Strategies for Strength-Based Teaching

1. Quick-checks
This strategy focuses on monitoring students regularly during the week. Requires
teachers to check in with students understanding of the content. Teachers will be able
to identify students strengths from these quick-checks and can differentiate instruction
using these results. Additionally, the results of these quick-checks will provide students
with feedback on their progress and whether they are on the right track with the
content.
2. Grouping students based off their zone of proximal development
This strategy focuses on students being placed into groups based off their academic
level and is a means to differentiate instruction. Using their zone of proximal
development, teachers will be able to place students at a certain level with a student
who is a level above theirs to encourage students deeper level thinking. In doing this,
students can focus on their strengths in understanding of the content and can challenge
themselves to engage in deeper-level discussions.
3. Assigning roles in group projects
This strategy focuses on providing students with roles in their groups when they are
working on activities and/or projects. These roles will encourage students to be
confident in themselves as their roles require them to take control of what they are
responsible for, providing them with accountability in their project. This strategy helps
students recognize a strength in themselves, that they may not have noticed, and
focuses them on being goal-oriented, since they must meet the goal of their job in the
project.
4. Wall of Strengths
This strategy focuses on putting up and recognizing students who have done well on an
assignment, project, and/or assessment. By placing strengths on the wall, it improves
their self-esteem, giving them pride in their work, and motivates them to continue
working hard. It also serves to motivate all student to work towards success.
5. Providing positive notes on students work that focus on strengths while providing guidance
This strategy focuses on providing students with positive feedback on their homework,
classwork, and assessments. These notes should recognize students strengths and
provide guiding statements or questions to direct their thought process, in regards to
the content. For instance, providing partial credit on two-step equation word problem
and providing a question or statement to guide them to the correct answer.
6. Keeping student records of student strengths
This strategy focuses on collecting students assessments and/or projects that showed

excellence. By collecting students work, teachers will have record of students strengths
and be have something to show to parents as documentation, aside from grades, during
parent conferences. This strategy could also include collecting all students assessments
and/or projects and returning it back to them at the end of each trimester. Students will
be able to see prior assessment and/or project results and compare their results to see
progress, which will provide them with some pride and improve their self-esteem.
7. Using students strengths in engaging them in lessons and class activities
This strategy focuses on using students understanding of their culture, religion,
community, and environment, be it societal norms, technology, or TV shows, to hook
students interest on the content being introduced in the class. By posing scenarios or
including word problems that focus on students strengths, it results in engagement
during the lesson and encourages confidence in students to be able to master the goal
of the lesson or activity.
8. Reflections
This strategy focuses on students being able to reflect and track their strengths and
progress, be it social and/or academic. These reflection assignments can be provided for
students to complete throughout the school year. It will resemble the K-W-O chart. It
will entail that students write down what content they know or what strengths they
already recognize they have. It will also require them to reflect over what they need to
work on or want to know. The O part of the K-W-O structure will be done by the
teacher. After reading over the reflections, the teacher will be able to identify what the
student sees as their strength and provide them with feedback. This feedback will
include what the teacher observes as the students strengths and it will also respond to
their own reflection in a positive manner.
9. Compliment circle
This strategy focuses on creating a safe space for the students to be able to provide
other students with a compliment and/or ask for a compliment. Once a month, at least,
teachers should engage in class meeting where students can take turns complimenting
one another or asking for a compliment. This positive approach provides students with a
confidence and self-esteem boost. It encourages students to think about their peers
strengths and can convey that thought. For those students who feel like their selfesteem is low, they can ask for a compliment. This creates a safe and comfortable
environment for the students to learn in. It also creates respect amongst students. This
idea can also be stretched out to students sharing something about themselves that
their classmates did not know; this could be something that they find to be a strength of
theirs.
10. Classroom Academic and Behavioral Acknowledgment Contract
This strategy focuses on having students agree to a pact at the beginning of the year

that conveys their agreement to be the best that they can be during the school year.
This contract highlights students agreeing that they will do their best to work hard, be
respectful, be honest, be dedicated, be diligent, be motivated, and turn in work that
shows their best work. It also incorporates their behavior in class, like agreeing that they
will respectfully listen to what their peers have to say, not talk while their peers or their
teacher is talking, focus on their work and not outside distractions during class, and so
on. By having students sign off on a contract that uses positive statements, students are
starting off the year on a positive note with a goal in mind that they will do and be their
best. This mentality provides them with strength to kick off the year in a positive way.