Hooray for mistakes!!!!!!

   Mistakes have a negative reputation.  What if we celebrated mistakes? To make a mistake means you took a risk and put yourself out there regardless of the possibility of being wrong.  If none of us ever made mistakes, there would be no need for teachers.  "Great - you made a mistake.  I applaud you for trying and here is how you find the correct answer."  Your students would freak out! (Mine did).  But, you would have their attention and isn't that what this is all about - getting the students to listen?  We need to praise mistakes and embrace them as a part of learning.  It's a teachable moment only if students don't feel bad about being wrong.  If that happens, teachers are being bullies and that is never productive.  I don't think making someone feel stupid has ever improved their learning.

  There is another side to this.  We have been made to feel that if students aren't learning, it is definitely the teacher's fault.  If a student makes a mistake, is it a reflection of the teaching that's occurred?  Maybe but maybe not.  Teaching is not a recipe.   You don't add a teacher, 20 students, books and a classroom and - abracadabra!  Knowledge is gained!!!!  There are many variables involved in a classroom experience.  Many of these a teacher has no control over - the student's lack of sleep, poor diet, chaotic home life.  This can be very frustrating for  teachers - we put our best stuff out there and learning doesn't happen!!!  Teachers are constantly evaluating themselves as to whether a lesson "worked" or not.  So, try something different.  Celebrate mistakes and see what happens!  At the very least, you'll get their attention.  Hip, hip hooray for ..... MISTAKES!

Are students really lazy?

  The definition of lazy is : 1) a disinclination to activity or exertion: 2) encouraging inactivity or indolence".  We have all felt "lazy" sometimes in our lives.  However, when a student is referred to as "lazy", this brings to mind someone who doesn't want to learn.  
   If I enrolled in  Pre-med classes and, after the first semester, I realized I couldn't do the work, would I be lazy if I dropped out?  No!  I would rather put my efforts somewhere I had some success.  
Our students don't have that choice.  They are told to "try harder" or "study more".  I don't know about you but, if I keep trying and still don't do well, I start to feel bad about myself.
   Am I saying to let kids out of classes because they're hard?  Of coarse not!  But we need to realize that they don't have a choice.  We need to offer students different ways of learning and, that is happening.    But we need to understand that our efforts may not yield what we want.    Unfortunately, students get damaged by the system and, sometimes by teachers.  
   You may not agree with me about this but I have never met a student that wouldn't want to answer a question if they knew the answer.  Choose your words well before referring to a student as "lazy".  They may be hurting in a place you can't see.

Teacher's Lives

     As teachers, we are expected to have all the answers.  Some of the time, we do!  We like to be in control and we work very hard at making things the way we want in our classrooms.  It's important, though, to remember that we can't control everything that happens to our students.  But you can control  the atmosphere in your classroom involving your interactions with your students.  There is so much to be concerned with, that it is OVERWHELMING!  Many people think that teaching is a sweet gig - out early, school breaks, summers off.  Those people need to sit in a classroom for 30 minutes with anywhere from 8 - 30 students looking at you.  For what?  Learning is the goal but kids want to be entertained!
     Unfortunately, teaching is only a small part of being a teacher.  I know that I don't have to tell you that!  The responsibilities are: grades, interim reports, IEP's, quarterly reports, bench marks, lesson plans, emergency lesson plans, committee meetings, curriculum development meetings, staff development, staff meetings, collecting and reviewing data, goal conferencing, evaluations, weekly reports, parent contacts, attendance, role model, and (at times) being therapist, advocate and parent figure. (And I'm sure I've left some out).  So many hats it's hard to believe that one person could do it all!
     Some of the ideas I'll be talking about, in the future, may be familiar, or not.  Remember that you're human and being a teacher is like no other job.  Relax..... and eat some purple french fries!

Welcome to my blog

How to motivate and be sensitive to your students and yourself !!!!!!!                                

  Yuk!  Purple french fries??  Are you kidding??  That sounds terrible and how can that help me??  One might think about it that way but it might be good.  Remember the great book, "Green Eggs and Ham"?    The character would never try it.  But, when he did, he loved it!  We are so mistrusting of the new or unusual ideas, that we discount them immediately! 

"So what does this have to do with me?" you might ask, "Blue and purple potatoes originated in South America and have begun to gain popularity in the United States.  Blue and purple potatoes are most available in the fall.  These relatively unknown tubers have a subtle nutty flavor and flesh that ranges from dark blue or lavender to white".  (www.foodreference.com)  This blog suggests thinking differently about your students and your teaching.  There may be some strategies you could use or, at least, think about.  It's important to get the conversation started, if only in your head.  Are you ready?