Humility and Appreciation - Samridhi RPKM

When someone has humility, it means that they have a humble or modest view of themselves. In other words, they don’t think they’re the centre of the universe.

A famous quote about humility reads, “Humility is not denying your strengths, humility is being honest about your weaknesses.” Our students can do a self-reflection exercise on humility by journaling about their strengths, weaknesses, and humility.

We can give our students a lesson on intellectual humility. This humility type is the acknowledgement that you don’t know everything. Developing this type of humility can be especially important for our students who are constantly expanding their knowledge.

Be an example of humility: As in anything, our students will imitate our behaviour. The more we can live in a humble way, the more our students will absorb from us.

We can build our students up and teach them where their true value lies: most of the time, when students are looking for attention, it is because they are not receiving enough feedback or positive attention. The more that we can give them honest, positive feedback, the better. 

Also, teach them that their value does not lie in what they have or what they do, but in who they are. This way, we can teach our students the truth about themselves. Coach them on how to respond to praise. Just as we teach them to say “Please” and “Thank you,” we need to teach students the appropriate, humble response to praise. The more prepared they are, the more graciously they can respond.

Don’t confuse “humility” with “humiliation.” Try not to humiliate the students. Humiliation does not help, since it is something that can hurt a child rather than help teach the lesson of humility. If the students need correction, be sure to correct them, but in a way that is as loving, patient and personal as possible. This can help prevent the harm and resentment that intentional humiliation breeds.

We need to teach our students to serve. Among the many activities we do with our students are some that imply service. There are so many ways we can serve, and so many people that need simple acts of service: the poor, the elderly, family members, friends or classmates. If you are able to incorporate various “service projects” into your life, service will become a habitual behaviour for your students, and they will be more sensitive and open to the needs of others.

Appreciation is the act of recognizing and valuing someone's efforts, qualities, or achievements. In the classroom, it can be a powerful tool for fostering a positive learning environment and encouraging student growth. 

Here's how we can use it in the classroom:

• Encourage Effort: Appreciate students for their hard work and perseverance, even if they haven't achieved perfect results. This motivates them to keep trying.
• Recognize Achievements: Celebrate students' successes, both big and small. Acknowledge their accomplishments to boost their self-esteem.
• Feedback: Provide specific and constructive feedback, highlighting what students did well. This reinforces positive behaviour and helps them understand their strengths.
• Peer Appreciation: Encourage students to appreciate each other's contributions, creating a supportive and inclusive classroom atmosphere. Appreciation can have a significant positive impact on students in various ways:
• Motivation: When students feel appreciated for their efforts and achievements, it can boost their motivation to excel academically and socially.
• Self-esteem: Genuine appreciation can help students develop healthy self-esteem, as they learn to value themselves and their abilities.
• Engagement: Students who receive recognition for their contributions tend to be more engaged in the learning process and are more likely to participate actively in class.
• Confidence: Appreciation can build students' confidence in their abilities, making them more willing to take on challenges and persevere through difficulties.

Teachers play a crucial role in showing appreciation towards students. Here are ways in which teachers can effectively express appreciation:

• Celebrating diversity: Recognize and appreciate the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and talents that each student brings to the classroom.
• Positive reinforcement: Use positive reinforcement techniques to reward good behaviour and academic achievements.
• Open communication: Keep the lines of communication open, allowing students to express their thoughts, concerns, and ideas freely.
• Empathy: Show empathy and understanding towards students' challenges and difficulties, offering support and encouragement.
• Surprise gestures: Occasionally, surprise students with small gestures of appreciation, such as handwritten notes or awards for outstanding performance.

By actively practising these strategies, teachers can create a classroom environment where students feel valued and appreciated, which can have a profound impact on their motivation, self-esteem, and overall learning experience.

Samridhi @ RPK Moradabad

Seema Kulshreshtha, Rakhi Gupta, Saraswati, Gurpreet, Meeta Gulati, Anju Gupta, Saloni.