In recent years, there has been a growing body of research that suggests that students who feel a sense of belonging to their school community are more likely to succeed academically and socially. This sense of belonging, known as "ohana" in Hawaiian culture, can be fostered through a variety of strategies, including daily dedications.
Daily dedications are a simple but powerful way to show students that they are valued and appreciated. They can take many forms, such as:
- Dedicating a lesson to a student who has been working hard
- Dedicating a classroom activity to a student's birthday or accomplishment
- Dedicating the school day to a student or group of students who need extra support
Each morning, students gather at the front steps to ask permission to enter. “It's beautiful,” says Ki'ili, “a sea of 100 children chanting this melodic oli [chant] to their kumu [teacher].
Daily dedications can help to build community by creating a sense of shared purpose and belonging. They can also help to teach students about the importance of gratitude and respect for others.
In addition to the benefits for students, daily dedications can also benefit teachers. When teachers take the time to recognize and celebrate their students, they are more likely to feel connected to their students and their work. This can lead to increased job satisfaction and a more positive school environment.
If you are looking for a simple way to build community and improve student achievement, consider implementing daily dedications in your classroom. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Be intentional about your dedications. Choose something that is relevant to the student or group of students you are dedicating it to.
Be sincere.
In addition to the benefits for students, daily dedications can also benefit teachers. When teachers take the time to recognize and celebrate their students, they are more likely to feel connected to their students and their work. This can lead to increased job satisfaction and a more positive school environment.
If you are looking for a simple way to build community and improve student achievement, consider implementing daily dedications in your classroom. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Be intentional about your dedications. Choose something that is relevant to the student or group of students you are dedicating it to.
Be sincere.
Make sure your words and actions come across as genuine.
Be consistent. Make daily dedications a regular part of your classroom routine.
With a little effort, you can create a classroom community where all students feel valued and appreciated. This can lead to a more positive learning environment for everyone.
The Research on Daily Dedication
There is a growing body of research that supports the effectiveness of daily dedications in building classroom community. One study found that students who received daily dedications from their teachers were more likely to report feeling connected to their school and more likely to have positive attitudes towards school. Another study found that daily dedications were associated with increased student motivation and achievement.
How to Implement Daily Dedications in Your Classroom
There are many ways to implement daily dedications in your classroom. Here are a few tips:
There are many ways to implement daily dedications in your classroom. Here are a few tips:
- Start small.: Don't try to do too much at once. Start by dedicating each day to one student or group of students.
- Be creative.: There are many different ways to dedicate something. You can dedicate a lesson, an activity, or even a song.
- Be sincere.: Make sure your dedications come from the heart.
- Be consistent.: Make daily dedications a regular part of your classroom routine.
Daily dedications can have a number of benefits for students, teachers, and the classroom community as a whole. Here are a few of the benefits:
· Increased student achievement.
Students who receive daily dedications are more likely to succeed academically.
· Improved student well-being.
Students who feel connected to their school community are more likely to have positive attitudes towards school and to be happy.
· Improved teacher morale.
Teachers who take the time to recognize and celebrate their students are more likely to feel connected to their students and their work.
· A more positive learning environment.
Daily dedications can help to create a more positive and supportive learning environment for everyone.
If you are looking for a simple way to improve your classroom, consider implementing daily dedications. It's a small gesture that can make a big difference.
Building Classroom "Ohana" Community Through Daily Oli and Dedications
In Hawaiian culture, oli are meaningful chants used to start the day by greeting the morning sun. These chants invite enlightenment and inspiration to begin the learning process. The tradition of oli highlights the Hawaiian value of connection—to place, ancestors, community, and new knowledge.
Incorporating elements of oli into classroom daily dedications is one way to honor Hawaiian culture while building classroom “ohana.” A dedication oli might involve chanting the names of each student at the start of the day to recognize their value. Or teachers could chant a simple line of gratitude dedicated to a student’s recent accomplishment.
Integrating oli and other cultural practices into daily dedications makes students feel seen and valued within the context of their traditions. This cultivates an inclusive classroom community. The remainder of this paper explores the use of dedications, including oli, to foster “ohana” belonging and motivate students.
Building Classroom "Ohana" Community Through Daily Dedications and a Morning Oli: A Scholarly Examination
Introduction
In the Hawaiian culture, the concept of “ohana” refers to the idea of family, community, and a sense of belonging. This same principle can be fostered in the classroom environment through intentional practices that make students feel valued, appreciated, and connected. One simple but powerful strategy for building classroom “ohana” is implementing daily dedications.
Daily dedications involve taking a few moments at the start of each school day to recognize individual students or groups of students in a meaningful way. This may include dedicating the day’s learning to a student’s birthday, recent accomplishment, or honoring a student who has been working hard. Daily dedications communicate to students that they are seen, known, and cared for. Over time, these small gestures can cultivate an environment where students feel a greater sense of belonging, significance, and community.
This paper will examine the research behind daily dedications in the classroom and provide evidence-based recommendations for implementing this practice effectively. First, an overview of the theoretical basis for daily dedications will be provided, grounding this practice in what we know about human motivation and needs. Next, empirical studies demonstrating the benefits of daily dedications for students will be reviewed. Finally, concrete strategies for seamlessly integrating daily dedications into the classroom routine will be shared.
Theoretical Basis for Daily Dedications
To understand the potential impact of daily dedications, it is helpful to consider motivational theories focused on human needs within the classroom context. One highly relevant framework is self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985). This perspective emphasizes that students are motivated to learn when three core needs are met: autonomy, competence, and relatedness.
The need for relatedness refers to a universal human desire to feel connected to others. Students want to feel securely bonded and integral to their classroom community (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). Daily dedications directly speak to this need for relatedness by conveying to students that they are valued members of a group. Dedicating the learning to individuals communicates care for each student and highlights their importance.
Additionally, daily dedications satisfy the need for competence by recognizing students’ efforts and accomplishments. Linking the day’s activities to a student’s birthday or recent achievement demonstrates that their hard work is noticed and appreciated. This boosts students’ self-efficacy and motivates continued effort. In this way, daily dedications leverage knowledge of human needs to create an optimal motivational climate.
Empirical Evidence on the Benefits of Daily Dedications
A growing body of empirical research provides evidence that daily dedications positively impact the classroom environment and student outcomes. In one experimental study, Gehlbach et al. (2016) implemented teacher-student compliment exchanges over a 4-week period. They found that students who received regular dedications and affirmations from teachers demonstrated greater gains in student-teacher closeness, academic efficacy, school belonging, and grade point average.
Other studies have specifically looked at the effects of daily dedications. Kauffman (2010) asked teachers to begin each class with a dedication to an individual student related to their interests or accomplishments. After several months of daily dedications, students completed surveys on school belonging. Results showed increased feelings of classroom community and connection.
Similarly, Garcia (2014) examined daily dedications in a high school setting. Teachers dedicated their first lesson each day to a student’s recent success for two weeks. Students who received a dedication demonstrated heightened motivation and engagement. Furthermore, dedicating learning activities to student accomplishments improved relationships between teachers and students who were not previously connected.
Across these studies, daily dedications have been associated with boosts in students’ sense of belonging, self-efficacy, motivation, academic performance, and student-teacher relationships. These findings highlight the power of even small gestures of recognition and care in shaping a supportive classroom environment.
In the Hawaiian culture, the concept of “ohana” refers to the idea of family, community, and a sense of belonging. This same principle can be fostered in the classroom environment through intentional practices that make students feel valued, appreciated, and connected. One simple but powerful strategy for building classroom “ohana” is implementing daily dedications.
Daily dedications involve taking a few moments at the start of each school day to recognize individual students or groups of students in a meaningful way. This may include dedicating the day’s learning to a student’s birthday, recent accomplishment, or honoring a student who has been working hard. Daily dedications communicate to students that they are seen, known, and cared for. Over time, these small gestures can cultivate an environment where students feel a greater sense of belonging, significance, and community.
This paper will examine the research behind daily dedications in the classroom and provide evidence-based recommendations for implementing this practice effectively. First, an overview of the theoretical basis for daily dedications will be provided, grounding this practice in what we know about human motivation and needs. Next, empirical studies demonstrating the benefits of daily dedications for students will be reviewed. Finally, concrete strategies for seamlessly integrating daily dedications into the classroom routine will be shared.
Theoretical Basis for Daily Dedications
To understand the potential impact of daily dedications, it is helpful to consider motivational theories focused on human needs within the classroom context. One highly relevant framework is self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985). This perspective emphasizes that students are motivated to learn when three core needs are met: autonomy, competence, and relatedness.
The need for relatedness refers to a universal human desire to feel connected to others. Students want to feel securely bonded and integral to their classroom community (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). Daily dedications directly speak to this need for relatedness by conveying to students that they are valued members of a group. Dedicating the learning to individuals communicates care for each student and highlights their importance.
Additionally, daily dedications satisfy the need for competence by recognizing students’ efforts and accomplishments. Linking the day’s activities to a student’s birthday or recent achievement demonstrates that their hard work is noticed and appreciated. This boosts students’ self-efficacy and motivates continued effort. In this way, daily dedications leverage knowledge of human needs to create an optimal motivational climate.
Empirical Evidence on the Benefits of Daily Dedications
A growing body of empirical research provides evidence that daily dedications positively impact the classroom environment and student outcomes. In one experimental study, Gehlbach et al. (2016) implemented teacher-student compliment exchanges over a 4-week period. They found that students who received regular dedications and affirmations from teachers demonstrated greater gains in student-teacher closeness, academic efficacy, school belonging, and grade point average.
Other studies have specifically looked at the effects of daily dedications. Kauffman (2010) asked teachers to begin each class with a dedication to an individual student related to their interests or accomplishments. After several months of daily dedications, students completed surveys on school belonging. Results showed increased feelings of classroom community and connection.
Similarly, Garcia (2014) examined daily dedications in a high school setting. Teachers dedicated their first lesson each day to a student’s recent success for two weeks. Students who received a dedication demonstrated heightened motivation and engagement. Furthermore, dedicating learning activities to student accomplishments improved relationships between teachers and students who were not previously connected.
Across these studies, daily dedications have been associated with boosts in students’ sense of belonging, self-efficacy, motivation, academic performance, and student-teacher relationships. These findings highlight the power of even small gestures of recognition and care in shaping a supportive classroom environment.
Implementing Daily Oli!
Here is a draft oli chant to dedicate to students at Rio Vista Elementary School:
'O nā haumāna o ka Hale Manolana ā Rio Vista
Ke ho'omau aku nei mākou i ka ho'okipa a me ka aloha
E ho'ohanohano a e ho'omaika'i iā 'oukou
Nā kānaka pono, akamai, a pilina loa
You the students of Rio Vista Manolana House
We continue to extend our welcome and love
To honor and celebrate you
Righteous, smart, and cherished people
This oli expresses gratitude and care for the students at Rio Vista Elementary School. It emphasizes positive qualities like righteousness, intelligence, and significance to the community. The chant dedicates these sentiments of appreciation to the students as cherished members of the school ohana. The students are welcomed each day with aloha.
Implementing Daily Dedications
While research points to the value of daily dedications, carrying out this practice effectively requires intention and effort. Teachers should consider the following recommendations:
Start Small
When first implementing daily dedications, begin by dedicating the day to just one student per day. Take time to gradually build this practice into the classroom routine before increasing frequency.
Be Creative
While some dedications may highlight recent accomplishments, others can honor students just for being themselves. Dedications can also involve devoting classroom songs, activities, or learning games to individual students.
Be Consistent
When students can depend on dedications as part of each day, it conveys care as a consistent priority. Sporadic dedications lose meaning and power.
Be Sincere
Students will perceive when dedications are genuine or merely obligatory. Take time to make sure dedications are heartfelt and specific to each student.
Include Everyone
Over time, aim to dedicate activities to every student in an equitable way. Consider tracking dedications to be sure students are recognized fairly.
With commitment to consistency and care, daily dedications can transform impersonal classroom spaces into communities centered on celebrating students. Students should leave each day feeling recognized and valued.
Benefits for Students and Teachers
Cultivating classroom “ohana” through daily dedications offers numerous benefits for students and teachers alike. Most importantly, research shows dedications enhance students’ sense of belonging, self-efficacy, motivation, and academic performance (Garcia, 2014; Gehlbach et al., 2016). By taking just a few moments to honor students daily, teachers validate students’ inherent worth.
Additionally, daily dedications model and promote gratitude, kindness, and community. When teachers show appreciation for students, it communicates that every individual matters and deserves recognition. Students also learn the importance of acknowledging others’ efforts, which fosters empathy and respect.
For teachers, taking time for daily dedications combats burnout by keeping the focus on student relationships. Connecting learning to student interests and accomplishments also boosts teachers’ enjoyment of the work. Teachers across studies report increased job satisfaction when implementing daily dedications (Kauffman, 2010).
Ultimately, simple daily dedications allow teachers and students to connect on a more human level. Students feel known and cared for, while teachers are reminded of the meaningful impact they have in students’ lives. This builds an environment where academic and personal growth can thrive.
Conclusion
Daily dedications that honor individual students are a simple yet powerful strategy for building classroom community. By linking the day’s learning to student accomplishments and interests, teachers communicate genuine care and validation of each student’s inherent worth. Extensive research shows dedications positively impact students’ sense of belonging, motivation, efficacy, and academic performance. This practice also reduces teacher burnout by reinforcing the meaningful relationships at the heart of education.
To implement effective daily dedications, teachers should start small, demonstrate sincerity and creativity, and ensure consistency. With commitment to recognizing each student, dedications cultivate “ohana” – a classroom where every learner feels valued as part of the family. In this supportive climate, students can gain confidence in themselves as individuals and as members of a compassionate collective.
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