Developing Risk Taking Skills

1. Create a safe learning climate

1.1. Learn and use students' names

1.2. Build trust

1.3. Do not tolerate bullying

1.4. Encourage postive teacher/student relations

1.5. Use humor when appropriate to ease tensions

2. Model risk taking

2.1. Be open minded

2.2. Introduce new teaching strategies

2.3. Discuss risk taking and demonstrate something you have not mastered

2.3.1. Try again!

2.4. Demonstrate "meta-teaching" by discussing the risks you are taking--in giving substantial control over to students, for example

3. Encourage Inquiry based learning

3.1. Invite question asking

3.2. Invite theorizing

3.3. Create context for problem solving

3.4. Demonstrate how to turn controversial topics into research questions

4. Build appreciation for risk taking into class management.

4.1. Consider ways to reward genuine peer support for risk taking

4.2. Be prepared with natural consequences for unsupportive behavior

5. Allow opportunities for failing

5.1. Consider how you handle errors - yours and students

5.2. Create situations in which student work is not evaluated

5.3. Create assignments that allow for multiple drafts and non-punitive feedback

6. Show appreciation for risk taking

6.1. Teacher comments and behavior reveal their attitudes

6.1.1. smile

6.1.2. nod

6.1.3. applaud

6.1.4. "Thank you for taking a risk!"

6.1.5. Show appropriate risk-taking examples from each student's work