When Assuming the Best is the Worst When Assuming the Best is the Worst Assume the best about others until history says assume the worst. Believe history not hope. Before you go with the hope that they’ll pull through, ask yourself, what’s changed since the last time they fell short. “Bad” hope makes you passive. If nothing’s changed, nothing will change. Expectation History predicts the future. Expect more of the same, unless there are concrete reasons to anticipate something different. More of the same now results in more of the same later. “I’m going to change next time,” is gobbledygook. Everyone who offers reasons why change is better tomorrow, will do the same thing tomorrow. Present Present behavior predicts the future. Close your ears to what they’re saying. 5 reasons assuming the best is the worst: Nothings changed since the last failure or disappointment. Hope is not a strategy for building the future. If you don’t see action, take action. How has hoping for the best gone wrong in your leadership journey? Like this:
Behaviour Management: A Bill Rogers Top 10 Behaviour Management Strategies from Bill Rogers Without doubt the greatest personal challenge I’ve faced as a teacher was moving from the Sixth Form college in Wigan where I started teaching, to Holland Park School in London in my mid-20s. Having established the idea in my mind that I was a pretty good teacher, it was a massive shock to discover that in my new context, I was a novice. Later I discovered the seminal Bill Rogers’ video series and watched them back-to-back. The series titles give a flavour of the Bill Rogers approach: I can’t do justice to it all in one post, but here are my highlights. Top Ten Ideas from Bill Rogers 1. The Black Dot in a White Square: What do you focus on? It is often necessary to get class or individual behaviour into perspective in order to maintain a positive atmosphere in the class. The class is awfulThe group never works sensiblyThe student is unable to behaveEveryone is being too noisy 2. This is so simple but packs a punch. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Discipline: Teacher Focused vs Student Focused Discipline can be filtered into two trains of thought: teacher focused and student focused. What is it? Pretty straight forward. Teacher focused educators believe discipline is about punishing kids for their behavior, and removing them from class makes it easier to teach their content. Student focused educators believe their jobs are to teach kids (Math, Art, Science, Spanish, Behavior, etc.), and that is challenging to do if students are removed from their instruction. Who “does” it? What is the foundation of it? Behavior is… Teacher focused educators believe behavior is a choice. Teacher becomes frustrated when… Teacher focused educators feel punishments should match how upset they were with the student’s infraction, and that the behavior should be immediately corrected by administration. Scenario: Today we’re working on quadratic equations.
A Comprehensive Framework For Student Motivation A Comprehensive Framework For Student Motivation by Terry Heick When researching student motivation and gamification late last year, I came across the most comprehensive gamification framework I’ve ever seen. Developed by gamification expert Yu-kai Chou, it was an ambitious effort that distinguished black hat gamification (which is “bad”–think Farmville and Candy Crush) from white hat gamification (which is “good”–think Minecraft or even an ACT score). (It’s also copyrighted, but they graciously allowed us to use it.) While it is designed not as an educational framework, but rather as a way to demonstrate gamification and its many strands, gamification is about human encouragement and motivation. So what began as a post about gamification became more a matter of student motivation–what motivates students in the classroom and why. 8 Core Drives Of Student Motivation 1) Epic Meaning & Calling Educator takeaways? 2) Development & Accomplishment Educator takeaways? Educator takeaways?
The 15 Best Classroom Management Books If you're not already part of the conversation over at the We Are Teachers HELPLINE, you're missing out! Every day, teachers from all over the world give and receive advice, share great teaching tips, and weigh in on tough topics for a daily dose of inspiration you can count on. This week, student teacher Mariah asked for recommendations for the best books and programs for help with classroom management. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 1-2-3 Magic by Thomas W. 14. 15.
5 Tips for Teaching the Tough Kids Every teacher remembers his or her first "tough kid" experience. Maybe the student ignored your directions or laughed at your attempts to utilize the classroom discipline steps. We all have at least one story to share, and for some teachers, teaching a tough kid is a daily challenge. It seems that no matter what teaching techniques you try to pull out of your educator hat, nothing changes their behavior. I've had the privilege of teaching some tough kids. 1. I firmly believe that a student's misbehavior in the past does not necessarily equate to future indiscretions. Usually during the first week of school, I would try to have individual conferences with these tough kids. 2. Unfortunately, it has been my experience that some of the toughest kids to teach come from very difficult home situations. Don’t forget how important you are in helping your students develop not just academically, but also socially. 3. 4. Teachers need to have thick skin. 5.
7 Things to Try Before You Give Up On A Student I have to admit it; I have not loved all of my students in the same way. Not all of my students and I have clicked. Not all of my students and I have had the best relationships. Not for lack of wanting to. Not for lack of trying, but sometimes it seems that bigger things are in play and the universe just doesn’t align. Take it personal sometimes. Speak kindly about them. Find the humor in the situation. Forge a relationship outside of the classroom. Keep digging. Treat them as a human being. Know when to admit defeat, but not out loud. I am a passionate teacher in Oregon, Wisconsin, USA, who has taught 4th, 5th, and 7th grade. Like this: Like Loading...
Student Participation/Active Learning- Teaching Tips Student Participation/Active Learning Tips marked with an * indicates that the tip is consistent with learnng-centered teaching Student Participation/Active Learning *Getting students to participate in class Here are a few simple strategies to get students to respond to questions or participate more: give students a clue regarding the kind of response that your are expecting give students a minute to write their thoughts before anyone is called upon break students into small groups to discuss the answer, then bring them back to the whole group arrive early to class and chat with students informally (helps them fail more comfortable) use non-verbal means to invite people to participate - sit close to students, make eye contact with them individually, move around the room, or sit in different locations. back to top *Promoting class participation, discussion among the entire class *Student classroom participation *Getting more student discussion *Active learning within a large classroom
Education Week (This is the final post in a three-part series on student motivation. You can see Part One here and Part Two here) Fitta Astriyani asked: How can I deal with unmotivated students? Part One of this series included responses from Cris Tovani, Josh Stumpenhorst and Eric Jensen. Today, educators Jason Flom and Barbara Blackburn contribute their thoughts, along with many comments from readers. Response From Jason Flom Jason Flom is the Learning and Communications director at Cornerstone Learning Community in Tallahassee, FL. Whenever I work with students who seem to lack that "drive" or "ambition" (a.k.a. interest and willingness), I begin with Q.E.D. While the unmotivated student may seem blatantly defiant in their unwillingness to engage, by thinking of them as learners in need of an opportunity to meaningfully engage, one is more likely to find solutions that work for the individual. Step 1: Listen, empathize, connect Questions I ask myself in wanting to draw students in: Step 2: Adapt Value Meg:
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