Many things have been written relating to the qualities of teachers. When you think back on your own education, there’s probably a teacher who stands out as an exceptional source of encouragement and inspiration. Maybe it was a primary or middle-school teacher whose simple acts of kindness made a positive difference in your childhood. But no matter what grade you were in or what subject you were studying, chances are your favorite teacher possessed many of the three qualities that I'm going to list here. 1. Wisdom is the first quality. My understanding of this quality is a teacher has a discerning mind, based on experience and mindfulness. Great teachers seek to develop and exemplify wisdom. A wise teacher is observant and insightful. They watch, listen and apply insights which they use at appropriate times. 2. Persistence is the second quality. Great teachers understand that when you are persistent you continue doing something or try to do something in a determined way: Be persistent - don't give up, even on that difficult student who causes mayhem in the classroom. Stay the course for however long it takes! 3. Courage is the third quality. When you practice being courageous as a teacher you are determined to see things through. You see, courage transforms fear into determination. The courage of a teacher goes beyond just being willing to stand up in front of 20-30 wiggly children every day trying to guide them through their studies. As a teacher show grit by admitting when you make a mistake, stay positive, and have a growth mindset. As a teacher if you model courageous behavior, your students will follow suit. There are more qualities that a great teacher has. As a teacher, try to focus on your skills and talents as much as possible. Make a list of all your good qualities and don't dwell on what you perceive are your weaknesses. When you do something well or achieve something, don't brush it off. Acknowledge it and give yourself praise, even if is just a small achievement. For those Educators looking for inspiration, ideas, and support you might like to join our Facebook private group called Educators Are Amazing
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Consequences that work well have the following key features...
They are mild rather that severe. What I mean by this is, that consequences should not rely on physical punishment, yelling or threats to make them work. Be gentle by speaking quietly and thinking kindly. This will reduce the risk of your students being resentful towards you. Also make consequences short rather than long ones. It's easier for a teacher to stick to shorter consequences and easier for a student to achieve. Generally short means for a few hours or for the day. However this will depend on the problem behavior. The consequence needs to be something that you as the teacher can control. Also it must be immediate rather than distant. What I mean by this is, use the consequence as soon as the unacceptable behavior occurs. If you wait too long, you might forget to use it or even why your using it. Also the consequence would be ineffective because your student may not remember what the issue was and why their behavior needs to change. Accompanied by a reason with no debate... When you give a consequence briefly explain why you are doing so. For example, if the consequence is for breaking a classroom rule, state the rule. And if you have an open and friendly relationship with your students, some might try to change your mind. Ignore all attempts by the child to change your mind about using the consequence. Don't debate whether it was fair. If you have clearly stated what the consequence will be and the reason for it, there is no need to say anything else. Use virtues language in your consequence statement... When creating your consequence statement use a virtue for developing character in the child. For example if a child has broken a classroom rule by not being respectful, the consequence could be asking them to take time out in the courtesy chair, as courtesy is a virtue, and asking them to think about how they can be more courteous in the future - treating others with kindness and respect. What to remember...
For those that are parents or teachers looking for inspiration and ideas, you might like to join my Facebook private group called Parents with Teens, Tweens and Anything In between. There are times when teachers need to control what their students do and say. Setting limits in the classroom is a strategy that teachers can use to influence their student's behavior. Children especially teenagers who have limits set on their behavior and who experience consequences have the advantage of learning self-control and good judgement. Setting Limits... To set limits teachers need to be clear about what they expect and what is acceptable from their students. Setting limits work best when you have a good relationship with each student. What I mean by this is when you have a strong and positive relationship built on trust, it's more likely that your students will accept and understand your reasons for setting limits on their behavior. It's much harder to influence a child if you are constantly arguing, correcting and criticising them. A good way to set limits is to have a clear set of classroom rules. They make it easier for your students to behave in ways that meet your expectations. Excellent rules clearly state what behavior is expected. It also helps to write the rules down and display them where they can be a reminder to everyone in the classroom. You can use classroom rules for two things. Firstly they can outline your expectation as a teacher for specific behaviors. For example, if you want to teach your students how to show respect for others, the classroom rule would state that everyone is expected to speak and treat others with courtesy and to honor others by using manners and asking permission before touching other people's property. Ideas To Make Rules Work...
Children are more likely to follow a rule if it is specific and easy to understand. When you are thinking about how to express a rule, ask yourself the question, "What do I want this student, or this class, to do differently/better in this situation?" Keep the words simple and the rule short. This will make it easier to remember. Changing Rules... As children show more responsibility, the classroom rules need to change. Take a rule off the written list when everyone follows it automatically. This doesn't mean the rule no longer applies, just that it know longer needs to be written down or displayed in the classroom. While the rules might change the need for rules never do. You see, rules are helpful to ensure that everyone understands their responsibilities in the classroom - the willingness to be accountable for our choices and also for mistakes we make. I'm so excited to be announcing my new book, Educators are Amazing...Even Us! co written with Dr. Janet J Sawyer, or as most people call her Dr. JJ. I've been working with Dr. JJ now for many years and she has become a dear friend and colleague. Recently Dr. JJ asked me to work with her to design resources for Educators, specifically paraprofessionals, student teachers and volunteer parents working in the classroom and from there we decided to write a book. That got me excited because I love working with adults that support and teach children. Dr. JJ is a retired principal with over 51 years experience in the education world. Currently she is a Virtual Adjunct Professor at a HBCU called Central State University in Wilberforce, OH. The best part is Dr. JJ is teaching in the same department she graduated from, the College of Education. Now some of you might be thinking, "Well what's this book all about?" Good question. As I've mentioned the book as be written for Educators. However in saying that, I believe that anyone with children would benefit from reading it. You see it will give tips and strategies for developing your People-literacy skills and for shaping character in children, not to mention yourself. Once you apply these tips and strategies you will start to see a more positive and empowering learning environment emerge. In today's world there are so many parents homeschooling their kids and this book would be a perfect resource for them. Here's a wee peek into what the book covers:
The above is just a little of what you can read in the book, there's so much more! We have launched it through an EBook and you can grab a copy by clicking on this link: Educators are Amazing....Even Us! Both Dr JJ and I would appreciate and love to hear your comments, once you have read and applied the tips and strategies from the book, so jump back on this Blog post and leave a comment. For those that are parents looking for inspiration and ideas, you might like to join my Facebook private group called Parents with Teens, Tweens and Anything In between. |
AuthorHi I'm Sandra Davis. I'm really passionate about supporting others to be the best they can be through sharing my stories and experiences I've has gained along the way through these Blog posts... Archives
March 2024
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