How Do We Teach Resourcefulness?

How do you teach your students to be resourceful?  During my years in the classroom, many of my students had strong survival skills and street smarts but didn’t always know how to be resourceful. For context, resourceful would be defined as……. Resourcefulness can be a fine balance as many students choose not to ask for help because they don’t want to look stupid or they demand it which doesn’t always go over well with adults.  

These situations led me to focus much of my instruction on helping each student learn how to use their resources.  I would teach the curriculum but wanted students to learn how to seek out assistance and ensure others have a clear understanding of their needs.  

Once students become comfortable asking me for help, I would up the ante and begin pushing back.  I would ask the student “how would you solve this need if I wasn’t standing right next to you?”  Some educators employ a strategy of the student asking two other people before asking the teacher.  What happens though when there is no one to ask?  Dare I say...you google it.  I google items all the time because I don’t know or can’t remember.  It’s a resource! 

Challenging ourselves and students to research is a critical learning opportunity.  Let’s continue to push students to be resourceful, better advocating for themselves in the future.

How have you helped your child or student to be more resourceful?

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