Whose turn it really is, who said what to who so I can respond to either what or who, to explore an argument between students to get to the root or just cut it off, when to allow a student to be in a bad mood and when not, which emotions to validate, who's telling the truth, who's really at fault etc. etc. What to say on the spur of the moment when a child comes up to with a sly look on their face and says do you know what ##*# means? > > What were the five most difficult school-related decisions > you made this week? What made them difficult? What to say to ____ when he came up with a sly look on his face and said "Do you know what ##%# means? What makes that difficult? Well, first of all, I don't much like hearing ##%@# said around me and I don't like being put in that position. Is this child testing the boundaries in a needful way or a "I already know the boundaries and I'm going over them" way?
What's necessary and what's not - like - it is necessary for your professor to assign "five most difficult school-related decisions" or did he/she just pick the number five out of a hat? I have to decide what's necessary every day. Is it necessary to give _____ his space today or is today the day I rein him back in? Is this the hill I want to die on? Is this battle the one to fight or not? When a child has absolutely no support at home, how much can I expect of that child? (there's a real hard decision) I have a VERY obese student - do I just allow this student to buy three lunches and eat three lunches every day? Do I just stand by while he asks every child for the cookies in their lunches that they don't want? How angry are his parents going to get and tell me it's none of my business though now their child almost cannot sit on his chair and is hanging over it on both sides. That's a very difficult decision. When to play the stern role and when not to because if play it all the time, they hate you and being in your class and it's generally just a hateful way for me as well as them to spent the school year with a constantly stern teacher. And just this week I decided to NEVER give free time again because with this class it always descends into chaos.
I think that was more than five.
> > What was the affect of those decisions on the classroom > environment? Were the decisions effective?
Well, I'd like to think I'm an effective teacher... and I'm told I am by parents, students, colleagues and administration alike. The effect of any teacher's decision results in one or both of two things - a safe and orderly classroom community and growth in skills/knowledge.
As parents and students alike are delighted when they hear they've been assigned to me class, I guess the decisions I make are effective. The effect is that parents are constantly asking for me and that the administration consistently gives me the 'tough kids', the 'bad kids', the kids no one else wants. Wait, maybe I'm not effective... maybe that's why I get those kids because it doesn't matter who they get.
Do the kids' skills grow? Yes but that might happen for anybody. But have I decided upon anything yet that will get ____ to stop stomping on ____'s foot when _____ steps and by accident on ______'s backpack strap? Has any decision I'm not that effective.
It seems that my students talk all the time! I give them time to buddy read, time to pair share, etc but everything they that is in their head comes out of their mouth all day long.Transitions are especially hard (getting materials ready, lining up etc.) Is anyone else seeing more of that each year? ANy suggestions that are helping?
Clearly, most parents meet almost insurmountable challenges and provide laudable support for their kids in their schooling; but too many parents have broken the contracts with their kids and the teachers, thereby aiding and abetting a free fall of the education system in the United States ...
I recently interviewed for a school where a large percentage does not speak English. The parents don't speak any English. I was asked how I would communicate with the parents of these students. I did not have an answer for the question. Does anyone have an answer so that if it comes up again I will have an answer?
Wow, it's a good question but a hard question. I guess I'd say this and with a warm smile on my face looking directly at the interviewer (making good eye contant and lean a bit forward in your chair) "Well, ideally there could be a translator but we have to get the job done in the real world and I believe... it's possible to communicate even without speaking the same language. When parents and teachers don't speak the same language, the parents will be very much looking for clues as to the overall meaning as they can't grasp the details. I like people, I'm exactly what they call a people person, and my sincerity can and will come through. I could learn how to say "Hello" in several languages and just that would work to begin building bridges between myself and the parents. I would simplify my message on Parents' Night and have the room filled with visuals. My good intentions and deep caring for their children would come through. Generally speaking people who don't speak English are first generation immigrants and they have deep respect for education and teachers and that genuine respect for education builds yet another bridge between the parents and myself. If it's a one on one meeting with delicate information such as the reworking of an IEP, then I think we really need a translator even if the parents bring a friend with them who speaks English but for general communication, that kind that builds trust and shared respect, I can do that because my feelings of respect for parents and people in general are both real and genuine."
Whose turn it really is, who said what to who so I can respond to either what or who, to explore an argument between students to get to the root or just cut it off, when to allow a student to be in a bad mood and when not, ...See More