On 10/27/09, Avalon wrote:
> I am a first year (middle school) history teacher and I
> need much guidance! I have tried teaching the lesson in
> numerous ways. For example, I do power points for almost
> all of my lessons, I have tried story form, reading aloud,
> group readings you name it. My students however, show
> little interests in the above. In addition, we do projects
> for almost every unit. Today, one of the students
> commented "Oh no, not another power point"! Any
> suggestions? They are extremely bright, and I feel as
> though I am not challenging them enough.

Bring the lesson into their world and into what interests them.
Let them talk and give them a chance to answer questions.
Find out what they like and channel the lesson into their world.

Go to Wikipedia and look up "How to Win Friends and Influence
People." If you want them to listen to you then place the
attention on them and not the lesson. Talk about the other
person more than you talk about the lesson. Ask questions that
lead toward the student's life and then relate the history
lesson to that fact about them. Who cares if you are not on
target with your curriculum. If they are learning, this is
better than what you describe above.

Buy the book Verbal Judo by George Thompson. Learn to use it
to your advantage. It's tactical language. "Think like they
ought to be thinking" is the message in verbal judo. "If you
can't control yourself, you can't control the situation."
Verbal Judo is about removing "you" from the equation to make
room for the student to take ownership. George Thompson says
to remove bias. That's emotion, anger and condescension from
your speech. This gives the student ground to stand against
you which is what they are doing. Loosen up and use words to
your advantage. Anger, resentment, condescension and other
negative emotions will drive the students to self stimulate
which will go against your wishes for the class.

Create context for the student. What's in it for me? Why do I
want to learn this history crap. Relate to them and don't
shove it down their throat. You don't need a power point to
make it interesting. Just sit against your desk and talk to
them as equals and make it fun and interesting. Laugh. Let
them laugh and talk.

If you get angry and react against the students, they will
likely reflect it right back at you and you won't get anything
done at all. You might as well go behind your desk and wait
for summer break. On the other hand, if you relate it to their
lives, they'll remember the content and remember you as well.

Eventually, you'll learn to balance the making it interesting
part with actually teaching the content. Not too much of
either will be just right.

Steve

Superior Education

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