Oct

15

What a Coincidence

Filed Under Dealing With Stress | Leave a Comment

What a coincidence. I was poking around on the net this morning taking a break from developing a lesson plan about the periodic table when I found this article by Daniel Goldberg about emotional intelligence. What a surprise! Last Friday, in response to Alvin’s kind comment I wrote that I found it better for my physical and mental health to maintain a positive attitude in my classroom.

Encouraging my students to hand in work so I could give them marks instead of telling them that they would fail if they didn’t hand in their work helps me keep a positive attitude and, I believe, better mental and physical health. I didn’t have anything to base this on except my own experience so it was rather encouraging to read Goldberg’s article. :)

Oct

14

Learning Disabilities Can Be A 24/7 Problem

Filed Under "At-risk" students, Special Education | Leave a Comment

I was reading Senia’s blog today after dinner.  I really enjoy the quotes she brings to our attention. Today, this one got me thinking about something I’ve noticed for some time now about my special education students: How they do anything is how they do everything. I’ve noticed that  the kids with learning disabilities don’t leave their  learning disabilities in the classroom when they leave. Their poor organization skills, poor social skills,  their memory problems etc.  follow them into their lives outside of school. Their problems follow them into the hallways of school,  into their social interactions and into their jobs.  I’ve talked to a lot of kids who tell me their problems and many of their problems  are due to the fact that they have not yet learned  strategies to help them get around their learning disabilities, or if they know the strategies, for whatever reason, chose not to use them. Learning disabilities can be a 24/7 problem.

Oct

13

Hand Your Work In So I Can Give You Some Marks

Filed Under "At-risk" students, Behaviour Management | 4 Comments

“Look”, I told her “If you don’t hand anything in , I can’t give you marks. Hand something in so I can give you marks.” It’s six weeks into the semester and she hasn’t handed in any assignments -an old pattern, Ive seen before- lots of excuses, lots of promises, lots of shrugged shoulders. What’s the point of yelling at her and telling her she’ll fail if she doesn’t hand in her work. She knows that. That’s not news to her. She’s failed many times. She thinks pretty soon I’ll give up on her- an old pattern she’s seen before. But, I won’t. I’ll keep telling her that I am looking for ways to give her marks, but she has to help me by handing in the work I assign.

Why do I choose this strategy? Because it works for me. Kids will help me give them marks by handing in work. I am constantly saying that in class. Hand in your work so I can give you marks. If you don’t hand anything in, I can’t give you marks. Hand in you or work blah blah blah. I sound like a broken record.

Listen to these two statements. First statement: help me give you marks by handing in your work. Ok, now listen to the second statement: your going to fail if you don’t hand in your work. Hear the difference? At risk kids think that teachers are out to fail them. I think they are surprised when a teacher is looking to give them marks. I know it’s just words, but businesses spend zillions of dollars finding the right words to get us to do what they want us to do. Words are important. The kids need to believe that you are on their side, and then they are more likely to do the assignment. Try it. You’ll see.

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