Recommendations for Fostering Educational Resilience in the Classroom

Research has identified many factors that can foster the educational resilience of students who are at risk for academic failure. Educators have organized many of the recommendations that arise from this data into curricula and programs for implementation at the district and school levels. Researchers and educators have given less attention to compiling recommendations for daily classroom practice. Thus, the present project reviewed findings from current educational resilience research that examined students and teachers in classroom contexts. The synthesis produced 12 specific recommendations for classroom practices that can help foster educational resilience and support the academic achievement of students placed at risk for failure. The author organized the 12 recommendations into 4 clusters-(a) teacher-student rapport, (b) classroom climate, (c) instructional strategies, and (d) student skills-and presents with them the insights and perspectives of over 30 practicing teachers who work with at-risk students every day.