Andrea Watkins

Essentially embarrassed could be a feeling associated with their needs not being met. Students are looking for trust, respect, support, understanding, warmth, fun, inspiration, empathy, community, etc (the list could go on). Establishing lines of communication and trust can be difficult-especially when our performance is based on our outcomes- How do you support/develop your staff into listeners?

Does anyone have thoughts regarding meeting with students and going over commitment statements-setting goals (graduation) with smaller targets (mastering each modality taught) and specific and measurable ways to achieve these targets (attendance, being vulnerable to ask for support, studying 1 hour a day, etc) Does anyone have staff speak their commitments to each other? And what are your thoughts about doing so?

In the training it was mentioned that rarely do we know the honest reason a student decides to leave our program-due to the fact that they are most likely embarrassed by their "defeat". How would you guide us in the area of hearing what the students are saying beneath the embarrassment?