Nowadays, it is very hard to teach kids to be independent. Think about everything a student has to look forward to once they graduate...excessive student loans, the difficulties in finding a job, bills, life, and did I mention lots of student loans? Who wants to be independent when you can run home to Mommy and Daddy who will feed you and put a shelter over your head. Once, I had a student say they didn't want to grow up because they saw how hard life is on 'Teen Mom'. Now, this may not be the most realistic example, but surely there are other examples kids are seeing out there on media that may discourage them from being independent.
What if you could teach kids to be independent and actually enjoy being this way? Surely, being independent doesn't have to be all that bad! The easiest way to do this is through movement and dance. Voila!
When you teach someone how to choreograph, one places a lot of emphasis on taking ownership. Let's say you make an unique for 20 people with lots of special and unusual ingredients. The majority of people will probably ask you what is in it before taking a bite. The same applies for dance. You wouldn't tell a dancer to create something, without asking them to explain why they created what they did. Being independent has a lot to do with ownership and understanding what you are capable of completing and/or doing in life....without Mommy and Daddy.
Usually kids feel proud of what they did after the creation has happened. Seeing your piece take shape on stages with all the production elements (i.e. lights, costumes, etc.) really does have a jaw-dropping effect. So, why not bring this to the traditional classroom setting! What also really helps is the use of group facilitation to help others who are not feeling so 'hot' about stepping up to the plate. If you have a few others in the class who have done it once, then usually more will gravitate to a positive attitude toward the assignment.
You may not be entirely sure how to get kids to gain their confidence in a traditional setting classroom. Just remember that it is through building, creating, and presenting something. In math class, a student could create a lesson plan on how to solve a problem and present it to the principal who comes to visit. The good old fashion science fair is another wonderful example on getting kids to gain independence. If you think about what causes ownership and implement the changes in your lessons, kids will benefit in a plethora of ways.
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