Classroom Management - Can you be fired for poor behavior?

 Hi Everyone!   This post falls under the category of "there must be information missing."

This article from the Orlando Sentinel discusses a teacher getting fired when a young lady acted inappropriately. It seems that the layout of the classroom made it difficult to see all students at one time. Check it out and think about the importance of always monitoring your students!

HS Classroom Management Student Project

Fantastic!  Looks like a group of going-to-be-teachers created a "proactive" video that brilliantly shows power struggles between high school teachers and students.

Maybe the next project will demonstrate the solutions they describe (like we do in our DVD) but this is a great start!  Kudos to the teacher who assigned the project and to the students for doing such a nice job!

Behavior Management in Challenge Based Learning

 Well - it was an interesting week and my laptop is not the better for it.  But, since life goes on - I have to talk about an interesting Apple seminar I attended.

The program, Preparing Students for Career Success (K12) concentrated on the technology that folks in creative industries (film and photography) use on a daily basis.

What I found even more interesting, from an educator's point of view, was Apple's Challenge Based Learning site.  I think you can figure out we are talking about students researching, analyzing and solving challenges the way adults do in the workplace.

So - how do teachers move from the "sage on the stage" to the guide who learns along the way?  Almost more importantly, how do teachers learn to manage classrooms where students are interacting, learning at their own pace and seeing the teacher as a resource more than the expert?

My answer - it does not matter one bit what the content of your class is in terms of management.  You set the general guidelines, you establish proper behavior protocols and you model professional behavior.  Students want boundaries and you will have to reinforce fewer of them the more engaged your students become.

Classroom Management by Lesson Structure?

So - how do you really teach a lesson?  When I was a young teacher, I learned the Madeline Hunter Method for teaching. 

1. objectives
2. standards
3. anticipatory set
4. teaching
   • input
   • modeling
   • check for understanding
5. guided practice/monitoring
6. closure
7. independent practice

While some of the older teachers complained, for a young teacher it was super helpful!

Does having a prescriptive way of teaching help a high school teacher?  That is the question in this educating grace blog post. 

The answer - YES.  Here is an alternative to Madeline Hunter's Model.

1. Identify their goals for the instructional activity
2. Identify their strategy
3. Structure a scaffolded activity for students
4. Identify the checks for understanding
5. Identify the behavioral expectations

Pick the one you like!

Classroom Management - Cell Phones in Class

Today I had a conversation with a vendor about the future of laptops in schools.  I tend to think that future technology education purchases will involve a variety of devices. 

We all know students are addicted to their cell phones.  Let's face - so are a lot of teachers!  Well, one school, Haverstraw Middle School, has a new pilot program that distributes cell phones to students.  The phones have calls and texts disabled but the devices are Internet capable. 

Managing technology, especially technology that can be easily hidden under a desk while a teacher runs class, is a challenge. 

This kind of technology requires clear behavior expectations, consistent reminders of polite behavior (what I think many adults need too...) and specific ramifications for poor technology choices.  Never be afraid of taking a device if you designed that consequence.  If a bad grade can be the result of poor behavior - that lesson should be quickly learned in your room.

How to Talk to Angry Parents

 Hi Everyone!  After a week of fighting off the flu - I am finally feeling better.  Who knew you could get the flu in the Spring?

Anyway, I found a great article about Susan Scott's Fierce Conversation Training.  I experienced a few angry parents in my teaching career so of course those conferences are the ones I remember.  Overall, I suggest you listen and allow parents to vent.  Then, repeat back to the parents what you believe the issues are.

Seems simple right?  Unfortunately emotionally charged conversations can be tricky.  Here is a series of sample questions from Susan Scott's Mineral Rights strategy:

*How long has this been going on?
*What result is this producing? Who does it affect?
*What are your emotions about it?
*If nothing changes, what is likely to occur?
*What has been your contribution to this problem?
*What would your ideal outcome be?
*What is the most powerful next step you can take?

These questions may help you stay focused when dealing with parents.  If you are interested in reading more, check out the Journal of Staff Development's article, "The Right Conversation Strategy Can Extinguish Anger and Strengthen Parent-Teacher Relationships" by Jamie Sussel Turner.

FAA Training Manual - Learning Theory

I think blog reading is wonderful!

I went from Tim Ferris' blog to a marketing link to this fantastic document from the FAA.

This is not a document about flying as much as it is how to teach someone to fly.  Think about it - the ultimate success of a flight instructor is the long life of each student!

Suddenly - learning theory becomes very important!  So - while I haven't read the entire article yet, I really like a few sections so far.  Page 1-5, which describes Theory X and Y about work, is super interesting.  Following the contrasting lists, the article states, "Since it is human nature to be motivated, the responsibility for discovering how to realize the potential of the student lies with the instructor."  I think that is the challenge faced by every teacher!

Here is the article.  Enjoy!
FAA How to Learn