Alan Hughes (Level 9 HOLA) introduced me to the idea of the bucket. The bucket represents the resilience of a student. Each time a student offers an answer and gets a negative response (laughing, teasing, being wrong) they lose a little of themselves out of the bucket. If they get a positive response, the bucket starts to fill again.
As the bucket gets more and more depleted, they get more unwilling to put themselves out there. When it is near the bottom, they will protect what is left by refusing to answer, refusing to try, being defiant and protective of what little self esteem they have left in the bucket. Adolescence is a difficult time, between hormones, increasing academic ability, fragile confidence, peer issues, seeking independence and protective parents, a lot is drawing out of the bucket.
It is important to ensure that students never reach the point of protecting themselves. The bucket should be overflowing with enthusiasm with opportunities to build self confidence - not everyone outside of the classroom will understand that this is important or why you are working with this student. It starts with a welcome, hello and something positive that they can contribute.
When a child has little in the bucket it is important to provide opportunities to refill it before it reaches the point of self protection.
When a child is at the point of self protection, a caring person will let them know it is ok and help them refill the bucket - preferably assisting with diminishing demands on the bucket from outside the classroom.
Since it was first introduced to me, I have appreciated the bucket analogy and it assists in understanding why Alan is such a great person and teacher. He lives the analogy and has assisted many students refill the bucket.
