It’s so easy to get students to list areas for growth.
It’s a lot harder for them to assess what went well. Part of that is a very human focus on the negative. Part of that is the educational system. And part of that is a sincere desire to find ways to grow.
But it’s essential for students to learn how to recognize their own strengths. How can we lean into our strengths if we can’t see them? How can we ever find satisfaction if we don’t dwell on what’s going well?
Don’t be afraid to demand positives. Whether it’s The Real Group’s “Nothing negative for 30 minutes” rule, a “Roses and Thorns” request (each student lists one of each) or a strict alternating discussion (We alternate positives and negatives in volunteer comments), teachers need a mechanism to develop reflection on positives.