Involvement

What strategies does the teacher use to actively engage the students? How effective are these?

I feel so privileged to be working with this certain teacher!  She has been a teacher for about 5 or 6 years now, and is FABULOUS!  I don't think there was a strategy that I read about that this teacher doesn't utilize!

One strategy that I notice she uses to keep her kids focused while they are participating is calling attention to their good behavior.  Oh my goodness, it works like a charm!!  If she wants the kids to all be sitting quietly on the carpet and listening to her story, she will simply say, "Wow, look at Robbie!  He is sitting with his arms folded, looking at me....Thank you Robbie."  The class immediately reacts and follows this students behavior, in hopes that they will get called out as a good example! 

This teacher also uses holiday themes to help teach her students.  For example, for St. Patricks day she had her students sort the "Colors of the Rainbow" (skittles) and use them in math problems.  Now that we are nearing Easter, we have given the students a worksheet full of Easter eggs with a tiny math problem hidden on it.  The students then use magnifying glasses to find the math problem, write it out, and then solve it.  It's great!  The students have had so much fun with this activity, and their math skills have improved so much!  Its not the same old, boring routing!  Its new and exciting for them! :)

Parent Relations

Oh the MANY roles that teachers play:

-Educator
-Nurse
-Cheerleader
-Psychologist
-Mediator
-Storyteller
-Mathematician
-Artist
-Entertainer
-Coach
-Listener
-Friend
-Discipliner
-Interior Designer
-Organizer
-Technology Specialist
-Seating Chart Arranger
-Snack Passer-Outer
-Shoe-tier
-Disinfectant Guru
-Meeting Coordinator
-Career Specialist
-I think you are getting the hint!

TEACHERS DO IT ALL!!!!!!

 

It seems like teachers have it all figured out...but there is one role that they need to pay EXTRA SPECIAL attention to: PR.

 

No, not just Public Relations....I'm talking about PARENT RELATIONS.

 

A teacher can control the learning environment in their classroom, but they have no control over what happens, or doesn't happen at home!!!! 

 

As I have been working with students on their sight words, it is obvious which students practice at home with their parents or siblings, and which ones do not.

 

Having a professional and positive relationship with the parents of your students can help you coordinate your plans for their child during that academic school year.  You can become a team, working towards the same goal: the success of their child.  Parents can help their children by assisting them with homework, checking their grades, volunteering in their classroom, reading out loud with them, spending quality time away from electronics with them, and talking to them about what they are learning in school, and what they want to "be" when they grow up.

 

When a student receives quality instructions and guidance in the classroom, and that is coupled with quality study and learning at home, there is almost no room for failure.  :)