When a student comes to talk with you: put yourself in that student’s shoes as best, as best, as best you can. Put yourself in that student’s shoes, knowing that you—no matter how hard work to understand what it’s like to be in their shoes—you have to work harder to understand what it’s like to be in their shoes.
And when you leave any conversation with a student who’s come to you, talk with other trusted colleagues with diverse perspectives to help you understand what it might be like to be in that student’s shoes. The goal: Every student leaves every conversation with you, as an educator—whether a teacher, coach, or other—knowing that you are, without a doubt, on their team.
Lastly, if not many individual students come to talk with you about their successes, challenges, questions, and concerns, then put yourself in their shoes and ask why they’re not coming to talk individually with you.
