Winter 2012 Partnership Magazine - College of Education Home ...

if a student can make one strong connection with someone in the
school, even if it is the janitor or the cook, they are more likely to
be successful.
We all need to laugh more. I believe that a sense of humor
is essential to be a teacher. You need to have some fun with the
kids. Yes, I know there are those who say, I am not paid to have
fun with the kids, or I am not paid to entertain. But kids respond
to humor, they like it when the teacher is smiling and appears to
enjoy what they are doing. They know if you like your job or not.
Humor can diffuse situations that might otherwise escalate into
Mankato
Kay Green
Effective, successful teachers believe that every
student has the ability to learn. It is the strategies we utilize
within our curricula, combined with our understanding
of pedagogy, and the talent we possess in the “art of
teaching” that provides us the ability to move each student
along their personal continuum of learning.
Some of the ideals and practices that I use to assist
me in assuring both academic growth and personal
confidence in students are as follows:
• Read the face of your students.
• Regularly revisit the effectiveness of your listening skills.
• Be consistent, do not say it if you are not willing to follow
through with it.
• Call parents for positive reasons.
• Study your curriculum lesson and move away from the manual.
• Share a part of your true person with your students.
• Admit to learning with the students and not always being
correct.
• Keep true to the fidelity of your district’s curriculum…put your
personality into the presentation of it.
• When frustrated or aggravated, think outside the box.
Laura Linde
Effective educators believe what is heard, observed,
and experienced firsthand versus adopting and acting on
the thoughts, opinions, and perspectives of others. Acting
on assumptions closes the mind that independent thinking
can open.
Be reflective in your practice. Reflect on lessons
taught, experiences that are provided, and interactions
and responses during and throughout the day. Genuine
and candid reflection is the key to effectively improved teaching and
practice.
Focus on life’s design with relevant, creative, and purposeful
learning so students know and understand that education and
learning are a continuous journey.
Be a leader. Volunteer to help out and share the load if you note
others having a high volume of challenges. If you help design the rules
and policies, set the example to model and follow the team decision.
Admit mistakes, learn from them, and move on.
Teach students where to find information and resources and
how to evaluate information resources so they become autonomous
learners and effective decision makers.
Build in the element of surprise whenever possible. This keeps
students interested and adds an element of joyful learning to
Winter 2012 Partnership
problems. Having fun does not mean that you do not take your
job as a teacher very seriously.
We never stop learning new things. If you believe that when
you graduate from college you know everything you need to know
for a career in teaching, you are wrong. Every year I have taught
I have challenged myself to learn new things, take a class, teach
a new way, read a book, ask a question, or absolutely jump into
a new initiative. It has never been truer than it is today, kids are
changing, and we need to change with them. Learn something
new today, and have fun doing it.
• Walk away from judgmental, gossipy, unproductive
conversations with colleagues.
• Change something you have done in the past.
• Communicate, communicate, and communicate.
• Read the body language of your students.
• Work hard, be dedicated, be confident and then be
proud.
• Make clear expectations a part of every lesson,
procedure, and action.
• At all age levels, set the expectation bar high for your
students, it is natural for them to reach for it.
• Ask questions of the students, the educational process,
and of yourself.
• Work ahead, be over prepared, and make a list.
• Accept that the need to be flexible is a constant.
• Play with your class.
• Do not tolerate harassment in any degree.
• Celebrate the success of each student’s personal best.
• And again, read the face of your students and adjust.
On these ideals I base my personal framework for effective
teaching and use as the foundation for my philosophy of educating
students.
everyone’s day.
Strive for professionalism that focuses on what is
best for many versus a select few and err on the side of
inclusion versus exclusion in all that you do.
When planning lessons, clearly state the purpose
of the lesson and share that purpose with the students.
Create examples of purpose that utilize humor, story
telling or real life events to which students can relate.
Use formative and summative assessment as an
indicator of what students know and are able to do. Use
assessment for learning and of learning in your planning.
Place the assessment in the forefront of your planning. This will help
you to identify and clarify where you are headed with your objectives
and outcomes. Like headlights on a vehicle, it will help guide the
learning journey.
Celebrate the students’ successes and your successes.
Celebrations are motivational to students and inspire students to want
to do better. Be inspirational in what you say and do!
Teach students that both independence and interdependence are
critical in an ever-changing world. We all have a shared responsibility
to use strengths and talents to the best of our ability. The element of
reciprocity exists within each one of us. As we teach, guide, and
facilitate, we learn from others as much as others learn from us.
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