What Really Matters

Teachers have to meet the rigors of their day each and every time they walk into their classroom. They have to follow the guidelines of state and local mandates, as well as follow the policies and procedures of their school. Teaching is hard work; I have spent 11 years in the classroom, 19 years as an administrator and the last 11 years as a college instructor and a consultant. I have heard the complaints and I am letting you know that I understand.  Planning has become robotic and almost impossible as you try to meet the educational needs or all of your students. Behavior problems have become an issue as disrespect and irresponsibility remain rampant, and the bullying epidemic just seems to be claiming more victims.  I have heard the concerns and want to help, but nothing comes easy. Below you will find what I believe to be a summary of the items on a teacher’s checklist for planning. I have attempted to offer as much as I can for as little cost as possible. Take a look at the list if there is something there that you need than click to read more.

Lesson Plans, all teachers need and want lesson plans that are meaningful and can be used more than once.

Strategies, teachers are always looking for a better way to manage student behavior, and address the learning needs of their students.

Unit Plans, something that may be a dying art but teachers need a way to really help embed information into their students long term memory.

Presentations, it’s always good to have a power point or two that can be used to address issues in your classroom that need to be addressed like relationships or bullying.

Books, all teachers like reading them especially when they provide an answer to some problems that are recurrent and are becoming a disruption to the learning environment.

Podcasts and video casts, a nice way to gather information right off your phone or tablet at your convenience.

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Revenge: The Greatest Motivator

Why is it that every time a school shooting occurs that everyone who knows or knew the perpetrator identifies him/her as a troubled person who was reclusive and exhibited all manner of anti social behavior? Never fails. Here are some of the comments that have been made about Adam Lanza the perpetrator who entered Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Connecticut and opened fire on December 15, 2012 killing 26 people, 20 of them were children.

“Adam Lanza has been a weird kid since we were five years old,” said Tim Dalton, a neighbor and former classmate, on Twitter. “As horrible as this was, I can’t say I am surprised.”

“This was a deeply disturbed kid,” a family insider said. “He certainly had major issues. He was subject to outbursts from what I recall.”

A further family friend said he had acted as though he was immune to pain.

“A few years ago when he was on the baseball team, everyone had to be careful that he didn’t fall because he could get hurt and not feel it,” said the friend. “Adam had a lot of mental problems.”

“It was almost painful to have a conversation with him, because he felt so uncomfortable,” said Olivia DeVivo, who sat behind him in English. “I spent so much time in my English class wondering what he was thinking.”

“He didn’t fit in with the other kids.” “He was very, very shy. He wouldn’t look you in the eyes when he talked. He didn’t really want to lock eyes with you for very long.”

It’s almost as if everybody knows, but nobody cares, or maybe they do care but really don’t know what to do. They continue to walk amongst us being spoken about as weird by neighbors and family members who wish they could take a peak into their secret life and discover what conclusions they have drawn about life. Who or what are they angry at, and what measures will they take to get even with the world maybe for just being born.

Revenge: the greatest motivator known to mankind. It’s been around since Cain and Abel affecting those who have been victimized by life, either physically, emotionally, or mentally. The problem is the victims get even with the wrong people.According to the United States Secret Service since 1999 thirty seven of the school shootings that have occurred have been carried out by those who were victims of bullying.

Bullies are motivated and driven by power, victims are motivated by revenge. Victims are compilers. They compile information about people who have victimized them and about their inabilities to speak or act with confidence. They do this until their cup just plain runs over. The pain has to go somewhere which is why after the victim exacts his revenge he/she will usually take their own life.

“There’s something happening here. What it is ain’t exactly clear. There’s a man with a gun over there. Telling me I’ve got to beware.”  For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield

A Unit Plan On Respect

A Unit Plan On Responsibility

A Unit Plan On Resilience

Motivating Disaffected and Hard To Handle Students

 

Be Complimentary To Your Fellow Teachers

It is always nice to receive compliments, but sometimes we need to ask ourselves, “how free are we with compliments toward others?” Teachers as a group can be very stingy with complimenting other teachers. It is as if teachers think that by complimenting another teacher, they will be diminishing their own worth. Get into the habit of paying a professional compliment to someone each day. We all need to be affirmed and recognized for our efforts. Just think about how good you feel when someone pays you a compliment, and give another teacher the opportunity to experience the same good feeling. How does this help stop bullying? It is all in the example and attitudes we set. Our students will notice and be freer with compliments themselves.

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Realize That Parents Need Parenting

Some parents have lost their perception of right and wrong behaviors, and sometimes even simple decisions are tough. It’s these parents that will try to bully the teacher and the school. They do not have the ability to cooperate when they disagree and can wreak havoc in an educational setting. These parents need to be agreed with immediately. You heard right; agreed with. But, agree in principal, not with the content. Let them know that you can see things from their perspective, but work with them to see things from your perspective. Instead of a tug of war, move to their side of the rope. Or better The young parents of today need parenting. Parents who have left home with a rebellious attitude may not even be speaking with their own parents yet, let go of the rope. Ease into conversations with these parents and lose your fear of being yelled at. Be an empathic listener, and don’t argue. They need to be taught, and you are going to do it.

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