Friday, February 25, 2011
Goal
You goal is not to make students pass your class. Your goal is for your students to be successful when they leave you.
Don's Aphorism
Good teachers are good learners. If you don't absolutely love learning new things every day, you shouldn't be teaching. We should infect our kids with the love of learning.
Jarvis - advise given
Never underestimate the abilities of students. They will rise to your expectations.
Relationships are key - By Clint Butain
Relationships are important inside the classroom. In order for learning to happen from a instructor. The students must trust.
Always smile from PV
Always smile. Don't let the child think their problem is causing a problem for you. Sometimes though it feels like you're gritting your teeth more than smiling.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
There are no corners in this room.
One concept that I learned about early in teaching was that of the power struggle. Some said power struggles were to be avoided and some said be sure and win them all. A power struggle is when you want a student to do something and the student says, "NO!"
What can you do? How do you win? Is winning important?
I found over time that even when I won struggles with students, we both ended up being losers. As I gained experience I learned to give choices to students where we could all be winners.
"Would you like to complete this assignment in class now or while the rest of us are out at recess?"
Are you going to manage your behavior and keep the right to stay with your friends at this seat or would you be better off moving now?
These kinds of questions do three things. They focus on the desired behavior. In the examples above, completing the assignment and self-management are desired.
The second thing they do is provide a reasonable (meaning both student and teacher can live with it) consequence to a failure to meet the desired behavior.
The third thing these questions to is give the student a choice. Giving this choice is a way of treating the student with dignity. It also says that you expect the student to be responsible and manage his/her own behavior while at the same time, clearly stating the boundaries you need to set.
A child about to loose his dignity is like a wounded animal trapped in a corner. He's dangerous to himself and others. By giving students a way to save face, self-manage and still meet the requirements you've set, you avoid backing them into corners.
Contrast these teacher statements with those above:
"If you don't finish that in five minutes, I'll make you stay after school."
"Be quiet or I'll __________.
"You are not behaving, I'm going to move you to another seat."
Honoring students and treating them with dignity is one of the foundational beliefs in Invitational Learning Theory. Listen to yourself as you interact with students and see if you can remove the corners from your classroom.
What can you do? How do you win? Is winning important?
I found over time that even when I won struggles with students, we both ended up being losers. As I gained experience I learned to give choices to students where we could all be winners.
"Would you like to complete this assignment in class now or while the rest of us are out at recess?"
Are you going to manage your behavior and keep the right to stay with your friends at this seat or would you be better off moving now?
These kinds of questions do three things. They focus on the desired behavior. In the examples above, completing the assignment and self-management are desired.
The second thing they do is provide a reasonable (meaning both student and teacher can live with it) consequence to a failure to meet the desired behavior.
The third thing these questions to is give the student a choice. Giving this choice is a way of treating the student with dignity. It also says that you expect the student to be responsible and manage his/her own behavior while at the same time, clearly stating the boundaries you need to set.
A child about to loose his dignity is like a wounded animal trapped in a corner. He's dangerous to himself and others. By giving students a way to save face, self-manage and still meet the requirements you've set, you avoid backing them into corners.
Contrast these teacher statements with those above:
"If you don't finish that in five minutes, I'll make you stay after school."
"Be quiet or I'll __________
"You are not behaving, I'm going to move you to another seat."
Honoring students and treating them with dignity is one of the foundational beliefs in Invitational Learning Theory. Listen to yourself as you interact with students and see if you can remove the corners from your classroom.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Passing Thoughts - Paul Nelson
I taught for 30 years and learned a few things. I think they are important but whether they became so in the learning of them or the knowing of them I can’t say. I’ll feel better if I pass them along so that’s what I’ll do here.
Be welcoming. People, students and colleagues alike, respond positively to welcoming behaviors.
- “I’m so glad you’re here.”
- “Your contributions are valuable to us.”
- “You’re going to enjoy our class today.”
- “You are an important part of our class.”
There is more here than meets the eye. You’ll find seminars and books on invitational theory, even a web site for the International Alliance for Invitational Education. Invitational learning theory is centered on five themes, optimism, trust, respect, care and intentionality.
Teachers have the ability to create classrooms where these themes are the norms. This makes teaching a profession where one can create a happy and welcoming place to work. How many people can say that about their jobs?
Books to read:
Inviting School Success: A Self-Concept Approach to Teaching, Learning, and Democratic Practice - Purkey, Novak ISBN 0534504191
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