《声音》 VOICES Daystar's VOICES Fall/Winter Edition 2018 | Page 16

DS BEIGAO ES Empowering Our Students, One Step At A Time By VOICES Reporters the students’ readiness. My experience has been that of course teachers have to have things in place. But the learning happens sometimes when more of what’s going on in the classroom is not dictated by the teacher, but what the students bring. It continues to shape and form, dependent on what the students are doing, and what the students are thinking. You have a plan, but you can’t stick to the script. When you do that, you are doing the students a disservice. You’re not giving them an opportunity to take ownership of their learning, and decide where they are going. I think that’s where we want to take the students, give them that path. In taking the students on that path, do you equate that to empowering the students then? I think empowering students is giving our students a clear vision of what it is that we are trying to establish, making sure they are on board and that they understand that vision, and then based upon where each student is, taking them and placing them in a position where they can not only see their strengths and weaknesses, but they know where they need to go, and what they need to do, to get there. They need to do it. Not what we need to do for them, to get there. In your opinion, how is Daystar’s Elementary program at Beigao, trying to achieve that? N ow more than ever it is important to empower children by giving them a sense of inner confidence, courage and strength to become his or her best self, and successfully surmount whatever life presents. It’s guiding them to persevere when obstacles arise in childhood, as they always do. Such inner belief will help guide them to pursue their dreams. Here at Daystar, we are doing our part to help our students feel “empowered”. VOICES had a chance to sit down with Elementary Vice Principal Christina Chung, and found out more what’s happening on the ground, at Beigao Campus, and some tips she has for parents. Here is her interview. Thank you for joining us. How is “Empowering Our Students” an important element in education you think? I think a lot of times, as good teachers as good educators, we tend to set things up for students. And I think sometimes we equate our readiness with Daystar Academy Fall/Winter Edition 2018 Our theme for this academic school year has been assessment, in collaboration with the TLI (Teaching, Learning & Innovation) team. Are we really looking at the right things? Are we really giving the right feedback? Are we teaching students to self-assess, to peer assess. And are we creating an environment where mistakes are totally okay? Because I think if you create an environment where students feel mistakes are opportunities to grow, then there is going to be growth.