It’s very easy for a young child with short legs to lag behind on a long walk. Long ago, I learned the best way to encourage these stragglers isn’t to yell, cajole, criticize, or encourage.
No, the best way is to hold their hands. Holding hands with a child, with love and affection, helps them to keep pace without realizing it. Hold hands, and they regulate their own pace to stay with you.
This is what teachers do – at every age. We can choose to yell, cajole, criticize, or encourage, and each can have its place in the arsenal of teacher strategies. But it is best when a teacher stands beside a student, tells him, “I’m with you” and walks with him, showing him the way and the pace.