Establishing an effective classroom culture is essential to good teaching. I feel our teachers do an exceptional job at this concept! Using "discipline" to teach students what successful learning behavior looks like compared to the process of administering consequences and punishments should be part of a teacher's planning at the beginning of the year. Establishing effective "systems" is key to maintaining a positive culture for the remainder of the year. Understand the power of language and relationships in establishing "control." This has always been a priority for me - good relationships are a huge factor when working with kids. If they trust you, they'll respond to your system, especially the knuckleheads! They will internalize and be "influenced" and be "engaged" in your instruction. The techniques described that I've witnessed are Entry Routine and Do Now - having students to "dailies" and other types of warm-ups are a great example. Tight Transitions were always tough for me - I always seemed to run out of time at the end of class to execute an effective closing activity. You want Binder Control? We got Binder Buddies!! Thanks, Donna! Some of the videos show SLANT - it seems to work! I also like Seat Signals - I think that technique will work best with the knuckleheads! At my old school, we did Props, even with teachers at staff meetings. It was pretty cool and the kids loved it! The teacher would give props to a student and the class would clap three times then yell "bam!" and point at the student - fun!
While reading Ch. 7, I kept thinking about the Schools to Watch Conference in Sacramento hearing Dr. Ruby Payne - she was commenting on whether or not it was important that students liked their teachers. She described how middle/upper class parents would respond if their child came home and said "I don't like my teacher!" They would say "It doesn't matter if you like your teacher or not. Just focus on doing a good job." Conversely, in lower income families, she discovered in her research that kids from those families would purposfully not do the work and fail because they didn't like or respect the teacher. Maybe "respect" is a better word for it. "I'm not doing her work! I don't like/respect her!!" Crazy huh? But reflecting on my teaching and admin experience, I believe I've been able to get more out of the knuckleheads BECAUSE they trusted me! I wasn't easy on them, I promise (Warm/Strict)! But they responded to me! I didn't yell. I talked to them. I reasoned with them. I tried to Normalize Error. I explained why I was home suspending them instead of just "disciplining" them. And I was positive with them (Positive Framing), I praised them (Precise Praise), and made an effort to have Emotional Constancy - every day was a new day, a new beginning to start fresh. I try every day to tell our students "Nice to see you!" Especially the knuckleheads! I believe it makes a difference in establishing a strong, school culture!
Thanks, folks - I look forward to reading your comments!!
