What is a "Response Ninja"?

It's building our students up, connecting to them, inspiring them... without them knowing it. When students speak and it's our turn to respond, what we can and how we say it is critical. Choose the wrong words or approach, and we shut them down.

Or, if we choose our words and responses wisely, we can increase their sense of confidence, their curiosity, and the sense of security in themselves to experiment or make mistakes. Plus, our words have the power to unroot harmful narratives they've adopted, both about the act of learning, as well as of themselves.

The best part is that these strategies are all done "under the radar." We can say and do things that quietly uplift the learners in our midst, without them even being aware of what we're doing. Hence the term: "ninja." There's an art to inspiring others when we can do it subtly and implicitly.

There are 10 "Response Ninja" Methods in total. This video explains methods 1–3.

Strategy #1
1:05 "So you're saying that..." then "agreed." method

Strategy #2
3:56 The "Are you sure?" method

Strategy #3
7:36 The "WE" method

All of these strategies and more are covered in Robert's debut book, which outlines in clear and actionable ways how we can connect to learners in transcendent ways.
https://yaymath.org/book

To invite Robert to speak at your school or conference, either in-person or virtually, including a list of fun and inspirational keynotes and workshops, please visit:
https://yaymath.org/visit

The gracious interviewer, Roni Habib, is an expert in helping leaders, educators, and parents become happier, more resilient, more connected to their purpose, and more playful. The founder of EQ Schools, he leads workshops and speaks in organizations nationally and abroad. Learn more at:
https://eqschools.com

If a certain strategy resonates with you, you're invited to share your thoughts in the comments.