Strengths-based Approach
Overview
A strengths-based approach is one where educators intentionally identify, communicate, and harness students' assets, across many aspects of the whole child, in order to empower them to flourish. Educators should consider all kinds of strengths, not just academic strengths, including for example, strong Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, problem solving, Communication, and other skills critical for success. This practice can be particularly beneficial for students with learning disabilities and ADHD whose strengths are often overlooked due to focusing on particular challenges. Strengths can be identified through both formal assessments and informal activities, such as reflective prompts or conferences. Educators can provide strengths-based feedback by asking probing questions to determine the skills and knowledge that learners already have. This practice encourages a mindset of leveraging strengths in order to solve problems or overcome challenges.
Example: Use This Strategy in the Classroom
See an example of a strengths-based approach with multilingual students. This video gives some tips on how to incorporate multilingual students' Primary language into the classroom, supporting and building upon the skills and knowledge they bring with them. This approach bolsters student confidence and belongingness in their class.
Design It into Your Product
Additional Resources
Additional examples, research, and professional development. These resources are possible representations of this strategy, not endorsements.
Factors Supported by this Strategy
More Instructional Approaches Strategies
Read-alouds are an important part of developing young learners' foundational reading skills, and can occur both in the classroom and at home with the family, supporting the development of a strong Home Learning Environment.
Retrieval practice requires students to access information, or get information “out” from Long-term memory in order to support better retention and understanding.
Spaced practice is a learning strategy that deliberately spaces out learning or study sessions over varying periods of time, with the purpose of increasing retention, understanding, and long-term knowledge acquisition.
