The Most Important Thing Teachers (and Parents) Can Do to Help Children Be Successful

As teachers and parents, we want our children to be successful.  

There's one thing we can do to help them!

What's that one thing? Model the behavior you want to see!

Do you want your students to be kind? Show them kindness. Let them see you showing kindness to others. 

Do you want your students to show perseverance? Let them see you sticking with something, even when it's tough!

Do you want your students to be open? Be open with them. Share personal information with them. Share something you're struggling with.

Do you want your students to be friendly? Be friendly with them. Let them see you being friendly with other adults in the building. Show them how to be friendly.

Do you want your students to be honest? Be honest about yourself. Be honest in your dealings with each of them. 

 

Do you want your students to be lazy? Be lazy in front of them. Don't get their papers corrected and don't be organized for lessons.

Do you want your students to be greedy? Expect everything from them, without giving them anything in return.

Do you want your students to be arrogant? Insist you are always right. Don't consider the thoughts of others.

Do you want your students to be rude? Be rude to them. Let them see you being rude to others.

Do you want your students to be quick to anger? Lose your temper with them easily. Explode over little things.

Well, I know you won't do some of those negative things, but my point is that they are watching. Whatever you model for them, they will do the same.

Have children of your own? Substitute the word "children" for "students" in the above statements. It works the same.

My dad was an amazing role model. 

Here's a post I wrote about what he taught me!

What does a non-athletic girl learn from a football coach?

If you want your students to behave a certain way, show them!

Keep smiling, keep on teaching, and show them the best way to be successful! By being a successful person yourself!

How to Have Them Happy When They Walk Out of the Classroom

It's important to have the children leave happy for so many reasons. 

For one, you want them to feel good about school so they'll want to come back tomorrow. 

Maybe even more important, if they're feeling bad, that's how they're feeling when mom asks, "How did school go today?"  This can lead to bad feelings and/ or bad communication, which we just don't want to happen. 

I start my day on a high-energy note (see my previous blog post:  How to Have Them Ready to Learn When They Walk Into the Classroom) I prefer for the kids to leave on a calm, reflective note.

I play soft music as the children are packing up. (They tend to have trouble focusing by the end of the day, and the music calms them down and helps them focus on their responsibilities.) We meet in a circle for "High Low" when they are all packed up. While they are waiting for the others, they reflect on their school day.

When most of the children are ready, I usually start "High Low". I pick up a beanie baby. (Whoever is holding the beanie is allowed to speak.) I tell the class my high of the day and my low of the day. It might sound like this: "My high of the day was how everyone enjoyed the story I read. My low of the day was that someone hurt Susie's feelings at recess." As the children decide their high/low, they raise their hands. I'll pick one child and toss the beanie to them. And so it continues.  

A few procedures I've followed during "High/ Low".  

• No one can be raising their hand while someone is talking. 
• Don't raise your hand until you've planned what you're going to say.  
• Say the person's name BEFORE you toss the beanie.  
• No one has to have a low, you can do two highs instead. If you want to participate, you have to have at least one high.  
• No mentioning names if it's not good news, just say "someone". If it's good news, use names!  
• Don't toss the beanie to the same person every day. 

Often people wonder why I even do a "low" for the day, why focus on the negative? Well, I've found that sometimes things bother the little ones and it's important to let it out. As long as it's anonymous, letting it out is a good thing. I also find that when I tell my low, it gives the children an idea of how much I care about them. My lows usually have to do with someone who is absent or someone who got hurt. A lot of thought and "modeling" go into my "high/ low".

I do find the children love it, and it's a great motivation for them to finish packing up so they can participate. I also find it's a great way to learn what is important to the children. And, of course, sometimes I find out things I didn't know were going on in the social circles of my classroom. 

This is all valuable information for me!