#70 How Students Can Take Control Of Their Instructional Time

I didn’t become a teacher because I was inspired by the handful of great ones I had along the way. I became a teacher because I had more unfortunate moments in school than proud ones. I knew caring and compassionate teachers FOR ALL LEARNERS, for all maturity levels, for all those students who hadn’t blossomed yet, for all those students who were not making the best decisions socially and academically and needed nonjudgmental adult support were desperately needed. There were already enough teachers out there who prioritized the smart kids or at the least the ones who had all the right answers. But for those of us who didn’t, I wanted to be that teacher. 

So now that you have an idea of the kind of student I was, as a teacher, I took those wounds from my youth and walked through the hallways of the schools that I taught in with the idea that every kid in that school was my student. I wanted every student in that school to know they were smart and loved, they were seen and heard, and that what they had to say mattered… because I did not feel that way as a student. 

Now, you might be asking yourself, “How am I supposed to take control of my time when my teacher blows the content at lightning speed without giving me a chance to ask any questions? And if I did ask questions, I’d feel so stupid!”

3 Strategies To Take Control Of Your Instructional Time

Well then, you’re in the right place. Take control of your learning and put into action simple strategies that will allow you to pause, process, and advocate for yourself in class and at home if you have homework, so I’m inviting you to give these 3 approaches a try:

#1 - Stop what you’re doing 

As soon as you recognize emotions are escalating during class, you need to execute a plan, so stop what you’re doing and clear your head. You’re gonna either take several slow, intentional, deep breaths in and out of your nose, you can inhale to the count of 4 and exhale to the count of 8, which is a basic relaxation breath or you can do some 4-square breathing and inhale to the count of 4, hold the breath for 4 count, exhale to the count of 4, and hold the breath once exhaled to the count of 4. 4-Square Breath calms the mind, centers the body, and eliminates anxiety.

Another option for you is go to the bathroom and create your own space inside a stall. There you can sit and do a basic round of tapping to reduce your stress levels. With your finger tips, you can tap the inside of your eyebrow, the outside corner of your eye, under the center of your eye, under your nose, under your bottom lip, on your collarbone area, and under your arm. This is going to remarkably change your emotional state.

A third option is for you to sit in stillness inside that stall. Just close your eyes and tune into your breath. Try focus only on your breath and use your breath to discipline your mind to focus on only that and nothing else. If your mind strays, as it most certainly will, that’s okay. Just simpy bring your attention back to inhaling and exhaling through your nose for a few minutes and return to class once you feel more centered. 

Finally, just getting up and taking a walk to the bathroom or somewhere else in the school with permission from your teacher is enough to clear your head and give you a break from whatever it is you’re needing a break from.

#2 - Let your teacher know you need support 

Though you’re teaching has many jobs to do, their main role is to make sure you understand and are comfortable applying the content they’re teaching. If you are not, speak up. Take control of your learning.

I’m sure what you think your teacher thinks about you and your habits in school is not what they are thinking. Students tend to have a very negative perspective about the views their teachers have on them and often nothing could be further from the truth. 

Many of these beliefs are a part of your DNA believe it or not. If your parents had negative views about school you inherited those beliefs when you were born, but that’s a pretty deep topic that’s whole other podcast, so let’s get back to how to best advocate for yourself in class.

• Recognize your learning style
• Recognize whether you're a visual, auditory, kinesthetic, or a mix learner. This will help you communicate how you learn best.
• Identify your challenges
• Are you struggling with time management, understanding certain concepts, or dealing with a personal issue? Being clear about what you need can help you make your case more effective.
• Speak up early 
• If you're struggling with something, don’t wait until the last minute to ask for help. Whether it’s a grade, misunderstanding, or a personal barrier to learning, it’s better to address it early. Don’t expect your teacher to have all the time in the world for you after getting a bad grade if you’ve never gone to them for help before the assessment.
• Reach out via email or office hours
• If you're too shy to speak up in class, I get it. Emailing your teacher or meeting them during office hours can be a less intimidating way to advocate for yourself. But initiate it yourself. This is not something your parents need to do for you. Even in the rare event the teacher is not responding to you, there are protocols in place for you to get the assistance you need, and having your parent call the superintendent isn’t one of them. Set up an appointment with the guidance counselor if you’re not getting anywhere with your teacher and move from there. But in most cases, you’re teacher will be happy to help you out. A good one will notice you’re in need and will seek you out.
• Use “I” statements 
• Instead of saying “You’re not explaining it well,” try saying “I’m having difficulty understanding this concept. Could you explain it differently?” This communicates your needs without placing blame.
• Ask for clarification
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If something isn't clear during a lesson or a lecture, ask for examples or different explanations until you understand. Maybe a classmate can explain it to you in a way that you can understand. 
• Practice speaking up 
• It might be difficult at first, but the more you practice advocating for yourself, the easier it will become. Start by speaking up about things you know for sure. This will gradually build your confidence.

#3 -  Let your parents or guardians know what you’re going through

Your folks can’t help you if they have no idea what’s going on. Trust that they’ll listen and support you along the way. 

Don’t be hard on yourself. You’re learning something new. It’s expected that you’ll need time to process the information and work with it for a while before you can fully understand it. This is all part of the learning process. 

Your working memory has to really sweat to get new information into long-term memory, so stop fighting against your physiology. If your immediate memory isn’t interested in what you’re learning, it’s going to drop the information and not work with it. You’ll never be able to recall what you’ve learned because your brain hasn’t stored it anywhere.  

It’s up to you to work with this information and store it away. If your teacher understands how the brain learns, then more than half your battle is won because they’re going to be teaching your class in ways that will greatly benefit you and your classmates.

Here’s a PRO TIP: You’re not expected to get it right right away. No one, including your teacher, should be expecting you to. 

You’re not expected to know the material already.  If you did, you’d already be at the next grade level!

So give yourself some grace. 

Taking control of your instructional time and being an advocate for your learning will help you not only in school but also in life. It’s about taking responsibility for your learning, respecting your needs, and honoring your well-being.

So to recap: 

3 approaches to can take control of your instructional time in the classroom and eliminate any anxiety stress, or overwhelm while you’re learning:

#1 - Stop what you’re doing

#2 - Let your teacher know you need support 

#3 - Let your parents or guardians know what you’re going through

These approaches work well when they’re put into action. They translate smoothly to extracurricular activities like sports, acting, dance, social clubs, & scouts. Start integrating these 3 simple and sustainable strategies and take control of your instructional time.

Which approach do you already have nailed down? Which ones will be the most challenging for you? 

DM me on my Instagram page @jenncaputo to let me know, and follow for more!

I’m so happy you’re here! Thank you for making the time to read and hopefully learn something new.  

Remember, it’s not about being perfect; it’s about being easy with the practice.