Black students are disproportionately punished in schools through detention, suspension, and expulsion. They are at risk of educational failure due to systemic and institutional racism. Being pushed out of the classroom risks pushing children into the criminal justice system, and contributes to the school-to-prison pipeline that is well documented by research to represent a significant moral and societal failure.
While significant societal change is necessary on all levels, there are many things educators can incorporate into their classroom to shift the trajectory that affects many children, specifically students of color. One critical intervention that benefits all students, but is particularly necessary for more vulnerable populations, is adopting a strength-based approach to working with Black students.
Child psychology has long espoused the view that “you get more of what you pay attention to.” Whether as a caregiver, educator, or therapist, one of the best ways to empower students is to draw attention to their strengths. This not only boosts their self-confidence, but it allows others in their lives to see and acknowledge those strengths as well.
So, how do we implement a strength-based approach effectively? Here are some of my favorite strategies:
- Strength-Based Language: Using a growth mindset framework, highlight actions, qualities, or behaviors a child has control over, such as effort, perseverance, creativity, and collaboration.
- Strength-Based Conflict Resolution: During conflicts, explicitly name each student’s strengths and encourage them to use that strength to help solve the problem (i.e., empathy, problem solving, perspective taking). For example, instead of “You got that right,” one could say “Your creativity really helped you solve that problem.”
- Strength-Based Affirmations: Whether at home, in a therapy session, or classroom, having others highlight our strengths is incredibly meaningful. Using a whiteboard, chalkboard, or large piece of paper on the wall, write a child’s name on the top and have those around them (classmates, family members, friends, etc.) list the strengths and positive characteristics they see in each child. This can also be done with the child identifying their own strengths, or reenforcing self-affirmation.
- Strength Surveys: Use strength surveys to have children identify their strengths in a more structured manner. Examples of culturally informed strength-based surveys include the SBC Strength-based Interview Protocol for Youth and SBC Youth Strength Survey.
- Strong Connections: All children require human connection to thrive. Unfortunately, implicit bias and structural racism can negatively impact a Black child’s relationships and, subsequently, their own self-worth. To repair these conditions, it is imperative for Black children to have strong emotional connections with various adults. These connections should be steeped in empathy, compassion, warmth, and the celebration of Black joy.
- Stop and Reflect: Before engaging in disciplinary or corrective behavior, stop to reflect on why you are redirecting the behavior. Ask yourself if the behavior is developmentally appropriate or if it is safe/unsafe. Consider why this behavior is challenging for you, and whether you would respond the same way with another child of a different racial background. This is a great strategy to catch and counteract implicit biases.
- High Expectations: Researchers have found the biggest obstacle to later academic success for Black boys is the adults who believe they cannot succeed, and the behaviors that follow from that belief. We know all children do best with a combination of high warmth and high expectations. This is particularly true for Black boys, and presents an opportunity for all adults in the lives of Black children to explicitly communicate their belief that the children are capable of achieving wonderful things.
While these are only a few strategies to empower Black children, each one is a step toward restorative justice and the healthy development of children.
For a deeper dive, check out these fantastic resources to support and empower Black children and families:
Supporting the School Readiness and Success of Young African American Boys
Celebrating the Strengths of Black Youth: Increasing Self-esteem and Implications for Prevention
Additional LMS resources to consider:
Restorative Justice for Schools - Rethinking Disciplinary Action
The Courageous Educator: Addressing Racism and Microaggressions in the Classroom
Responding to Racial Injustice: Implications for Teachers and Schools