Building leadership in the classroom

If we do it right, the hardest part of our job should be planning because the classroom should run itself. Every school should have at least one class, if not more, that brings to the forefront each student’s leadership ability and helps to improve and develop it.

When I started my teaching career, thinking deeply about subjects was a pivotal part of learning. I always wanted my learners to think about what is being taught. Today the way a educator encourages a learner to think about the process has changed a lot. Educators no longer tell learners what to think. Instead, they teach them how to think. We use varied teaching techniques to build the leadership skills of learners in the classroom. At every step, learners are encouraged to become independent thinkers who understand how to work as part of teams and have positive effects on organizations and communities. I see learners all around me take active role in their education by taking ownership of learning and thereby developing positive skills in the process. Every educator strives hard to create a culture of ownership, collaboration and community in the classroom.  The best way to spark learners’ belief in themselves is giving them the opportunity to do projects of worth. When a learner can be successful in smaller projects and see impacts, they’ll proceed to larger projects of their own. Teamwork is an essential part of real-world success. Therefore, it should be part of a real-world classroom environment.

What I have found out over the years is that Project based learning is the most effective way to foster leadership qualities in learners. This is an amazing way to place responsibility, ownership, and accountability into the hands of the learners.  However, it is essential that all procedures are well established before proceeding to build leadership in the classroom.  Project-Based Learning activities should be meaningful to the students and the community so classes can see the true effects of their hard work. Learners learn through hands-on work on a project that addresses a complex question or challenge over a period of time. An educator can assign one leader to each group for the duration of that project, making sure to change leaders for each new project or assign a different leader for each element of it. When educators encourage learners to work on team projects, they learn how to confront their ideas and resolve conflicts. In essence, they learn to collaborate and communicate. In leadership, emotional intelligence is extremely important. All schools implement SEL effectively in the classroom thereby making learners self-aware, they are able to recognize and control their own emotions and how their actions affect the people around them. They make a commitment to admit their mistakes and face the consequences. Every educator strives to have self-motivated learners in the classroom and uses varied teaching strategies to reinforce this consistently. Most of it comes down to listening to learners and helping them communicate and shine in ways that feels comfortable to them. It’s also incredibly important to consider different personality types when encouraging learners’ leadership. Differences and insecurities shouldn’t keep learners from emerging as leaders in the classroom when inclusivity is encouraged. Cultivating a passion in learners is a great way to bring out their innate leadership qualities.