What Kids Want...

If they only knew they wanted it...?

I have been thinking since last year what I can do to rebuild a learning culture with a group of students that have had a tough year with a different teacher. I want to create an environment that nurtures self directed collaborative learners. The link below offers me a route...

What do you think matters most to our children?

For 20 years I have been posing this question to my students. At the beginning of every school year, I would ask my students to give me advice on how to be their best teacher. I asked them to think about the times they felt most successful and to consider what the adults in their lives did to make this success possible.

EDIT: The author of this article went on to note that his students wrote furiously for many minutes  - unfortunately we differ here - my students looked dumbfounded and what followed was a mixture of things they think I wanted them to say and answers they admitted were "inappropriate".

With our lot it is like we are fighting a battle to get them to know they want anything!

We spent a few sessions on this - next time I need to find some supporting resources from other classes and students.

Next step: Our learning environment should be...

And discussion on how we can create that...

And eventually class rules.

Behind....

I have such a huge backlog of professional readings to blog about from last year - change team and Maths PD in particular.

This is not helped by the large amount of internet bookmarked articles I have that I have ye tot return to!

I need to make a set time to blog and make sure it is respected!

Save Someone's Love of Learning...

How to Save Someone's Love of Learning

If you give children complete control over SOME PART of their learning, they will not only rise to the occasion and attack their interests with gusto, but they will turn around and approach all of their required learning with a newfound sense of self-confidence and self-determination. They will look for a way to learn that fits their new sense of themselves as people with interests, abilities, and important ideas.

Do you want your children or students to love learning? Don’t say “Here, we know what’s best for you — sit down, be quiet, and listen.” But also don’t just say “Go, do whatever you want.” Do better than that. Support their interests and their self-chosen work fully — with your attention, your time, your space, and your cold hard cash. Invest in their interests. Invest in their talents. Instead of letting them ride in the back seat while you take them on a wonderful adventure, show them how to drive the car. Mentor them to be self-directed learners.

 I am following these ideas closely this year - Term 1 with disengaged learners is tough but I won't give up! Bonding with them is key and with children who have trust issues time is my friend.

Working on a network of resources/support. Finding suitable people to work with students when I have more than a handful is tough.

Why Everything We Know About Discipline is Wrong...

Why Everything We Know About Discipline Is Wrong

In my work as a clinical psychologist, the greatest concern expressed by parents is not knowing how to effectively discipline their children.

No surprise here.

They are often frustrated and burnt out because they have tried every technique and strategy out there to no avail. Their child's behavior hasn't changed and more specifically, they are on the verge of breaking point themselves.

To help parents understand why their disciplinary strategies do not work, I often do an exercise with them.

I ask them to use the word "discipline" in a sentence.

Invariably, they say something like, "How can I discipline my child?" or if they are addressing their child, they say, "I am going to think of a way to discipline you."

I first point out how the word "discipline" is used as a verb: Something you do onto another.

I then ask them to analyze the subtext of their sentences -- what do they really mean when they use the term "discipline"?

If they are really honest, they say something to the effect of, "I want a way to control them" or "I am pissed off at my kids and they are going to pay for it,"or "I am so frustrated because I cannot change how they behave."

And this, I reveal to them, is the reason why disciplinary strategies with our children backfire. We say we want to teach our children proper behavior and help them develop self-discipline. Yet instead, we have adopted strategies that are the direct opposite of teaching and instead are just clever guises of manipulation and control.

Brings up some issues I started on here.
I fully agree with the following quote.

If I'm to set myself up as my child's teacher, I must first have learned how to be self-disciplined. I must have addressed, and continue to address, my own emotional immaturity. I do this by becoming an authentic person, true to myself. In this way, my child learns from me to also be true to themselves -- true to their heart's deepest desires.

Turning things back into positive comments and putting focus somewhere else is an important tool when there is every inclination to hyper focus on the unhelpful behaviours that are occurring. My experience over the years has shown me that for some children any attention is a reinforcer whether is it positive OR negative. For these children hyper focusing on their unhelpful behaviours reinforces them and ensures they will actually reoccur.

I have found it also leads to negative energies perpetuating for the teacher as well. Resulting in more stress and the creation of a vicious cycle.

Look for whatever positive you can - even if it is just the way the child is breathing!
Reassess your goals for the session - not all students will achieve the same thing at the same time.
Resist the desire for conformity!

Team Building Term 1

As part of our team building programme to start term one I have included a few wacky ideas to promote creativity and positive social interactions.

People Bingo A version of bingo that promotes social interactions and fun. Questions include... Find someone that * knows their ten times tables backwards. * went to the beach in the summer * travelled over seas * saw three movies at the cinema
They find the person and get them to sign the box that relates to them. No repeat sigs!

Sticky Notes I decided to utilise the novelty of Sticky Notes to get some Blue Hat thinking going about our learning environment and how it works, how we would like to see it work and how we might make/keep it that way. I think that stickies will not pressure those less enthusiastic writers in my room and dishearten/disinterest them from sharing their ideals in writing (a number of our boys have a pre-existing negative attachment to writing I have noticed). Inspiration was similar to the link below. http://confessionsofateachingjunkie.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/the-best-first-day-ever.html
Topics include : What is Learning? / Why is learning important? Our Classroom should be...... School is important because... Wonderful learners.....

'Time capsule' Interview
Each child is charged with interviewing another student about their first few days at school. We’ll take some photos of our visual mihis and ‘bury’ the time capsule until the last day of school.
Stacker Challenge Rubber bands with four pieces of string attached to make a four person tool. The tool is used to stack plastic cups.

We need to leave plenty of time (patience) for reflecting on these activities What went well? Why? What was challenging? Why? Lots of 'talk to your neighbour'. Hoping to create a safe sharing environment through this so use it heavily this term!