Next Level Teaching Skills Archives - Page 14 of 14

How To Keep Educational Discussion Positive

November 8, 2015 by Inspired Together Teachers Leave a Comment

Given the current controversies in education today, there are a multitude of educational discussions occurring each day in a variety of settings. While many of these discussions are civil and productive, there are just as many that are unpleasant and unsettling.

Recently, we were a part of a discussion with several educators who are passionate teachers and strong advocates. We were meeting to discuss an educational issue that we all have strong feelings about.

One of two things could have happened. The conversation could have become passionately positive or overwhelmingly negative. We chose passionately positive and all participants left the discussion feeling better than when we entered. It wasn’t pure luck that the conversation went that way. We followed an algorithm-of-sorts for keeping discussions Passionate and Positive:

A + B + C + D= Passionately Positive Discussions

A= Always talk to the right people. If you want to be energized, pull people into the discussion who are passionate and positive. The more positive voices in the conversation, the less likely negative voices are to speak up. If you have enough passion in the group, even those with less enthusiasm will feel the influence of the others and be inspired.

B= Be clear about expectations. Establish ground rules for your discussion. It’s fine to start out the discussion by saying, “Let’s keep this positive. We are all passionate but we need to remember that we will get nothing accomplished if we turn this into a complaint session.” Being proactive and stating optimistic expectations upfront will be worth it. It is much more difficult to try and turn around a conversation once it has become hostile or depressing.

C= Concentrate on solutions. Recognize the problems and what led to them but focus your passion and energy on the solutions. Too much dwelling on the problems can drain the group’s energy. Solutions, brainstormed by passionate advocates, are full of momentum, excitement, and promise.

D= Don’t forget the food. If you want a positive discussion, bring food. There is a feeling of comradery when we share food around a table. Plus, it seems we are all a little more at ease with a chocolate or an appetizer in hand.

All of these elements combined amount to an educational discussion that is passionate and positive. In fact, your discussion will be passionately positive!

What additional components do you add to your algorithm to make educational discussions more passionately and positive? Please share.

We wish you many such conversations in your near future.

How Well Does Your TEAM Function?

September 4, 2015 by Paula Leave a Comment

In education there are different types of “teams.” There are grade-level teams, IEP teams, intervention teams, and just about every other type of “team” you can think of. If you are lucky enough to be on a team that functions well you know you are blessed. If you have ever been on a dysfunctional team, odds are that you don’t want to repeat the experience.

Does your current educational team function well?

Feel free to use these guidelines at your next team meeting to assess how you are doing as a group, to set goals for this school year, or to pat yourselves on the back for being a team that functions well according to these guidelines.

See if your group meets these four criteria of effective TEAMs:

T- Talk it out

It is easier to avoid difficult conversations than to talk about them. However, issues won’t go away just because you aren’t talking about them. Be honest and respectful in how you give and receive ideas. Don’t blame others for not understanding your point of view if you never explain it to them or if you state your perspective in a way that has your fellow team-members tuning you out before you finish your first sentence. Team members don’t have to always agree but they need to keep communicating. How well does your team address the difficult conversations?

E- Everyone brings something to the table

Respect the various strengths that each person brings to the group. If someone likes to keep the conversation focused, assign them the role of group facilitator. If another person has a strength with organization, allow them to prepare the materials for the meeting and handle follow-up contacts. When we fail to recognize and embrace our different strengths, we miss an opportunity to make the team better. Everyone in the team has a strength. Find it and use it to the advantage of the team. What strength does each person bring to your team? Have you embraced and built upon those strengths?

A-Ask questions

You may think you know what a fellow team member is implying but you will never know for sure unless you ask them. Clarifying questions, questions that cause the group to conduct further research, and questions that allow for reflection can all deepen the group discussion. Too often we fear that we are being pushy or condescending by asking questions. The truth is, the more you ask, the more you know. The more the group knows, the better decisions the group makes. How many and what types of questions were asked at your last team meeting?

M- Make it worth the time

Nothing is worse than a meeting that serves little purpose. No one wants to sit through a meeting that they feel is not worth their time. An hour meeting that could have been summarized in 5 minutes is frustrating. Be productive. Keep the meeting focused so all can leave with a sense of accomplishment. At the end of each meeting, ask yourselves if the meeting was a productive use of your time. If the answer is “no” then you need to make adjustments. Was your last team meeting worth your time?

Hopefully, your team meets these four criteria. We suggest being proactive, rather than reactive, and having a discussion with your team about how you function. Talking it out, respecting each individual’s strengths, asking questions, and making it worthy of time are just the beginnings of a team’s examination of how well they function.

What other criteria of effectively functioning teams would you add to our list?

Happy TEAMwork,

6 Great TED Talks to Inspire You This School Year

August 31, 2015 by Inspired Together Teachers 14 Comments

TED talks are an easy way to learn and be inspired by great speakers- all from the comfort of your living room, and requiring only your phone, tablet or computer. If you want to get jazzed up for this school year, here are our suggestions for six great TED talks about education. Watch the videos below and get ready to make a difference this year!*

Diana Laufenberg: How to Learn? From Mistakes

Laufenberg understands that today, schools are no longer places we go to get information, but places where we go to learn to do something with information. She shares examples from her classroom where learning is experiential, project based, authentic and meaningful. When she gives kids a voice, they rise to the occasion.

Rita Pierson: Every Kid Needs a Champion

Pierson, an educator for over 40 years, is wise, funny and passionate. She will tug on your heartstrings and inspire you to build relationships, because helping children to be the best they can be is a lasting legacy and the best gift we can give them.

Stephen Ritz: A Teacher Growing Green in the South Bronx

Think you can’t make a difference? Want to be uplifted by the power of one teacher? Watch Ritz, a fast talking, high energy teacher who started a green revolution in his school, increased school attendance, provided students with job skills, and helped feed his community.

Kakenya Ntaiya: A Girl Who Demanded School

In Kenya, Kakenya Ntaiya was engaged to be married at age five, suffered abuse and exchanged bodily mutilation for the opportunity to attend school. She used her education to return home and create a school for girls in her Maasai village. She challenges us all to change our community, which will change our country, which will change the world. Her heart wrenching story speaks to the power of education to change lives.

Angela Lee Duckworth: The Key to Success? Grit

What causes students to succeed in school… and in life? It turns out that intellectual ability is not the answer. You might be able to help all students do well in the long term by encouraging them to develop passion, perseverance and a strong work ethic. This is the talk that started the “grit” movement.

Beau Lotto and Amy O’Toole: Science is for Everyone, Kids Included

We love this approach to science- where questioning and playing games become inquiry and scientific method. Never underestimate the power of children, who are capable of far more than we often give them credit for. Encourage your students to be scientists this year!

Do you have favorite TED talks? Please share your favorites in the comments below and help us all to find some new, inspiring ideas.

*All video are originally available at www.ted.com and used with permission via Creative Commons License.

Are you a MAGIC Teacher?

August 12, 2015 by Inspired Together Teachers 4 Comments

Some teachers are able to rise above the routine and mundane and elevate their classrooms to a place where magic happens. Are you a magic teacher? You just might be if…

M Motivational

You create an environment for motivation to occur by building relationships with students. You teach engaging and developmentally appropriate lessons. You don’t expect extrinsic rewards such as stickers or clip charts to motivate your students.

A Active Learning

You understand that students learn best by doing something. You are not a proponent of the sit and get methodology. Your classroom is productively noisy as students move around the room engaging in learning tasks.

G Guide

You understand that your role is not to be the “expert” or the lecturer, but rather to be the guide, helping students meet their learning goals. You are the chief learner and model of life-long learning.

I Inspiration

You encourage students to aim high, take risks and achieve their best. You are enthusiastic and optimistic, setting the stage for your students to be inspired.

C Community

You understand the value of community. With the cooperation of your students, you establish rules and procedures. You model respect for all and expect students to do the same. Your classroom is a physically and emotionally safe place where students can try, learn and grow.

Applying these principles will help you and your students to thrive. Our days will be more fun, more productive and happier places if we build a climate where MAGIC happens!

What do you do to make MAGIC happen in the classroom? Share your ideas below, we would love to hear from you!

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