Building Character & Trust

Fredrick Marshall
Strategies for the 21st century
classroom

Why & How to build Character &

Trust
The most successful classrooms have
a solid foundation that is built upon
trust and character. Therefore, it is
imperative that teachers build trust
and character amongst their
students. Lemov (2010) shared three
techniques that will help build
character and trust: Emotional
Constancy, J-Factor, and Warm/Strict.

Techniques to build Character &

Trust
Emotional Constancy: This technique constructs
consistent emotional behavior in teachers. Which
allows teachers to earn students trust.
J-Factor: This technique is for teachers to find a
way to let their own genuine version of joy shine
through and build trustful relationships.
Warm/Strict: This technique is used to build a
trusting relationship with students while
simultaneously instilling character with the
students.

Emotional Constancy
2 things to do with your emotions :
o Modulate them:
o Practice appropriate self-control and restraint
o Dont get too high, dont get too low

o Tie your emotions to the students

performance:
o Show excitement when students execute great
work
o Never display disappointment in a student

Emotional Constancy
An emotionally
constant teachers
earns students
trust in part by
having them know
he is under
control (Lemov,
2010, pg. 219)
Example:
You can do better,
and I expect
better.

J-Factor
5 categories of J-Factor activities that can be
used:
o 1.Fun and games.
o These activities draw on kids love for challenges, competition, and play.

o 2.Us (and them).

o Kids take pleasure in belonging to things. Make members feel like they belong to an
important Us.

o 3.Drama, song, and dance.

o Music, dramatic play, and movement raise spirits, and also establish collective
identity.

o 4.Humor.
o Laughter is one of the base conditions of happiness and fulfillment, which makes it a
powerful tool building an environment of happy and fulfilled students and teachers.

o 5.Suspense and Surprise.

o Occasional fun, silly, surprising, and inspiring activities make the class intriguing.

J-Factor

Finding joy in work of

learning (J-Factor) is a key
driver not just of a happy
classroom but of a highachieving classroom"
(Lemov, 2010, pg. 215).
Example:

Teachers may include a funny

clip from popular shows, such
as The Boondocks or South
Park, that relates to the class
content.

Warm/Strict
These steps will make your Warm/Strict
effective:
o Explain to students why youre doing what you are.
o Also explain why this method will help the class run
smoother
o Distinguish between behavior and people.
o Critique the students behavior, not the student
o Demonstrate that consequences are temporary.
o Explain that once they have dealt with consequences it is
over. No grudges held. Get over it quickly.
o Use warm, nonverbal behavior.
o Display smiles, and positive bodily language when
critiquing work and/or behavior.

Warm/Strict

Warm/Strict technique shows

you must be both: caring,
funny, warm, concerned, and
nurturing, and also strict, by
the book, relentless, and
sometimes inflexible (Lemov,
2010, pg.213).
Example:

Because you spoke out of turn,

you must face the consequences.
Great answer though!

References
Lemov, D (2010). Teach Like a
Champion: 49 techniques that put
students on the path to college. San
Francisco: Wiley.