Kid Whisperer Nation Teacher Tips #61-65
Kid Whisperer Nation Teacher Tip #61
USE NOTE WRITING AS AN INTERVENTION
I teach tons of interventions. Here’s a fun one that seems to have inexplicable magical powers. It works really well with kids all the way through senior year. When a kid has been exhibiting a negative behavior, but you don’t feel like you have to use a Learning Opportunity quite yet, hand him a note on a post-it that says the following and quickly walk away:
“I have noticed that you have been bothering Terrence during math. Please stop. Thanks!”
Kid Whisperer Nation Teacher Tip #62
HIT YOUR STUDENTS WITH BALLS
“Mr. Ervin Dodgeball” continues to be one of the most epic and awesome games ever played in the history of sport. Foam balls can’t really hurt kids, but check with your administrator first when in doubt. Come up with your own games that involve competitive and fun physical play. These things can be done when EVERYONE’S work is done. This reinforces hard work in a real-life way.
(P.S. Complete rules for “Mr. Ervin Dodgeball” can be found on page 181 of my book!)
Kid Whisperer Nation Teacher Tip #63
MODEL POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADULTS
When another adult is in the room, or when you are talking to someone over the loudspeaker, or when you are talking to a parent over the phone while in front of your students, do everything you can to be as kind, helpful, and respectful as possible. I know that this can be difficult when a secretary is bugging you about forgetting to do your attendance, or a principal interrupts your teaching. Don’t forget, your students may not get many more chances to see a positive interaction between two adults. Don’t waste the opportunity to show your students what that looks like.
Kid Whisperer Nation Teacher Tip #64
IF THEY CAN HELP, LET THEM
Here is a simple rule of thumb: if a student can do something that needs to be done and she can do it as well as you, let her do it. Make it really simple: give a student a job until she forgets to do it or does it poorly, then fire her and allow her to hire the next employee. Do you really need to be the one to take attendance, take out the garbage, and close the windows at the end of the day? If you are a teacher, you already do the job of three people. There is no need to do more than you have to.
Kid Whisperer Nation Teacher Tip #65
TALK ABOUT HOW HARD YOU WORK
Offhandedly mentioning the fact that you spent three hours grading papers the night before can serve as a reminder of how hard you work for the benefit of your students. Any effectiveness of this move is totally negated, however, when it is served up as a lecture about appreciation, respect, etc.