Monday, December 26, 2011

Still relevant?

5 comments:

  1. "Classroom control and learning efficiency are products of good teaching. Leaning must be made meaningful. Interest in work for which learners see a purpose provides its own discipline."

    Although teaching has evolved since the first American education paradigm was created. Some aspects of teaching have remained the same.

    1. Adults are still older than the students.
    2. Students are still, as a general rule, less wise than their teachers.
    3. Both teachers and students basically think the other knows very little about what they perceive important.
    4. Both groups are right.

    Our collective ego has gotten so big that we often forget what it's like to walk the halls of a school with the heart and mind of a kid. We carry around our baggage and expect to dish it out when we have a bad day. No wonder some classrooms are so chaotic. The students have enough of a rough time handling their own drama.

    The must successful educators have built a bridge of trust over the generational gap. How wide of a bridge is a personal preference. Some are more comfortable with foreign emotional issues, yet the simple act of listening with intention shows a young person that someone cares enough to give a hug.

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  2. Students have to feel like they can not only learn the content but can understand it as well. It is not enough to be a dictator in the classroom. You have to jump in with both feet and make sure they are understanding or they are left with nothing. Mr. Grimes had no place calling his students name his job was to teach. And frankly most of our students have more to deal with than being sent to the office or punishing them in front of everyone. The key is to really know your students. Get to know them, what they like and what is going on in their lives. This is the "in" to your student. Knowing what they know and what they need to know.

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  3. I agree with Mr Hende, creating a well maintained classroom involves a mutual trust and respect for each other. Like adults, students do not respond well to unsubstantiated orders. We as leaders need to learn to choose our battles with students. It's a relationship of give and take, and students will more often than not push those boundaries. Giving students a little bit of leverage, while still letting them know their boundaries creates a mutual respect and a healthier environment.

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  4. If you told a student to leave the classroom and not come back until they were ready to apologize, the student would probably not come back. In the part where he is re-explaining ratios, he should have had them work on the problem with his guidance instead of answering them himself. That would have been more effective.

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  5. Having a group of kids that are truly well behaved in the classroom include the teachers effort as well. As long as everyone respects each other the environment is honest and friendly the class will be great.

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