Fifty years of Learning the Successes of Former Students

Often educators are encouraged to receive good news from former students who are interested in sharing their learning successes. To see former students in the community contributing their time, talents, and treasures in making a difference in the community is a positive reward for giving and encouraging wisdom. Even with current students you are given a spark of encouragement that what you are doing with your students will prepare them for their future careers.

Recently, a current student discovered a website: www.dalecarnegie.com/blojsom/blog/tips/Team Member Engagement/2007/07/26/Be-a-Good-Listener. The acronym, Ladder, caught his attention.

Here are his findings:

L - stands for look at the other person.

A - stands for ask questions.

D - stands for don't interrupt.

D - stands for don't change the subject.

E - stands for emotion with control.

R - stands for respond appropriately.

The student concludes: "In summary, many of the things mentioned on this site were to me, common sense. I have believed that although sometimes very difficult especially in my job, you must appear to not only be interested in what the person is trying to relay to you, but you should attempt to be receptive to their statements. Be prepared to make a response. No one wants to pitch a potentially new program to a co-worker and have them sit there and not make a response, even if it is a negative one...In my opinion, I would not only rather be the first co-worker that was receptive, but I would want my other co-workers to act this way as well."

Yes, there are many more examples of what effective, positive learning can do for persons as they continue their ladder of achievement challenges in the real world...the classroom without walls.