'High-five' your pupils everyday, teachers told

Teachers should give children a ‘high five’ hand slap as they walk into the classroom each morning, leadership experts are telling the future heads of inner city schools. They claim this will motivate pupils and result in improved exam results. Quite what the children will make of their teacher trying to be cool is another matter.

The idea is the brainchild of Future Leaders, a training scheme for young teachers who show the potential to be fast-tracked into senior management positions. Sir Iain Hall, its director of training, told a meeting of aspiring heads: “When your children come into the classroom, how do you greet them? Whether it’s a high five, it is touching a child’s hand, it is shaking their hands - we teach our Future Leaders to stand at the classroom door and greet every child who comes through.
“It’s about establishing positive relationships all the time, shaking the hands of kids that go past - giving those high fives.”

The Times Educational Supplement reports that Sir Iain was inspired by visits to American schools.
But will the technique work in Britain, where there is less of a national obsession with boosting self-esteem?

British children might cringe at the thought of emulating this - and other tactics about which Sir Iain enthuses. In one New York school the pupils gather in a circle each morning to applaud each other, he said. “The headteacher would say ‘John, we appreciate you’ and everybody cheers John. It is getting that positive relationship where children can relax and think ‘Somebody believes in me’.”

Do you think your child’s confidence would soar if such techniques were adopted? Or would they wince with embarrassment and regard it as an excruciating example of adults trying to get ‘down with the kids’?

Read School Gate on:

Why are teachers too scared to give first aid?

Should teachers be paid the same as doctors and lawyers?

My child has HIV. Should I tell the school?

Comments

[Helen]

My children are English but currently attend state schools in the US. There is no 'high fiving' here. Quite the opposite. The American children are extremely well mannered and well behaved and would never dream of being anything but extremely formal in their approach to any adult, let alone teachers. The whole culture however, is one of support and appreciation. Thank you goes a long way here.

[Simon Hobson.]

Hi,

I was asked to Hi five my students at a school in China like my American and Canadian colleagues but refused to do so in that it is not an inherent part of my culture or upbringing (I'm English)

Teaching is about good manners and inspiring but this chosen form of greeting is naff and winning over students takes so much more!!!!

[Hol]

Teachers are currently afraid to touch a child even to administer first aid etc. for fear of being blasted for inappropriate behaviour, and now they're saying they should slap palms with the kids as a morning greeting (which if done too exuberantly actually kind of stings)?

Okay...

Well, maybe the form's a bit strange but the principle is sound -greeting children positively and encouraging them is by no means a bad thing

[Sophia]

I'm a 17 year old student at Glasgow Uni and I would have no problems "high-fiving" any of my lecturers! I believe children 4 to 7 wouldn't either. However, from 8 upwards, kids get cocky and (speaking from experience) would probably find the idea utterly ridiculous and most likely mock the teacher for trying to be "cool". Kids don't appriciate their teachers to later on in their education, I'll admit that I didn't, so I think this idea would be wasted in many schools.

[Mister Teacher]

I never knew that it was "supposed to" boost academic ability, but I have been high fiving my kids for a couple of years now (I teach 3rd grade in Texas). It seems to help the bond between us, it makes them smile (especially when they try to slap my hand as hard as they can), and it gets them fired up.

And then I liberally apply the hand sanitizer...

[Marc Sheffner]

I agree with Bellringers http://timesonline.typepad.com/schoolgate/2008/12/high-five-your.html#comment-142595648
The principle is sound: "being polite and teaching them manners". Why not leave it at that, and let teachers come up with their own ways of doing this? In fact, why not go the whole hog, and leave the entire matter of building relationships with students (including whether or not it is necessary or advisable to "boost their self-esteem") up to teachers?

Sounds like another quango had to come up with some "result" to justify their expenses. "I know! Let's tell heads that they must motivate pupils and improve exam results. They'd never figure that out for themselves. AND, let's tell them how to do it! Coz they can't figure that out for themselves, either. That's what WE'RE here for. Right?" Brilliant. Perhaps next year, we can look forward to instructions on exactly how high the ideal high-five is, the speed of approach, the optimum facial expression, etc., etc. I'm sure we are all holding our breath. Why are teachers not up in arms against this kind of interference and control?! Jeez Louise, indeed.

[Bellringers]

I can't tell you how sorry I am that this particular trend found its way from us to you. I can't tell you how many professional development sessions I have sat in on that deal with the concept of shaking hands and greeting. It's the idea that one must "capture kids hearts before you can capture their minds."

I maintain that good teachers always greet their students in some fashion. (Isn't that part of being polite and teaching them manners?) And, I've always maintained that good teachers build working relationships which can/do motivate kids to learn. The idea that somehow you become a better teacher if you just high fived a kid or if you just shake their hand is rather silly, don't you think? If that really improved learning, then all we would need is a handshake or two to seal the deal. Jeez Louise, if teaching were only that simple.

[edwinheng]

It's pretentious, silly, and serves no differentiating purpose once it becomes a routine. And I believe the students, most of them intelligent children, can tell the difference between genuine encouragement and mere lip-service. What happens when this become an everyday routine? It loses any impact. And, except for a few students with lower self-esteem, most do not need this. This is the most silly proposition - trying to transplant an idea from a different culture, different situation, into a perfectly normal one. Look at the intrinsic motivational factors of interest, engagement, and recognition, rather than silly superficial pretentious showing of encouragement. Think of ideas that suit the circumstances here! This is a most lazy way of borrowing ideas. Shame on Sir Iain!

[edwinheng]

This is the most dumb idea I have ever heard. And I agree fully with the other comments that the children will not find it cool. Worse - children, most intelligent ones anyway, can tell the difference between sincere honest praise and mere lip-service. And come on - when every day, the teacher does the high five, will it make a difference anymore? Will it seem like a real affirmation or encouragement anymore? It becomes a routine! A most laughable and silly foolish idea.

[jonquil alexia]

american children, once they're past the age of 6, wouldn't go in for what sir ian recommends. cool is not, when adults are doing 'it'. no child that i am aware of would think that being applauded for (what amounts to) nothing would find it a boost for self-esteem. now, after-school programs where food, activities, computers, books, games, & supervision are held, would serve a useful, & enjoyed, purpose. jonquil

[Andy]

Actually, you probably can high-five kids - once you have already built up your relationship with them.
Building up a relationship implies getting to know someone, not mechanically following a set of rules.
It is also a common mistake, which Busy Jane's post suggests she has made, to think that distance is a necessary condition of respect. Whether they like it or not, teachers will always have a relationship of some sort with pupils, and with variations in character and situation, there are many different ways it can be done.

[j]

Oh boy what a great tool for discipline.

Just the threat of having all your mates sitting in a circle and teacher saying, "John we appreciate your unique gifts, we all love you as a person at the deepest level, and I now wish to give you a cool highfive", ought be kept as the sanction for the most disgusting behaviour possible.

[BusyJane]

I think my son, 12, would die of embarrassment if his teacher high-fived him. Teachers should not try to act 'cool' and to be like the children. They should remain slightly apart from them. There needs to be distance and respect. I do like the idea of greeting the kids individually every morning, but what's wrong with just saying, 'good morning'. Even a handshake would be better than a high five.