I-Messages In The Elementary Classroom

One thing that stuck out to me in chapter four was the section on “I-Messages”. Especially in Elementary classrooms, I think that it is easy for a teacher to point fingers at students when they are misbehaving. It is easy for a teacher to call out that student and tell them that they are doing something wrong. But when a teacher uses an “I-Message”, they are showing the student how their actions are effecting others without criticizing the student. When teachers use “I-Messages” students don’t feel attacked by the teacher and they are more likely to be open to changing their behavior because they see how they are effecting others. “I-Messages” may sound awkward and rehearsed when you start using them, but with practice, they can sound natural and can be effective for when you need to confront a student about his or her behavior. …show more content…
In this section they talked about giving the student feedback based on what emotion you heard them express to you. In the book (pg. 87), they gave an example of a student who felt that he would never pass the teacher’s class no matter how much he studied. The teacher relayed back to the student that they heard frustration in their voice. Because the teacher took time to analyze the situation and try to better understand the student, the student was willing to open up to the teacher about what the real issue was and what emotions they were actually feeling. When teachers give feedback to students and show the students that they are trying to fully understand the situation, students are willing to open up to them about exactly what they are