The Teacher Writer’s Life: Clutter Out, Creativity In!
December 30, 2009 by admin
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With full force I decided to take upon myself a number of end-of-the-year cleaning projects last week. I started with the closet, then moved to the kitchen cabinets, the filing cabinet and finally the bedrooms. When I was finally done, I had several boxes of papers (those went to the recycling bin) unused clothes, and endless assortment of useless junk. It took five trips up and down the staris to get rid of those all boxes. Phew! The Goodwill people later came and picked up the rest of the boxes.
Clutter out – creativity in!
I used to do this type of heavy duty cleaning and organization quite regularly; now I hardly seem to have the time. What had happened?
After my “workout”, I found that not only was I more relaxed, I was more clear-headed. I found that there was room in my head to actually think!
So what did you think I did after that? Right! I started writing the content for my brand new 21 day ecourse which I’ll soon share with you.
Anyhow, Meggin McIntosh from the PHD of Productivity suggests several good reasons why we as teachers (or anybody for that matter) need to empty our lives from clutter from time to time:
* Our stress is reduced
* We are more effective.
* We are more efficient.
* We are less likely to be overwhelmed.
* We are more creative.
* We are better listeners.
* We can sleep!
Aren’t those convincing enough reasons to jumpstart your 2010 cleaning projects and declutter your life?
So what are you waiting for?
Take one small cleaning project at a time and then see how you feel. I think you’ll feel a lot more relaxed and you’ll actually have more time to enjoy what you’re doing!
So start cleaning!
Answers to Your Questions: How Can You Become a Confident and Successful Teacher
December 29, 2009 by admin
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Building confidence and success takes a lot of practice but there are many ways for new teachers to learn the tricks of the trade. During the first year of teaching, it is possible for any teacher to acquire confidence especially during moments of shortcomings and unsuccessful lessons.
With that, I share with you several questions from new and preservice teachers on how they can become confident and successful. Here are my responses:
Linda: “How do I know the best classroom management plan for my students?
Dorit: Well, Linda, the best classroom management plan takes into account both effective instruction and rules/procedures that are crystal clear to the students.
Students are really looking to be engaged from the moment they walk into the classroom. And many effective teachers are also effective classroom managers. Basically, you want to help your students become more self-directed in their behavior and learning using three simple systems.
You’ll want to set up expectations for success in the classroom so students always know exactly what to do.
Make sure you set up a system of rules, procedures. Teach and reinforce those rules and procedures. Ideally, you should have three or four rules and a variety of procedures that help your class run smoothly.
And finally, you’ll want to cater to a variety of learning styles and abilities.
Marletta asked: “I get the feeling that many of my students are not listening to me? What can I do to change that?
Dorit: Well, that’s a good question that Marletta is asking. With the classroom management piece, you really have to have your day planned very tightly where learning is at a high level and behavior is at a low level. Students need to know your routine such as expectations, consequences, rewards, procedures and classroom organization and what they can expect from you. When they feel there is uncertainty is where they start to push the limits.
You also have to be ready to address the behavior problem before it becomes worse. I called a parent on the first day of school. Being proactive helps a difficult situation before it becomes worse. By taking action, teachers should communicate right away that misbehavior is going to interfere with the learning.
Here’s another question submitted by Dan. Dan asks “how do I create lesson plans that engage learners more effectively?”
Dorit: Teaching effectively is all about actively engaging learners in the learning process itself. By actively engaging I mean providing learners with a variety of experiences, activities and assessments so that each student can reach his/her potential.
These all be should be student-centered as much as possible taking into account their learning styles, what they are interested in, and of course their abilities. Remember, we are also teaching in a digital age and this means adapting our instruction to fit the technologies of today utilizing the possibilities of the Internet, smartboards, webquests, powerpoints anything with a visual medium that we can combine to stimulate students’ motivation.
And now here’s a question on time management strategies from Sarah. “As a new teacher, I am often overwhelmed by all that I need to do to make sure that I’m top of everything and also ensuring students’ success? What are some good time management strategies?”
Dorit: For every challenge, there are many possibilities. I am a great fan of checklists. They make my life so much easier and manageable.
Having a working checklist is so important if you’re a new teacher trying to establish a positive relationship with your students or a seasoned teacher trying to teach fresh content. A working checklist really helps keep you on track to achieve what you really want in your teaching career.
Teachers make many decisions both in and out of the classroom and a working checklist can help you become less frazzled and more focused on developing meaningful goals that are crucial for developing a successful teaching career.
The best kinds of checklists are those that include weekly and monthly tasks or, short and long terms goals. Keep your weekly checklist focused to no more than 3 weekly tasks. Be flexible too – if you find yourself having a very busy week with grading and/or semester grades, then plan to put aside your goals for the following week without feeling guilty. Your working checklist should have tasks that relate to different areas of classroom management and organization as well as lesson planning and assessment that you are working hard to improve.
Well, that’s it for now! If you’ve got a question that you would like answered, please email: sassondorit@gmail.com
New Teacher Tips! See the Bigger Picture of Classroom Management
December 29, 2009 by admin
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Do you often spend time worrying about discipline problems and question your ability to effectively manage a class?
Time that could be better spent taking action to reach your goals as an effective manager and teacher.
Managing a classroom is part of becoming a successful teacher.
But it’s hard to see the success if students aren’t cooperating.
You may begin to think you aren’t doing the right things to catch your students’ attention.
You might face a few obstacles along the way.
You know what I’m talking about and chances are, you’ve experienced these things: “What if the class doesn’t cooperate with the group work activity I planned? What if Olivia disrupts the class again?” The list goes on.
When you think too far ahead, you interrupt your ability to focus on the here and now.
Teachers need to focus on the actual act of teaching. This ‘flow’ of your day is all about interacting with students and the material, making decisions on the spot, etc.
Instead of stressing out, try and “read” the class.
At home when you are away from the class, try and seriously get down to the nitty-gritty. Ask yourself: what is the bigger picture of who you are as a teacher?
As a teacher, you are unique. You have your own individual way of presenting information and way of catering to your students’ needs.
No other teacher can teach the same way you do.
But it is very easy to forget your uniqueness while trying to manage a classroom.
So be mindful of your special gifts and take a few moments to reflect upon them. Before you start your day, look at your list. Allow yourself to become empowered by your gifts.
Or you may be super organized – so you can have a more hassle free teaching life.
You might be a great listener when it comes to hearing your students’ complaints.
You might have a flair for bringing silly humor in the classroom – students like that!
Once you are connected to your own special gifts, you’ll start to enjoy your teaching and really grow as a professional.
And you know that you are following your intentions to do the right things.
You might not have results you want. You might need more support and empowerment but deep inside, you know your purpose and the bigger picture of who you are as a teacher.
And despite a rocky road, you will reach your destination.
Just open your eyes and see all the good you are doing.
And remember, you can take control in the classroom!
New Teachers: Stick With It!
December 22, 2009 by admin
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Stick With It!
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Suzanne Lieurance from the Working Writer’s Coaching Program says about successful writers:
“On good days, they keep going.
On bad days, they stick with it.”
That’s great advice which can also be applied to new teachers.
Even when you think you aren’t making (enough) progress, keep in mind the objectives (the steps) you need to take to reach your goals.
You might need to switch gears and make changes right on the spot.
Maybe you need to give more hands-on material or spend more time practicing new skills before giving students a quiz. This is also a great discipline preventer.
Don’t worry if you can’t see any success right now at the moment.
Just write your lesson plan (so you’re committed to it) but be constantly open to experimenting with new ideas and activities.
Over time, you’ll see the success just because you’ve stuck with it!
To purchase your own ebook of classroom tested tips – “Tips and Tricks for Surviving and Thriving in the Classroom,” visit: www.MakeYourTeachingSparkle.com
The Secrets to Working Successfully With Groupwork
December 22, 2009 by admin
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When it comes to working with groups, always use your outgoing, resourceful, creative and smart students as group leaders. Teach them the message that the success of the group is also their own personal success because they are members of the groups.
1.Encourage them to work with their groups so their groups can function on a higher level.
2.Consider having a special incentive (i.e. a prize or bonus) for those who proved themselves to be good, caring and effective leaders.
3. Have each group make a note of what makes each member of the group special and different. Nurture those differences!
Here are a few classroom tested tips for setting up group work procedures:
1.Lead the class into a discussion on what a good group leader means to them. Write the criteria on the board. Have each group rank the qualities.
2.Give the leaders autonomy in carrying out group decisions especially when it comes to solving issues of disagreement.
Periodically, have each group review its performance about a given task or project.
Teaching students the importance of groupwork is a lifelong skill. Successful groupwork lends itself to nurturing people skills such as collaboration and teamwork. Preparing students for this lifelong skill begins with the younger years.
For more classroom tested tips – “Tips and Tricks for Surviving and Thriving in the Classroom,” visit: www.MakeYourTeachingSparkle.com
Setting Positive Intentions For The New Year
December 21, 2009 by admin
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A new year is just a few weeks away.
A new year can be the fresh and exciting start you’ve been looking for!
December often brings reflection on where the year has gone and what will come next. For teachers, this is especially important for planning and following through with new teaching goals and objectives.
So how will you set your intentions for the new year?
Setting daily, weekly, monthly and yearly intentions is necessary for any teacher who wants to teach successfully and with confidence. When teachers learn to set positive intentions, they find they can cope much more effectively with challenging classroom situations.
But often those little voices of self-doubt tend to get in the way.
I’m sure you’ve also heard these voices:
“I have a good class, it’s just student X who’s a constant discipline problem. He literally controls the class.”
“These students will RUIN my lesson because of student X. Uh-oh, I have a feeling this lesson isn’t going to work out…”
“This is the HARDEST class ever! It will be a miracle if I make it out of this classroom alive!”
Sound familiar?
Chances are these pesky voices are also getting in the way of what COULD be a potentially successful class.
When feelings of self-doubt and uncertainty start to creep into my head, I start make a mental note of those negative voices in my teaching journal. Then I focus on the positive as a way of resetting my intention.
Here’s an example of using words positively:
I KNOW I can do this!
This new year is going to be GREAT!
This class is going to work out even with student X’s behavior.
I’ll be successful at this, I just know it!
I have all the power and energy that I need to teach this class successfully. I’ve experienced success with this class before!
No-one said that teaching and managing a class would be easy.
But it is possible to control those negative thoughts even after a terrible lesson. By doing so, you remain focused on what you want and let go of what you don’t want.
When you are able to set positive intentions consistently, successful lessons start to follow on a regular basis.
Don’t wait for the new year to start to take action.
Enter the new year with peace of mind, knowing you are on the path towards success!
Try it!
What is YOUR plan for success?
Read special report #46: Make More Than a Plan-Make a Checklist For Your Teaching Success!” You can now purchase this report as one of a collection of ten special reports in my new e-book, “Tips and Tricks to Survive and Thrive: Practical Classroom Tested Activities Made Easy” or as a separate report by clicking here.
The Teacher Writer’s Life: Reflective Journals as Teacher’s Tools
December 16, 2009 by admin
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Typically, a reflective journal is a tool used to develop critical thinking as a way to pinpoint areas of success in their day-to-day teaching. Literally, a reflective journal is any notebook where teachers describe their progress or problems with current classroom issues and lesson activities. A reflective journal can be used to clarify certain areas such as lesson planning and development or areas in their own lives. But a reflective journal can also be used a little bit differently as a teacher’s tool.
Since I can’t write about everything that happens in class, I use subject topics to guide my writing about my students, instruction and other areas I wish to think about. I’m a very reflective person, and getting my thoughts on paper seeing my words helps me learn what worked and what didn’t. Here are a few categories I use to help me get started:
1.React to class demonstrations, observations, teaching/tutoring experiences
2.Argue for or against a technique or procedure
3.Describe some new knowledge you have obtained
I get down to writing right away – usually when I arrive home and I’ve had a bite to eat. That way the lesson is still fresh in my mind. The time I write is usually enough to write out my experiences without pressure. When I record your entries, I don’t worry about style, grammar and organization. The idea is to get complete and accurate data at a time when the information is still fresh. Sometimes the original entries read like stream of consciousness.
Each time I write something I ask myself: What did I learn from the experience and how did it influence my teaching in general? And what is it about that specific activity/technique that makes it good for my classes? I try to support my insights with examples from my lessons.
At the end of each entry, I jot down ideas or questions. This is one way to narrow your focus somewhat during the journal writing process. It’s also a great source of new teaching ideas!
Try it!
For more tips on how to improve your instruction, get my ebook, “Tips and Tricks for Surviving and Thriving in the Classroom: Practical Classroom Tested Tips Made Easy” available at http://www.MakeYourTeachingSparkle.com
101 Books Every Teacher Should Read
December 16, 2009 by admin
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Please check out this informative article, “101 Books Every Teacher Should Read” by clicking here.
The Teacher Writer’s Life: It’s All About Miracles!
December 13, 2009 by admin
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This past week I was fortunate enough to hear the uplifting miracle stories of three special women- one who survived the Holocaust through amazing good fortune, another whose life led her on a journey she’d never dreamed of, and finally about one who gave birth to a healthy son despite numerous complications and difficulties.
When the Jewish patriots restored the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, the Maccabees found one jar of pure oil, enough to keep the menorah burning for just one day. But a miracle happened, and the oil burned for eight days. Each night of Chanukah, we light one more candle, exchange gifts, play dreidel, and eat fried latkes and donuts to remember this victory for religious freedom and the miracle of the oil.
We kvetch and complain but does this really bring us any closer to understanding the joy of celebrating a miracle? Many of us are so stressed by getting through the day that perhaps we don’t even realize the good we’ve impacted on a child’s life.
To put this into further perspective, the other day I received three emails from my ESL students sharing me with their joy – they learned how to write a better paragraph and enjoyed one of the reading comprehension texts I wrote on celebrating the winter holidays. And I later thought…in their own way, these are small miracles too!
So if you find yourself struggling to see the good in the path we call the crazy teacher’s life, wait and see where the journey takes you. You might find a pot of miracles waiting for you on the other side. You never know which student will grow to become a lover a learning or deeply appreciate the subject matter you teach. Never underestimate. This is just one way for us to appreciate the good and purpose in the path we have chosen.
Someone I’d Like You To Meet: Gini Cunningham, Author of the New Teacher’s Companion from ASCD
December 11, 2009 by admin
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Recently I interviewed Gini Cunningham, author of New Teacher’s Companion: Practical Wisdom for Succeeding in the Classroom, on how teachers can work under tight time and curriculum constraints yet still maintain a positive relationship with faculty and other teachers.
I asked Gini for some advice and suggestions on how teachers and especially new teachers, can foster more positive and collaborative relationships so they won’t feel professionally isolated. Here’s what Gini Cunningham had to say:
1.What are some things new teachers can do reduce stress? Do you have any suggestions for routines or techniques they can use?
Teaching well is high stress. The best help comes from a worthy and dedicated mentor. This does not mean snippets from 20 colleagues, but a Start-to-Finish Mentor who deeply cares about you and student learning.
How to find him/her: Walk through the school, listen to lessons/engagement/student conversations. Ask a question of him/her and evaluate: Does s/he listen, support, offer advice, and enrich?
Is s/he organized?
Does s/he love the profession?
The key to teaching success is being organized from the outset with a clear vision of goals and outcomes for student learning. None of this can be accomplished without excellent discipline and expectations for carrying out rules procedures. The New Teacher’s Companion provides details for getting all of this rolling, plus ideas to maintain fairness and accountability for every child.
2.) How can new teachers maximize their support system whether it is a mentor or a colleague?
Listen, request help, sort ideas that will work and politely closet those that will not.
Avoid griping, complaining, and grumbling and expect the same from your colleague. If the conversation is a drag, it will not increase the quality of instruction.
Collegial conversations should be based on strategies and techniques, examination if student work, analysis of data based on student work. Enrich yourself and your mind, share ideas, and borrow them as well.
3.) What can new teachers or teachers new to a school do to bond with their colleagues?
New teachers need to be friendly yet strong. They certainly have fresh insight but lack of experience may hinder respect. Admit it when you do not know; ask for help from the helpful.
Avoid “At my old school…” and phrases of this sort. Let excellence speak for you and your ideas.
Get involved in activities like textbook adoption, standards based assessments, and other academic pursuits.
Be on time (which really means at least 15 minutes early), dress professionally, speak and act as a positive role model for students and teachers, organize your classroom to run efficiently, remain positive and thoughtful of students, colleagues, etc.
Do not be discouraged if some veterans are not enthralled with your enthusiasm. Someone in the school loves what you are doing and the fact that you belong to that school. Find him/her and soar.
4.) How can new teachers maintain a professional relationship with other teachers despite confrontations and other feelings?
It is hard to remain negative with a positive, professional colleague. Your actions speak loudly. Dedication to the job, devotion to students, and the desire to work with respected colleagues should bring rewards.
If the school is totally negative, most often a direct reflection of the administration, a transfer next year may be the answer, especially if you are certain that you do not add to the negative atmosphere.
Wake up each day with a Full Pie – operating at 100% capacity with physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual strength.
5) What are some of the way new teachers can collaborate?
The most essential keys to collaboration include:
• Focus on student learning
• Organized use of time
• Timely meetings so that the agenda is neither empty not overflowing
• Meetings that start and end on time
• No side tracking on topics
• No dwelling on items “Out of Our Control”
• Positive outlook and attitude
• Respect for students, their parents, and your colleagues and administration
• Curtailing those who dominate or those who eye roll; make certain that everyone feels accepted and valued
Purchase a journal and begin daily reflections including what went well, what must change, and what comes next. Think about student behavior, attitude, and learning. Make notes that will help you in the future. Remind yourself that your work and effort definitely are making a difference in the lives of your students.
Add artifacts of student work – the perfect to the not so much so.
Think, write, share, prepare for tomorrow and for next year.
To purchase the New Teacher’s Companion, click here. Gini can also be reached by e-mail at gini.cunningham@sbcglobal.net; or visit her Web site, www.energizedlearning.net.
