Thursday, June 26, 2008
Teaching With Humor That Heals
Quotes From Page 153
"Is it possible that a portion of our current discipline problems stems from a serious, heavily regulated approach to the learning process?"
"When a classroom is a lively , creative environment where laughter abounds, students of every age have a natural outlet where their curious minds can flourish. In our experience, a laughing classroom evokes delightful forms of play in the learner, while a tight-reigned classroom evokes devious forms of play (a blend of creativity mixed with rebellion)."
Page 155 The Up-Tight Test--See How You Do
Please Reply To the Following Question:
What is the greatest gift you can give your students?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
13 comments:
Me. If students can have a teacher that truely cares for them and works with each indiviual with their indivual needs. That is one of the greatest gifts I can give as a teacher to a student. Helping a student gain a love for learning is another GREAT gift I can try to develop.
I don't think that our, "current discipline problems stems from a serious, heavily regulated approach to the learning process." Our discipline issues I believe come from not enough structure in the classroom and lack of support from parents.
I remember in elementary school our teachers were trying to put fun into our learning. I was in an "Open classroom" Concept. It was loud and many times students were out of control. Not a good learning atmosphere for me.
Again, I think that there needs to be a balance. Structure, support from home, humor and fun.
I think one of the greatest gifts a teacher can enstill in a student is self-confidence. Specifically, self-confidence to problem solve on their own. I am amazed at the intelligence, talents and work-ethics of many of my students. However, I have noticed a trend in some of my students in that they don't want to follow through with challenges if they can't find the solution easily on their first attempt. They lack percevierence and possibly confidence that they can overcome the challenge through more trial and error or a different strategy. Students will encouter challenges of all kinds every day...I think it's important to remind students that they have the ability to overcome these challenges.
I agree....I believe there are many reasons why discipline problems occur and a teacher who can succesfully balance humor with classroom structure, order, and respect will have the most succesful results. Based on my own experiences, this balance is very different for each class. There is a fine line between creating a "lively, creative environment where laughter abounds" and an environment that is out of control and not condusive to learning.
Respect. Unfortunately, so many of our students today have not learned how to be respectful to themselves, teachers, or their classmates. A number of our students are not being shown respect at home and don't have role models to teach them how to show it in return.
I feel strongly that by showing my students respect and dealing with situations that arise in a consistent matter, humor automatically follows because it's easy to let humor happen when you're in a safe and welcoming environment. The same is true for us--we laugh and enjoy ourselves more freely when we are in a comfortable environment.
I feel that one of the most important things I can do for my students is to teach them to become independent thinkers. I want my children to think so they can learn to problem solve and learn to do things on their own. They need to learn to make choices and know that they are strong enough to do it and that they have the environment to do it in. I took a class, Love and Logic, and I learned that many children don't get to make choices and learn about consequences. Children to learn to realize that along with making their choices things happen. They learn about cooperation, sharing, problem solving, rules, respect, consequences, and life around them. This brings us to discipline. I feel that you make choices and there are consequences. You can let the outside factors filter in but you can't use those as excuses. I tell my children that you are responsible for only one person and that is yourself. You need to make good choices! Respect yourself, respect others, and respect property!
I think one of the greatest gifts that I can give to my students is a safe environment to learn. I want my students to know that my classroom is a place where they can feel confident and secure. They have the ability to give an answer or say what's on their mind and not be worried about being laughed at or picked on because someone else has a different opinion. I hope that my students feel that my classroom is a safe and fun environment that they can be successful in...
I also want my kids to be respectful of one another. (That kinda goes with a safe environment.) Kids need to understand that differing opinions are not bad. People are not always going to agree, get along, be friends with one another, but you need to be respectful of one another. So many discipline problems wold take care of themselves if people would respect each other.
I am enjoying your comments. There is so much to think about when it comes to having fun. Some people seem so natural at it while others have to work at fun. My book has not arrived yet so I am unable to write reflections.
Being in a Lutheran School, the first gift I give my students is the daily reminders that Jesus is their Lord and Savior. He loves us and forgives us. With this forgiveness, we are able to begin each day a new. Each day is a new creation and we are thankful for the new beginning. Just because they might have earned “stikes”, a detention, or a poor grade on an assignment, they get to start each day new. We might have a bad day, but the next day we can try again and do our best.
This part of our faith works easily with this section of the book. Our school discipline style for the 4th-8th grades is a standard system, nicknamed the “three strikes and you’re out(detention) policy. In my classroom, I hardly have to use the policy. The students know my expectations and we respect each other while we learn and have fun. We spend time in our seats, on the floor, in groups, as individuals, etc each day. The change in keeps the kids focused and involved. (trying to keep the balance of structure, hands on, etc.)
My score on the quiz was in the Acrobatic range which was up from the last time I took the quiz a few years ago. I think more years of expirenence has helped me to relax more as I enjoy each school year more and more.
I think the greateste gift I can give students is a safe learning environment where they feel respected and valued. Many of our students don't get this at home. They may never have someone who values them or respects them and if they don't get it in the classroom, that's when the behavior issues crop up. If students have a safe learning environment where each individual is valued for who they are, then students are much more likely to perform well. Students need to get to know their teacher as someone who genuinely cares about them and their well being. They need to see teachers as good listners, as vulnerable, and as models of behavior and respect. If they like their teacher, students are more likely to perform well in the class. If they like their teacher and they have a safe, welcoming, respectful learning environment, then the sky's the limit.
Discipline in our schools is combination of teacher, student, parents, and administration. If all parties are on board and students see these parties as working together FOR their success, rather than against them, then behavior problems are far less likely.
I teach the "at-risk" ninth grade algebra students. Last year another teacher taught one section and I taught another. She had many discipline problems (almost daily at times) and I had very few. I believe this was because of the structure of the class. I have high expectations for behavior and achievement.
I believe that if a classroom is well structured, learning will take place. Well structured does not mean boring. We often laugh in class, while learning is taking place. But most importantly, I treat each student with respect.
The score I recieved on the quiz was "Acrobatic". I usually can squash bad behavior with humor. When behavior is continuous or extremely bad, I send them to the hall and I give them a pencil with paper. I do not tell them what to write, but most of them figure it out. When I talk to them later in the hour or after class, I usually ask two questions, "Why did I send you to the hall?" and "What was your goal with your actions?" This usually leads to a good dialogue.
It is hard to narrow down "the greatest gift". I think respect, self-confidence, tolerance and pride are all very important. If students take pride in whatever they do, you know they are trying.
The greatest gift I feel I can give my students is a love of learning. If it is fun to learn, you want to do it often. I teach first grade and my classroom is always lively. Diane Loomans said on page xiv “Kids bring unlimited playfulness and creativity to any task.” That is why I teach first grade. My challenge is not to let the playfulness get out of hand.
Question number 1 on page 155 made me pause and think. It is a tightrope walk to know a true disruption and nip it before it becomes the distraction that throws the class into a place that is hard to bring them back to the task at hand. My favorite way to get the class back on task is play The Quiet Game. I say, “Let’s play The Quiet Game, One, Two, Three.” They love this because it is a game and they all get quiet by the number three.
I took the test and did very well. As a new teacher I would not have done as well. I have found experience has made me a more relaxed person in the classroom. I now have a lot of fun teaching, and it rubs off on the kids. They are more relaxed and seem more interested in learning and having fun.
One of the greatest gifts a teacher can give is a life-long interest in learning. Students may not ever need to use the German they learn in my classroom, but they can always use the learning skills I teach for other situations.
I love what Holly put in her comment. My personal belief is that it is tremendously important. I teach at a public school and therefore we usually do not talk about that subject matter. However, there are definitely morals or truths that can still be applied. An example of this would be loving others. I feel that this covers so many things and I find that it really helps the atmosphere in my classroom. I know it sounds cliche, but it truly is so important.
I also scored well on the Up-Tightrope Test. This is definitely an area that I wouldn't have scored as well in as a new teacher. It certainly feels good to be able to confidently answer yes to those questions.
I really noticed last year that I never really yelled in my classroom. I found myself smiling and saying things like, "That's all fine and dandy, but if you want to stay in this class today, you need to _____________." Even when I did kick kids out, I noticed a lot fewer door slams or muttering under their breaths when they left. Then the next day it was much easier to wipe the slate clean, smile, and start over. I scored very well on the Up-Tight Test. I really feel a lot more calm in class the more I learn to laugh at things.
The greatest gift I think I can give my students is to show them how much I love learning---about everything ---not just math. I love using unusual vocabulary words or talking about the novels they are reading. I still hear the comment from time to time, "This isn't English class", but I just brush it off and keep my enthusiasm up. If a question comes up (ie What does that mean when you say "ie"?), I'll stop what we're doing, go to the Internet via the SmartBoard, and look up the origin of "ie". We look up meanings and origins of quotes and words. It's fun - my favorite is "doesn't cut the mustard". Getting a well-rounded education is a gift.
Post a Comment