Karen 
Dr. Joe 
Carol J.
Failing Forward Fast
Humans have an inborn disposition to explore and experiment and therefore learn. We are designed to derive meaning from experience and to learn by trial and error. It is important to let children learn from experience rather than stop them because of our adult fears. I Owe, You Owe
A student once asked me, “Mr. Martin, why do you care so much about us?” I guess I need to put this question in context. My class (as a whole) had just done horribly on one of my tests. After apologizing for letting them down as their teacher and for obviously not preparing them properly, I used the entire class period to solicit suggestions on improving my teaching methods. Developing Persistent Learners within your Classroom
Do your students often say, “It’s too hard,” so they don’t have to think any further? Do they crumple up their paper and say, “I can’t do this” meaning so I don’t have to do this? This shows lack of persistence. Persistence is the ability to stick to a task especially when the going gets tough. Teachers Can’t Help Students
Have you ever found yourself worn out and exhausted after trying to reach and teach that one student in your class who resists you like an infant getting an immunization shot? I’m not talking about failure after one attempt; I’m talking about a Guinness Book of World Record number of attempts with nothing to show for it but fried brain cells. Flexibility in Thinking
Roger von Oech says in the book A Whack On The Side Of The Head, “By the time the average person finishes high school he or she will have taken over 2600 tests, quizzes and exams. The right ‘answer’ approach becomes deeply ingrained in our thinking. This may be fine for some mathematical problems, where there is in fact only one answer. The difficulty is that most of life isn’t that way. Life is ambiguous; there are many right answers – all depending on what you are looking for. But if you think there is only one answer, then you’ll stop looking as soon as you find one.” The need to teach flexibility in thinking is becoming increasingly important for the future and success. In fact, Charles Darwin said “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” Secrets, Struggles & Scars: You Can’t Teach Students Until You Know Them
There’s an old adage in education that goes, “Children don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” I think this is 50% correct; however, I believe the other 50% includes, “…AND when they know WHY you care.” Teachers’ Expectations Can Dramatically Affect Students’ Achievement
Teachers’ expectations can dramatically affect students’ achievement. If a teacher is told that her students are bright, the teacher will be more supportive, teach more difficult material, allow more time to answer questions and provide more thoughtful and useful feedback to the students. In turn, the students receiving this attention will perform to this level. They actually score higher on educational tests, even if they are not ‘bright’, simply because the teacher believes in them. This also applies in reverse. If a teacher believes his students are under-achievers, he will be much less articulate, less likely to try to understand the students point of view and expect a poorer quality of work and standards. Again students in this environment will meet the lower expectations. Managing Impulsivity in the Classroom
It is normal for children to be impulsive. Have you ever had students blurt out the answer? Or wave their hand in the air calling “pick me” before you have finished asking the question? This is impulsivity. Impulsive people often blurt out answers and make immediate value judgements. Go for Your Teaching Goals
Here’s a question: Do you know how advertisers get us to buy things? Is it by creating a desire for it? Is it by creating fear of not having it? You’re right in both cases, but a more subtle way that seems to be more effective than both is by “overexposing” us to the message, constantly. In advertising terms, they call this “impressions.” There is usually a direct correlation in the number of public impressions and the number of sales made. If you don’t believe me, just ask any advertising salesperson. Developing Lifelong Learners
Developing lifelong learners is a goal for modern day education. With the twenty-first century changing so fast it is essential that your students and teachers remain open to continuous learning. Whether you're in or transitioning to the world of work, college, high school, or middle school, LifeBound has the resources to help you succeed. Select your area of interest in the tabs above for books, online resources, tips, and more that are specific to your needs.We offer these resources to help you navigate decisions, options and choices to make the most out of your interests, your abilities, gifts and talents:
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