True Grit

Thank you Rochelle for finding this inspiring video! Click to view!

What does it Take?  

Accepting the Challenge requires that you take action.

Teaching is a hard job on a good day.   Each day you must be ready to say "I will be highly successful"  Many of us spend most of our lives or career waiting the an opportunity and great things to happen.  We shouldn't wait we must "carpe diem" "Seize the Day!"   If with do this the optimism and excitement we are happier and more productive.  In the next few weeks we will be receiving our Humanex results.  It is an opportunity for us to reflect on our culture and determine what we can do to improve it.  Frankly, we spend a great majority of our waking day together and it is beneficial to us to make the most of our time.  If you accept the challenge each and every day and look for your success within the results gleaned from students you will find a great sense of empowerment and satisfaction.  Really, we can not hesitate; there is not time like the present to make a difference in the lives of the children you work with each day.

What Great Teachers Do Differently Todd Whittiker

1)   It's the People, Not the Programs:  

• Great Teacher equate to a great school.  Great teacher don't rely on a program to improve they focus on improving their level of implementation

2)   The Power of Expectations

• Great Teachers are clear about their approach to student behavior.  Their expectations are clear and enforced from the beginning of the school year.  They are consistent and fair

3)   Prevention vs. Revenge

• Great teachers have one goal when a student misbehaves:  Prevent it from happening again.

4)   High Expectations

• The best teachers have high expectations for students and for themselves.

5)   The Teacher is the Variable 

• Great teachers know that the most important variable in the classroom is the teacher, him/herself.

6) Ten Days out of Ten

• Respect for all 24/7 every day, consistently.

7) The Teacher is the Filter

• Great teachers know that their behavior sets the tone for student each day.

8) Don't Need to Repair--Always do Repair

• The best teachers compliment and praise students consistently.

9) Ability to Ignore

• The ability to be aware and choose to ignore rather than expecting perfection is the difference between an average and a great teacher.

10)  Random vs Plandom

• Intentional planning and language choice is the difference!

11)  Base Every Decision on the Best People

• Great teachers teach to the top!

12)  In Every Situation, Ask "Who is most comfortable, Who is least comfortable?"

• Treat all students as if they have the greatest intention and not assuming intentional misbehavior.

13)  What About those Standardized Tests?

• Great teachers don't let these matters distract from their focus from what really matters.

14)  Making it Cool to Care

• Great Teachers understand that behavior and belief are tied to emotion; they understand the power of emotion to jump-start change.