How do I become more flexible?

                                                         http://smallbiztrends.com/2011/06/flexibility-good-your-small-business.html

Flexibility hinges on focus. If your focus is on the minute details, what you have planned a specific moment of a specific day, it is easy to get your feathers ruffled when a wrench is thrown into your plans.

                                                             http://lglo.wordpress.com/2012/02/11/the-lighthouse-that-lost-its-way/

When you are able to focus on the bigger picture, it is easier to see how things can shift and adjust to continue toward the larger goal. In the world of education, we are guided by standards. These standards are like the lighthouse to guide us. Although you may be blown off course momentarily with an unplanned assembly or students that took longer to comprehend a concept, with the standard in sight you simply readjust your sails and realign your curriculum.

The more you teach, the more you realize that exceptions are not actually exceptions, they’re the norm. Just enjoy the ride. The earlier you accept that this is what it means to teach kids, perhaps the less gray hair you will get.  

                                                                   http://onthejob.45things.com/2013_01_01_archive.html

Maybe not.  

Will I always be this exhausted?

Am I going to be this tired everyday after teaching?

                                            http://www.takepart.com/article/2012/10/29/first-year-teacher-halloween-isnt-only-dark-day-october

Some days are tougher than others, but there is good news.  Managing a classroom is somewhat like driving a car.

                                            http://www.takepart.com/article/2012/10/29/first-year-teacher-halloween-isnt-only-dark-day-october

You start with the basics…10:00 and 2:00. Just like drivers ed. You need to stick to a structured routine and have firm expectations. Just like learning to drive, you need to minimize distractions because it takes concentration and conscious thought to pull it all together in the classroom.

                                          http://www.visualphotos.com/image/2x4109523/men_driving_red_convertible

As with driving, after a lot of practice, you can relax a bit and still maintain control. It is less effort, but when the “terrain” gets challenging, you know to go back to 10:00 and 2:00. This might be needed when you get a new class or when an unexpected dynamic takes place. No matter what, you need to know where 10 and 2 are and be able to go back to it whenever you need. The rest of the time…relax and enjoy the ride.  Enjoy the kids. 

Listen Up

                                    Photo of students not listening. http://www.fairfaxunderground.com/forum/read.php?40,982369,982369,quote=1

How do you get kids to listen to you?

For some, just stepping into the classroom is enough for them to understand it is time to pay attention. For many, this is not the case. These are the ones my student teacher is concerned about. Aren't we all?
Approaches may be as different as the kids you are addressing.

To begin with you need to set clear expectations. It's healthy for students to construct these with you. They need to have buy in and an understanding behind what will make the classroom an effective learning environment. There needs to be defined ways to enforce (by peers and/or the teacher) the agreed upon expectations. Clear communication alleviates the need for most students to test the boundaries. 

How do you get kids to HEAR you?

Photo: Students listening to teacher. http://www.evolveimages.com/media/b2b48c76-f694-11e0-b368-a57c07a8442b-high-school-students-listening-to-teacher

Oh, now this can be a different story.

Once you have a personal connection, you are no longer a noise but have a voice.

Some students can be intimidated into listen to you if you approach them with a sense of authority, but then they are doing so with a tint of resentment. Some still don't care. How do you reach these kids? Be authentic. Be who you are. Kids see though pretenses and respect you more if you are just who you are. Be that person inside they can relate to.  You don’t need to over disclose, but don't be afraid to be a little vulnerable, but keep clear boundaries.

One year I had an "informal leader" in my class that was gifted at taking the students in the down the rocky terrain of side tracked discussions. It was literally exhausting to try to reign in the class constantly. I had tried all of the "standard" tactics to manage behavior with varying degrees of inconsistant success. One day I took this student into the hall and our discussion sounded something like this:

"You have a special gift of leadership that can serve you well in the future. I'd like to help you hone those skills to work in your favor."

"Really?"

"Absolutely. Look how the class responds to your every word. Not everyone has that effect."

(Nod)

"I have a goal I'm trying hard to reach with this class. I want to be able to have a relaxed, productive environment where we can all enjoy learning and I was wondering if you could help me out."

"How?"

"I need you to be on my team, because if you are, I'm confidant we can all win."

"What do you mean?"

"You all have goals, things you want to be able to do in life. I'm one of those stepping stones along the path to your dreams. Let me be a big step and lift you as high as I can in the time that we're together...

Can you help me out?"

(Nod)

"Thanks."

The end result was the difference between night and day. This student felt appreciated and respected. He was now a "team" player and took that responsibility to heart. The culture of that class went from frazzled to functional simply with disclosure, respect and appreciation. It wasn't magic, but it sure felt like it. 

*Please post your thoughts and experiences that have impacted how you apply this aspect of classroom management.

We Teach Children

"Oh, what do you do?"

"I'm a teacher."

"What do you teach?"

"Children."

These are exciting times in education as we take a tight curve on the road of education. The movement now is to be a facilitator of learning, a training ground for technology. We are to encourage students to engage in critical thinking and produce authentic individual work.  Sometimes we lose sight of what teaching is all about. We are here to inspire young people to learn and explore. We need to take them beyond the books!

                     

                     Photo: Student and Books. http://www.distance-education.org/Articles/Six-Reasons-Why-You-Shouldn-t-Go-Back-to-School--118.html

Many of us are given an opportunity to mentor a student teacher. This is a daunting task as we are the bridge between the textbook theory and multifaceted reality. The practical approaches to working with students are as different as the personalities of the teachers. What works for one, may not work for another. An atypical approach that most of us never thought of might be just the needed insight a student teacher would need to add to their tool box of strategies.  

I have a student teacher and would like to give her the opportunity to hear a variety of perspectives to the many questions and concerns she has. This is a call to teachers to chime in with your tips, tricks and wisdom to unlock the mysteries of educating students...in the real world.