《声音》启明星专刊 VOICES for Daystar Academy 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.