advice

Reaching and Teaching the Impoverished Child

by Kendal Privette on April 17, 2012

How many of the students with whom you regularly interact are disorganized, frequently lose papers, bring many reasons why something is missing, don’t do homework, are physically aggressive, like to entertain, only see part of what is on the page, only do part of the assignment, cannot monitor their own behavior, laugh when they are disciplined, don’t know or use middle-class courtesies, or dislike authority? These, according to Dr. Ruby Payne, author of A Framework for Understanding Poverty, are characteristics of students who live in an impoverished culture.

When I read the checklist of behaviors above, I actually laughed out loud because it aptly described more than half of my students. Obviously, this population commands excessive amounts of my attention during class, but I had no idea that they most likely live in poverty and come to school with skills for surviving in the world of poverty but not the world of middle-class school.

Dr. Payne writes, “One of the reasons it is getting more and more difficult to conduct school as we have in the past is that the students who bring the middle-class culture with them are decreasing in numbers, and the students who bring poverty culture with them are increasing in numbers.”

I bring a middle-class culture to my classroom and expect middle-class behaviors and attitudes from my students. After all, that is what I know, but this leaves around half my students struggling to survive. How can I relate to them? How do I help them succeed in this foreign world?

The book, A Framework for Understanding Poverty, is an excellent starting point for answering these vital questions and happens to be the best professional book I have ever read. Ruby Payne’s website, aha Process, also includes a plethora of information, resources and professional development opportunities for teachers and community leaders who work with students who come from poverty. In the following video clip Dr. Payne and Rita Pierson demonstrate the different voices with which students speak.

Reaching the impoverished is vital to the success of the schools in my area. How about you? What population in your area is hard to reach, hard to teach? What is your school doing to reach them?

Kendal blogs at a spacious place

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Dear Teacher: Be Remarkable Today!

by Lisa Dabbs on March 1, 2012

“Have you ever felt that You were supposed to do something amazing, important, outstanding?

That only you can do and that you were destined for greatness?

Remember when you thought…anything was possible? It is!”

A few years back I found this amazing video on the website of Naomi Harm. Although designed to encourage building a small business, it spoke to me in another way. I saw in it the encouragement I needed to keep pressing forward, no matter what!

It reminded me that I’m on this planet to make a difference, and…I never want to lose that passion.

Take 2 minutes…and be Inspired!

The work we choose to do as teachers demands a tremendous amount of our time and energy. We are working in incredibly challenging times. And yet…there are still pre-service students around the world in our universities, preparing to enter the teaching profession. That says something about the hearts of people.

“There will be moments in your life when an opportunity is presented to you.” An opportunity to work on a challenging project, work with a challenging colleague or teach a challenging student. Instead of shying away from these challenges…embrace them! This will be your opportunity to do something brilliant, extraordinary, remarkable! “That fits your talents, abilities, experiences…changing your life forever.”

“As difficult, frustrating and fearful as these times are…they also bring change.” This is where the turning point comes.  This is where YOU can be the instrument of change on that project, for that colleague, with that student.

“We do face an uncertain and unsettling future. But…not one without VISION-HOPE-OPPORTUNITY. So…what are you going to do? For what might be your finest hour. To make your mark, make a difference, leave your legacy.”

As a teacher, you have the personal power to “Reach out, look inward, and step forward.” You can do this for yourselves, your work, your students. Often times though, as we give, give and give we can get beat down and discouraged. Sometimes we don’t even feel that we CAN make a difference. Believe me, I’ve been there. But here is something in my journey as an educator, that has been a rough road at times, that I still believe: “There is no chance, no fate, no destiny that can hinder or control the firm resolve of the human soul.”

“So…don’t settle for less. Do something that matters…and Do what you Do, with all your heart.”

The message?

On this first day of  March 2012…“Embrace your future with an enthusiastic WELCOME!”

You ARE here to make a difference.

No matter how tough things get, in your classroom (or even in your personal life) don’t lose your dreams, your hope, and never lose your passion.

Be present in all you do with your students, Be a Leader, Be Remarkable!

Don’t waste or squander one more minute!  Because…They are counting on YOU.

“Have you ever felt that you are supposed to DO something special? You Are!”

Share with us… what do you do to keep your enthusiasm? What can we do to support you?

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* A word from a sponsor: In order to be a remarkable teacher, you need to have the right education. Consider a secondary education degree from an online university to get your teaching career in motion.

 Photo:fotofortimbras CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Video by   uploaded to YouTube on July 31, 2009
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What is Your One Little Word?

by Lisa Dabbs on January 16, 2012

 

Create!

When I was a classroom teacher it was so easy to get pulled in so many directions and get caught up in so many projects. I was always volunteering to be on this committee and to chair that important group, that it was easy to get lost to what really mattered: teaching my students. Has that ever happened to you?

Part of that comes from the fact that I’m inherently a high energy person, sometimes driven to distraction! No…really I am. And part of that comes from the fact that I’m constantly looking to re-invent myself, and my work, because, deep down inside, I’m a creative person. You’d probably not really think that about me, if you met me. I don’t have a funky style of  dress, I don’t know how to paint, draw, or make amazing hand-made creations that I can sell on Etsy. But are those things what really defines a person as creative?

One Little Word. An Idea that Sparked a Resolution.

January is a time of new beginnings.  At least it always has been for me.  In this time, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how to harness this energy that I have, to be focused in the work that I do, and I came upon this project.

This One Little Word project got me thinking that if I could make a commitment to pick a word for the year that defined my work, it would support me to stay focused on the things that matter in my work. It would guide me to concentrate and grow, instead of being all over the map. It would also help me to support others to do the same.

The more I thought about what my word would be and all the words that educators might pick to describe their work such as organized, professional, structured…the more I thought that those words didn’t work. I wanted to choose a word that would inspire me, lift me up and make me smile every time I thought about it.

So I thought about all the projects and people I’ve known in my career as a teacher and a principal. I thought about what I remembered that defined those projects and people that I really enjoyed and admired. What was the essence of those experiences? Then it hit me: Creative.

I began to reflect on those opportunities that I had to do creative projects and be around creative people. I remembered that those were the times that I was the most successful, content, and happy.  The project might have been to create something seemingly mundane like design a new schedule, rubric, report card or workshop. But during those times, working with those creative teachers, I was truly challenged to create something new from something old, and I loved it! I was inspired to work with others, hear their perspectives and see the project come to life.

I want to wake-up every morning knowing that I have a new opportunity to CREATE. Maybe it’s a blog post, a new chapter in my book or a photograph. Maybe it’s a workshop, a journal entry or my new goal: an e-course for educators. Whatever it is, I want to hold that word close to my heart and be a “ripple in the pond” for other educators.

In my work, I never want to be the kind of educator who grows stagnant and stops learning. I want to consistently push myself now (as a consultant), just as I did as a teacher, to think big thoughts for myself, have big dreams and

Create!

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So will you join me? Will you take this time to re-focus your work for 2012? Come back to the thing that really resonates for you?

Will you choose One Little Word? Mine is CREATE. What’s yours?

~Lisa is an Educational Consultant and blogs at Teaching with Soul.
Photo:Sarah Parrott CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
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A Classroom Gratitude Journal

by Laura Groves on November 14, 2011

Gratitude journal

I discovered the gratitude journal idea last November, and I’ve found it an awesome way to prepare for the season. Some people have a personal gratitude journal, some a family one.

Have you ever thought of a classroom gratitude journal?

A gratitude journal is simply a place to record what you’re thankful for—and what better place than a classroom to have kids expressing thanks?

Feeling wanted, needed, accepted, appreciated—those things boost our self-image. And expressing gratitude helps put our minds on what’s really important instead of on the economy or our problems or our needs.

If it works for you and your students, you can set out a composition book for all to add entries to. Or if you’d rather, have each student start a Gratitude Journal of sorts in their notebook for your class. Devote the first five minutes to writing what you’re thankful for—from the big to the small. This can be for their eyes only, so encourage them to fill the five minutes with thankful thoughts, whether those are for crisp, cool weather, a faithful friend, or just no homework last night.

There’s about three weeks or so until we all take off for Thanksgiving, so get started! You can set aside a half hour on the last day before the holiday for students to share, if you’d like. Let the ones who choose to share pick two or three things they’re thankful for, and let them read them aloud. Be sure to share some of yours, too. (Kids love to hear what we’re thinking, believe it or not!)

Fill up your classroom with gratitude. I promise, things will start to look up!

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* Need other ideas for making your classroom a happier, more thankful place? Check out our posts, Bad-Mood-Breaker or 10 Questions to a Happier You.

Laura teaches high school English and drama and blogs at Outnumbered Mom.

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Great Advice for Teachers

October 24, 2011

Dr. Moore, my education professor, would be pleased to know I think of some of her best advice for teachers often: “Find a way to appreciate something about every student you teach.” I had a teacher friend who could always see something good in the biggest rascal in the school. With a sweet smile, she’d [...]

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