the opportunity to explore their interests and learn at their own pace.
• Encourage students to collaborate with each other. This will help them to learn from each other and develop their problem-solving skills.
• Provide students with access to resources. This could include textbooks, online resources, or even just a quiet place to work.
• Be patient. It takes time for students to develop independence. Be patient and provide them with the support they need along the way.

Teaching independence in the classroom is an important investment in students' future success. By following these tips, you can help your students to become more independent learners. This will help them be more successful in the classroom and in life.

Independence

Last week, I picked up a couple of my former students and we went to the mall together. We also had lunch and then stopped at a couple of other stores. It was a wonderful day and I hope we can do it again soon.

I learned a lot from my student, K, who has Asperger’s Syndrome. K is now 30 years old and graduated from my class 12 years ago. When she told me how independent she was, I was amazed and so proud of how well she is doing. I wanted to share some of the things she shared with me.

Transportation: She is able to ride the public bus or take Lyfft or Uber to get where she needs to go. The bus stop is about a mile from her house, but she doesn’t mind walking there if she has nowhere she has to be at a specific time. She has learned the bus routes and how to get transfers to different buses. I had to admit to her that I had no idea how to ride our public bus system, how much it costs, or even the routes to take anywhere. I think it is really brave of her to figure all of this out on her own!

Eating Out/In – K uses an app on her phone to get food delivered to her house. She pays a monthly fee and can order food to be delivered to her house when she wants some.

Groceries – K has another app that lets her order groceries from different stores in the area indicated on her app.

Doctor’s Appointments – K finds a way to get where she needs to be. Either her mother, friends, or a driver will get here where she wants to go.

K is very personable and willing to try new things. When I asked her if she wasn’t ever too scared to do these things, but she said that if someone wanted something bad enough, they were willing to do anything.

I love talking to K because she has such insight into the world around her. There is nothing fake or hidden in anything she says. She is very caring and thoughtful and works hard to make others comfortable. Because of her personality, she likes to help others and it seems like everyone she meets loves her!

I wish there was a way that she could be around others with disabilities and teach them things that she has learned. She has so much information that is worth sharing with others and I’m going to look into ways that I can get her to share it with others. I know that I was totally impressed with all that she knows, and I know that others will be too.

Photo by chuttersnap on Unsplash

Teaching Independence

But what if…?

That is a big question when we are trying to teach children independence. We want to protect them from hurt and disappointment but that is impossible. Life is full of hurts and disappointments but it is most important how we handle these situations. We learn at an early age that not everything goes our way or the way we think it should.

My friend who is a ranger will be leaving soon to go back to work at the national park where I met her. Check out her blog post: March Madness, Our Way. Her adult son with disabilities will be left at home (I believe this is his choice) to be independent. Notice that I did not say left alone. His parents have built in many safety nets (roommates, relatives, and agencies) that will be there if he needs them. He has a job and will be able to ride his bike back and forth to work. What a wonderful opportunity for him (and his family)!

I know how hard it is to let our children be more independent but it is necessary if at all possible. Parents and teachers won’t be there for children forever. It is our job to teach values, decision making, and especially looking at the consequences of our actions. By doing this, you are encouraging children to be more successful as they grow up.

When I was growing up, I led a very sheltered life as the baby of the family. I really didn’t have much decision making to do because everything was pretty much done for me. I was expected to do certain things and there was no discussion about it. Then when I went 800 miles away to college, decision making and independence hit me like a brick wall. I have to admit that I didn’t always make the best decisions (but nothing that broke the law) and had to deal with consequences that I never had before. It was truly an eye opener and had the potential for being disastrous. Luckily God was watching out for me and got me through those tough times. Through trial and error, I learned better decision making skills and was more comfortable with my independence. Yet, I wished that my parents had given me more opportunities for this when I lived at home where I would have had the safety net of my family. If any of the “what if” situation happened, I would have had someone to turn to. Instead, I had to learn most of these things on my own.

One year at the high school where I taught, one of my senior girls with a mental disability was working at a local cafeteria. She was doing a great job serving bread and earned a paycheck. This job was mandatory for graduation with an occupational diploma. Imagine my disappointment when this girl was forced to quit the job after graduation because her parents wanted her at home and not working with others. They didn’t want to deal with any “issues” on the job. I feel this girl had a chance at some independence but lost it when her parents wanted to protect her from any employment conflicts, hurt feelings, or interactions with other people. Sometimes through our love, we can be a disservice to our children. When I see this girl in the community, she lets me know that she watches TV and stays at home doing nothing and I feel sad. This girl had the potential to be somewhat independent and lost the chance. I’m not sure that she will ever get this chance again and I worry about what will happen to her after her parents are gone.

Even in our classroom, we need to loosen the reins a little and let our students have a part in the decision making. We need to let them suffer the consequences of their actions, yet be there as their safety net. It is important when things go awry to talk about what happened. Talk about the options the student had and why the choice that was made was the wrong one. Also talk about the other choices and the possible consequences that could have happened. Then let the student talk about the choice that should have been chosen. I think this is an important skill to learn that can help our students be more successful in life.

Do you encourage independence? What kinds of things do you do to do this? Please share!

Image: 'running free'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91567702@N00/2797256129