Feedback - Why do we take it how we do?

We have a plaque in my house that says 'Write your hurts in the sand, carve your blessings in stone'.  The only problem with this plaque is that this is a lot easier said than done, especially in regards to my career.  

Over the past couple of weeks I have had two parents come in to see me about issues in the playground, however I initially took both of these parental visits as attacks on my teaching.  After thinking these through I could see them for what they were - simply parents concerned about their child and their social interactions, and nothing to do with my classroom, let alone how I teach.

In contrast to this, I have also had some very positive feedback from my tutor teacher and my assistant principal.  Both of these people have provided feedback that is extremely encouraging about my practice - messages that I initially brushed off as positive feedback for feedbacks sake but have since come to take as a true commendation about the hard work that I put in each and every day.  

I find it interesting how, as humans, we are so critical of ourselves - especially where we would not be of others.  Words of praise are often brushed aside and words of criticism (not in a constructive way) are often taken to heart.  It is especially important for us as educators to consider this - as not only do we react this way but our students do also.

My challenge for myself for the next fortnight is to indeed carve my blessings in stone - and to believe in myself as I would believe in a friend.  This is a challenge that I am setting for my students also.  Tomorrow, during cross country block, we are doing art based on the idea of what makes each of us a superstar? I will post this art once students have completed it.  

Student self esteem is huge - and greatly impacts the way that students work.  I am hoping that by encouraging my students to see themselves in a positive light they will in turn be encouraged to believe that they can indeed achieve anything they set their mind to.  

In response to my question of why we take feedback the way we do - who knows? Not me... but I do know that my students will leave my class with a backbone of self belief that cannot be crushed by the words or actions of others - and I know that I help the students contribute to this each and every day - whether it is through small comments and gestures or whether it is through an activity such as the one above.   Each student in my class is a shooting star with huge potential, and I will do everything I can to make sure they believe it!