The Art of Control Executive function — our ability to remember and use what we know, defeat our unproductive impulses, and switch gears and adjust to new demands — is increasingly understood as a key element not just of learning but of lifelong success. Researchers at the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University describe executive function as an air traffic control system for the mind — helping us manage streams of information, revise plans, stay organized, filter out distractions, cope with stress, and make healthy decisions. Children learn these skills first from their parents, through reliable routines, meaningful and responsive interactions, and play that focuses attention and stirs the beginnings of self-control. But when home is not stable, or in situations of neglect or abuse, executive function skills may be impaired, or may not develop at all, limiting a child’s success in elementary school and later life. Imaginary Play Support it by: Storytelling “Children love to tell stories.
The Paradigm Challenge About Project Paradigm And The Paradigm Challenge Project Paradigm’s mission is to identify, support, and collaborate with passionate individuals and organizations to inspire, lead, and facilitate paradigm shifts in the approaches to global challenges. The Paradigm Challenge invites students aged 4 to 18 around the world to use kindness, creativity, and collaboration to help address real-life problems. The top 100 entries win up to $100,000 and the first place winners in each age division (4-8, 9-13, 14-18) win a 4-day/ 3-night trip to Los Angeles to attend The Paradigm Challenge Prize Ceremony. Teachers associated with the top 100 entries win grants up to $5,000. The Paradigm Challenge is an annual global competition created by Project Paradigm in collaboration with the American Red Cross and a wide coalition of partners. The Paradigm Challenge presents multiple high quality project based learning opportunities for students pre-K through 12.
5 Innovative Elementary Classroom Management Ideas Before learning can take place, young students must be helped to settle down and be ready to listen. Disruptions are a constant challenge in any room that’s full of children, and over the years certain elementary classroom management ideas have evolved. According to Kate Ortiz, the National Education Association‘s classroom management expert, the following five tips can give any teacher a great start on creating a productive classroom environment: 1. Keep parents engaged This may seem surprising as a tip for managing classrooms, since parents aren’t there with you in the class. Methods of engaging parents recommended by the NEA include sending home bright postcards showing student decorations at the school, providing parents with treats in order to make school conferences a pleasant experience, and meeting parents out in the community where they shop. 2. Even though teachers may not be aware of practicing favoritism, it must be guarded against on an ongoing basis. 3. 4. 5.
This ‘Kindness Curriculum’ Is Free And Should Be Used In Every Classroom Imagine living in a world that valued kindness enough to teach it along with academics. Educators would teach kids to manage their emotions in addition to standard curriculum such as math and science. Sounds pretty amazing, doesn’t it? Well, the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has created a free “kindness curriculum” for kids, designed to do just that. “Faced with mental and physical health challenges at a global scale, we conduct rigorous scientific research to bring new insights and tools aimed at improving the wellbeing of people of all backgrounds and ages,” states the Center’s mission statement. So how exactly does that work? Using “Peace Wands” The children in this program use peace wands to help with conflict resolution. The child with the heart wand describes what they’re feeling “in their heart.” Creating ‘Kindness Gardens’ “Belly Buddies” During this activity, kids listen to music while lying on their back, and rest a small stone on their stomach.
How To Set Up A Simple, Effective Classroom Management Plan The purpose of a classroom management plan is to hold students accountable for misbehavior—without having to yell, scold, or lecture. When used correctly, a classroom management plan eliminates the need to use these and other stressful, counterproductive methods. It allows you to demand impeccable behavior without causing friction and resentment. Which then frees you to build meaningful and influential relationships with your students. To set up a classroom management plan, you must first devise a set of rules that cover every conceivable misbehavior or disruption that could crop up in your classroom. I recommend the following four rules: Listen and follow directions.Raise your hand before speaking or leaving your seat.Keep your hands and feet to yourself.Respect your classmates and your teacher. Note: For our high school classroom management plan, click here. These rules work because they make sense to students, they’re fully enforceable, and they cover all the bases. They are what they are.
7 Classroom Management Techniques That Really Work Some classrooms run like clockwork, with teachers seeming to manage them effortlessly. Others … well, not so much. But there’s nothing magic or automatic about classroom management. It’s a skill that teachers build over time, constantly refining their classroom management strategies to find the ones that work best for them. Here are some teacher-tested management techniques for designing and maintaining your own ideal classroom learning environment. 1. While teachers don’t usually get to choose their own classroom management systems, sometimes one stands out enough to be brought to your administrators’ attention for consideration. 2. This is the most important of classroom management strategies and often the most challenging. Be realistic about how much information you can hold in your head. 3. This doesn’t just mean calling home when there’s a problem. If this sounds like a lot of work, we’ve got good news! 4. These days, there are no set rules for what a classroom needs to look like.
Challenging Learning: Theory, effective practice and lesson ideas to create optimal learning in the classroom, 2nd Edition Description Challenging Learning offers advice and techniques for helping children of all ages develop into confident, thoughtful and independent learners. Based around the acronym ASK (Attitudes, Skills and Knowledge), this essential guide explores attitudes, skills and knowledge to learning. It considers the strategies that can help teachers to challenge their pupils to think more skilfully and logically and how to develop these techniques more effectively. Drawing on the latest research from some of the most respected experts in the field, Challenging Learning encourages independent thinking and a spirit of inquiry in pupils of all ages. Highlights include: effective teaching strategies including FACTS, the Teaching Target Model and the Learning Pit Models; up-to-date research and theory from leading experts; practical suggestions and principles to help you design and develop your own lessons. Reviews Table of Contents 1. About the Author Author Subject Categories EDUCATION / General
How to Create an Effective Classroom Management Plan Thinking of starting a new classroom management plan? When I was a teacher, this was the element I struggled with the most. However, after years of teaching both middle and high school students, I learned how to refine my strategies. Like me, you may enjoy teaching facts much more than setting boundaries. If you’re reading this article, you clearly already have your students in mind. Middle school classroom management plans Have classroom expectations In a previous article, I spent a lot of time talking about the importance of expectations. During the first week of school, consider having the students write down the rules they anticipate you’ll enforce. You might get that little joker who says that you should have recess all day. You may also want to have the students sign a contract once you get all the classroom rules in place. Try not to talk when students are talking One of my favorite memes is of a skeleton in front of a class with the words, “I’ll wait.” “Wait. Kids talk.
Top Proven Classroom Management Tips - Elementary Education Degree Teaching is tough job, no doubt about it. And working with young children can be a little overwhelming at times, especially when class sizes are large. But many seasoned educators have a sixth sense when it comes to classroom management—what works and what doesn’t—and thankfully, many of their strategies are available on the web and in print to help other teachers achieve the same success. So check out our list of proven tips to help you manage your classroom more efficiently and effectively. Tip #1: Establish classroom rules immediately and enforce them consistently. Establish rules on the first day of class, and always follow through on the specified rewards for achievement and consequences for misbehavior. Tip #2: Set logical rules and consequences. Keep the goal of learning in mind and make sure students know why the rules are what they are: “We walk instead of running in the hallway because we want to make sure that everyone is safe.” Not all students learn at the same pace. [tsl]
Classroom Rules for Teachers Rules are an important aspect of every classroom, especially when you're working with high school students. Teenagers—with their budding hormones and complex social lives—can be easily distracted, and though many are mature and highly capable, they can still benefit from structure and rules. Key Takeaways: Classroom Rules for High School Students Classroom rules provide the structure and guidelines needed to create a productive learning environment.You can create a set of classroom rules yourself or solicit input from your students and work together to make a list of rules. Creating Effective Classroom Rules Classroom rules provide guidelines that allow students to know what is expected of them. At the beginning of each school year or semester, go over the rules in class with your students, leaving time for questions and discussion. Sample Classroom Rules for High School Students There are a number of different ways to create a list of classroom rules.
Online & On-Site Student Behavior Training for Teachers | CalmClassroom Online & On-Site Mindfulness Training to Support Student Behavior Calm Classroom offers mindfulness-based training for educators who are searching for a simple, accessible way to support behavioral issues in the classroom. Our breathing, stretching, focusing and relaxation techniques help students develop emotional resilience and self-regulation skills so that they can better manage their emotions, leading to improvements in behavior and overall wellbeing. The Calm Classroom program is a perfect compliment to any existing behavior strategies being used in your school. With regular practice, our techniques bring focus and calm to any classroom and can be easily integrated into the academic schedule. Calm Classroom & Student Behavior Research shows that with consistent implementation, Calm Classroom can lead to positive behavioral outcomes in students. Whether taken on-site or online, our training will give you the tools you need to create a calmer, more peaceful classroom.
5 Effective Classroom Management Strategies That Work Wonders – Wabisabi Learning When it comes to sharing effective classroom management strategy, there are lots of different ways of thinking. Most educators believe things should be done a certain way and many of these ways are vastly different. Many of these methods have also enjoyed years of success—after all, if it works then it works. The question is, is there a comprehensive universal list of approaches regarding effective classroom management that can help all teachers? Since every classroom is vastly different, probably not. However, below we give you some ideas which are the consensus across many of the educators we've interviewed. 1. Many teachers hand out a syllabus at the start of the year detailing what students are responsible for and when. Consider drafting up and handing out a two- or three-page “student handbook” that details what students are allowed and not allowed to do and when. 2. Your learners are much more apt to follow guidelines they helped create. 3. 4. 5.