Comments on: Turning The Ship: The Voyage To Becoming A Great Teacher http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/turning-the-ship-overcoming-a-history-of-poor-teaching/ Providing HOPE for educators since 2007 Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:59:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Jenniferhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/turning-the-ship-overcoming-a-history-of-poor-teaching/#comment-5436 Jennifer Mon, 04 May 2009 00:28:39 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=411#comment-5436 I like the idea of 2 rules. I took down my 5 rules for TAKS testing, and I can't even recall them! One was "be respectful and polite." Now is a great time to introduce those 2 rules and tighten up on classroom behavior. It is especially timely because my dear 2nd graders are coming to learn how to be 3rd graders. They are angelic, and I do not want to tolerate the SLIGHTEST misbehavior if anyone tries. And oh, they will try me tomorrow! I've gotta be firm, and NOT the fun me I know I am :) It's time to work. I like the idea of 2 rules. I took down my 5 rules for TAKS testing, and I can’t even recall them! One was “be respectful and polite.”

Now is a great time to introduce those 2 rules and tighten up on classroom behavior. It is especially timely because my dear 2nd graders are coming to learn how to be 3rd graders. They are angelic, and I do not want to tolerate the SLIGHTEST misbehavior if anyone tries. And oh, they will try me tomorrow! I’ve gotta be firm, and NOT the fun me I know I am :) It’s time to work.

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]]> By: Vivianehttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/turning-the-ship-overcoming-a-history-of-poor-teaching/#comment-4852 Viviane Fri, 24 Apr 2009 01:35:04 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=411#comment-4852 My best way to give positive reinforcement to my students is to get them by surprise. I use "impact" reinforcements. Today I walked in the class with a bowl of water...and I talked about how pure water make us feel and asked for some volunteers to taste it. Then, I showed a test tube with a yellow stuff in it and made them guess what it could be, and they quickly concluded ..urine....I made sure everyone unserstood it was my dog's urine. Next, I ask for some volunteers to taste it...and there were no volunteers. Then, I added only one drop of urine into the bowl and I dare them to drink it...again no one wanted to taste it. With this quick demonstration I made an anology with their behavior in class. How a single negative comment can contaminate a class. It took 10 minutes and the impact was there....no I didn't really use my dog's urine...to get other ideas like this one you must read Techniques d'impact by Danie Beaulieu, Ph.d.. My best way to give positive reinforcement to my students is to get them by surprise. I use “impact” reinforcements. Today I walked in the class with a bowl of water…and I talked about how pure water make us feel and asked for some volunteers to taste it. Then, I showed a test tube with a yellow stuff in it and made them guess what it could be, and they quickly concluded ..urine….I made sure everyone unserstood it was my dog’s urine. Next, I ask for some volunteers to taste it…and there were no volunteers. Then, I added only one drop of urine into the bowl and I dare them to drink it…again no one wanted to taste it. With this quick demonstration I made an anology with their behavior in class. How a single negative comment can contaminate a class. It took 10 minutes and the impact was there….no I didn’t really use my dog’s urine…to get other ideas like this one you must read Techniques d’impact by Danie Beaulieu, Ph.d..

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]]> By: Joelhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/turning-the-ship-overcoming-a-history-of-poor-teaching/#comment-2002 Joel Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:08:36 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=411#comment-2002 Jonathan, you make some great points. I like the <i>idea</i> of a democratic sort of "what works, what doesn't work philosophy. Not quite sure how well that would work with 5th grade students, though. They are still at that stage where they don't seem to know how to make too many decisions for themselves. I think it'd be a great tactic for sure with high school juniors or seniors. Before that, though, I have no clue... Jonathan, you make some great points. I like the idea of a democratic sort of “what works, what doesn’t work philosophy. Not quite sure how well that would work with 5th grade students, though. They are still at that stage where they don’t seem to know how to make too many decisions for themselves. I think it’d be a great tactic for sure with high school juniors or seniors. Before that, though, I have no clue…

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]]> By: Jonathanhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/turning-the-ship-overcoming-a-history-of-poor-teaching/#comment-1994 Jonathan Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:56:28 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=411#comment-1994 I do not think it is necessarily important what the teacher's rules end up being, as long as they are 1) few and 2) enforceable. I like the suggestion you made, but for a newer teacher, that much discretion might be overwhelming. I might start with "which rules are followed now?" point out that the rest of the rules, not being followed, are not really rules. Then ask "what one or two additional rules would you like to add?" I like the crockpot analogy. I do not think it is necessarily important what the teacher’s rules end up being, as long as they are 1) few and 2) enforceable.

I like the suggestion you made, but for a newer teacher, that much discretion might be overwhelming.

I might start with “which rules are followed now?” point out that the rest of the rules, not being followed, are not really rules. Then ask “what one or two additional rules would you like to add?”

I like the crockpot analogy.

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]]> By: josehttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/turning-the-ship-overcoming-a-history-of-poor-teaching/#comment-1993 jose Mon, 21 Apr 2008 03:48:33 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=411#comment-1993 Good suggestions. Might have to use these myself. Good suggestions. Might have to use these myself.

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]]> By: Joelhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/turning-the-ship-overcoming-a-history-of-poor-teaching/#comment-1980 Joel Fri, 18 Apr 2008 04:17:02 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=411#comment-1980 I thought the same thing. But I now know from experience that yes, yes they will follow the new rules. If the consequences for violating those rules are clearly and explicitly stated and reinforced, with a possible window of grace for people to forget, the majority of the kids will catch on really quickly. Honestly, my experience with doing this only involved 6th - 8th grade students, but 5th graders at this point in the school year are close enough that it should work out. Once you begin to take control of the classroom, the worst that can happen is things will stay the same... I thought the same thing. But I now know from experience that yes, yes they will follow the new rules. If the consequences for violating those rules are clearly and explicitly stated and reinforced, with a possible window of grace for people to forget, the majority of the kids will catch on really quickly.

Honestly, my experience with doing this only involved 6th – 8th grade students, but 5th graders at this point in the school year are close enough that it should work out.

Once you begin to take control of the classroom, the worst that can happen is things will stay the same…

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]]> By: Nilda Ahttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/turning-the-ship-overcoming-a-history-of-poor-teaching/#comment-1979 Nilda A Fri, 18 Apr 2008 03:58:38 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=411#comment-1979 Currently, I am a grad student getting my Masters in Ed. It is also change in career for me. Although I have not yet any experience in the classroom, I have experience in managing a staff in the business world. I do believe that removing the candy right is correct decision. Children would need to understand good behavior is expected through positive reinforcement and not being rewarded for not misbehaving. However, I wonder if changing the rules in the classroom so late in the school year would be in any way effective. The student have been trained for better or for worse using the old rules and the old system. Would they actually follow through with the new rules? Currently, I am a grad student getting my Masters in Ed. It is also change in career for me. Although I have not yet any experience in the classroom, I have experience in managing a staff in the business world. I do believe that removing the candy right is correct decision. Children would need to understand good behavior is expected through positive reinforcement and not being rewarded for not misbehaving. However, I wonder if changing the rules in the classroom so late in the school year would be in any way effective. The student have been trained for better or for worse using the old rules and the old system.

Would they actually follow through with the new rules?

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]]> By: Kelvinhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/turning-the-ship-overcoming-a-history-of-poor-teaching/#comment-1956 Kelvin Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:48:23 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=411#comment-1956 Though I'm not a teacher, I do like the answer to the reader's question. Sometimes it is good for a teacher so start their duty in one direction, but run the class in a different direction as the year progress. With this said, maybe the students won't get too settle and probably know the daily routine, but expect a change and make things differently in the classrom. Though I’m not a teacher, I do like the answer to the reader’s question. Sometimes it is good for a teacher so start their duty in one direction, but run the class in a different direction as the year progress. With this said, maybe the students won’t get too settle and probably know the daily routine, but expect a change and make things differently in the classrom.

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