Strategies

• What might be some strategies you are thinking of to use moving forward?

One strategy I plan to use positive reinforcement. Studies show that positive reinforcement can help students feel appreciated and can help in building positive relationships in the classroom. Setting measurable goals for behavior and academics for all students can also help students feel motivated to learn and cultivate students' ownership of their learning and of the classroom. Positive reinforcement can be as easy as writing positive comments, tailored to the individual student, on classwork, homework, quizzes, etc.  Writing letters of praise to parents and guardians can also serve as a helpful tool to get your learners to perform well. 
Another strategy I plan to use (and have used in the past) is culturally responsive learning/teaching. By connecting learning to students' cultures, languages, experiences, etc, we can build trust, make students feel heard and appreciated, empower them socially and emotionally, and help them develop academic skills. Culturally responsive teaching can include connecting curriculum to real-world experiences, as well as books, movies and music students enjoy, to promote deeper engagement and make connections with their individual, community, national, and global identities.