Wednesday, April 28, 2010

The Inspiring Teacher Series: Interview with Bridget Robbins


Welcome to the first installment of The Inspiring Teacher Series - a tribute to inspirational K-12 teachers and college professors, and what we can learn from them and each other about the craft of teaching. Now let's meet...

Bridget Robbins
Kindergarten Teacher
Abbotts Hill Elementary - Johns Creek, GA

Bio
Bridget Robbins has been an elementary school teacher for over eight years. For the past 2 years she has taught Kindergarten at Abbotts Hill Elementary School, and prior to that taught 1st through 6th grade in both urban and rural settings. Bridget worked as a substitute teacher at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. She received her undergraduate degree (B.S. in Elementary Education) from the University of Michigan – Flint and continued her education at the University of Georgia where she earned her Master’s Degree in Educational Administration & Policy and an Early Childhood Reading Endorsement, May of 2006. While attending the University of Georgia, she worked as a graduate assistant with the UGA - Clarke County School District - Athens Community partnership. In that role her primary responsibility was to act as the liaison between the partners. She helped further the goals and vision of this long-term Partnership for Community Learning Centers’ initiative. During this time she also helped plan professional development and conferences for teachers. Bridget recruited and trained students to help with tutoring and to provide other support and academic services at the elementary schools in Clarke County. Bridget loves teaching and helping students realize their full potential! She currently serves as Team Coach for her grade level and began First Class Learning, LLC – which offers tutoring services and Adventures in Reading & Math camps for children at Abbotts Hill and in the Johns Creek, Georgia community.


What inspired you to teach?
Wow! Teaching was the last thing on my mind when I graduated from high school in 1995. My family is full of teachers – my mom, grandma, aunts, and uncles but I decided I wanted to be different and began working on an accounting degree. However, that was not to be my fate! I decided to spend some time helping my mom out in her classroom and eventually began substitute teaching to make some extra money. As I worked in the classroom I was amazed by how much I enjoyed it and how much the students seemed to enjoy having me as their teacher. They were enthusiastic and eager to please. I was taken aback by their natural unconditional acceptance of me which inspired me to change my major and pursue a career in education. When I started substitute teaching, the teachers and principals began requesting me regularly to sub in their schools. It has been such a rewarding experience to teach children and see the progress that they make academically and socially. I feel it is one of the most fulfilling jobs. Teachers help shape tomorrow’s future which is what makes teaching such a fulfilling job.


What teaching methods are most helpful in guiding students toward their goals?
Positive, positive, positive & meaningful reinforcement!!! I respond well to words of affirmation and I believe this plays a role in my teaching style. I have found that helping to build up a child’s self esteem and self worth reaps a great reward – for the student and for me! We all want to do well and we all want people to like and care about us so I try to do my best to encourage, support and build trust with my students, especially during the first few months of school. Students need to know that you genuinely care about them. At the beginning of the year, I take time to get to know their likes and dislikes and what really matters to them. We develop our classroom rules and consequences together so that students can have ownership and actively help to reinforce the rules.

The second thing that really makes a difference is consistency in discipline and classroom routines. Believe it or not children like and respond very well to order and a consistent schedule. It helps them to feel safe in the classroom. The idea of fairness is very important to children. Being consistent promotes a feeling of equality in the classroom. Whenever I discipline a student, I do my best to do so in a positive way. Instead of saying “stop that or be quiet, I try to say things like, “Please keep your voice off or remember to raise your hand before speaking.” I then explain to the students that because of the choice he or she has made, he or she will have to deal with the consequence. I tell them, I know you can do better next time and everyone makes mistakes.” Students will usually respond well and take the consequence without complaining. Many times, they will apologize or choose to sit by themselves next time so they won’t get in trouble. With time, students become intrinsically motivated to meet our classroom expectations.
We celebrate as much as possible in my classroom! Throughout the day we cheer each other on! “Way to go!! Awesome! Great Job!” is frequently heard in my classroom. We have class parties and on Fridays we play our Morning Boogie music and dance together which helps build a sense of community. When you encourage kids, they become encouragers. Be what you want your students to be!!!


What skills should a teacher training program emphasize? De-emphasize?
Teacher training programs should emphasize hands on, real life experiences with children in classrooms. Service learning is a great opportunity for students to get some of these experiences while helping others. It would be beneficial to have more classes on classroom management and meeting the needs of diverse learners. It would also be great to have more of a focus on self reflection; thinking about what kind of teacher you want to be and what you need to do to become that person.

De–emphasize classes on research and statistics, and focus more on practical techniques that can be used in the classroom.

What would you like to improve about your teaching?
I would like to create more lessons that are fun and engaging for the students that really focus in on the skills and objectives that they need to master. Time management is another area I would like to improve on – getting the most out of the minutes we have with our students each day. I am always looking for ways to be more efficient.

What is the one thing you wished you would have known when you started your teaching career?
I wish I had known the importance of time management, organization and prioritizing! I have learned that I need to focus on what is most important because there is always more to do. Focus on the things that will give you the greatest return for your efforts -those things that will really help your students be successful.

Friday, April 23, 2010

College Professors should use Social Media as a Learning Tool Outside the Classroom


I've stated repeatedly over the years how the internet has revolutionized how educators can give assignments and communicate with students outside of class. And in the middle of our social media revolution, I still feel the same way (e.g. in the past, I've had extra credit assignments done exclusively on Facebook; and in an upcoming Mass Media class, the students and I will make active use of Twitter for communication outside of class, in an effort to engage professionals in the field).

On the other hand, while I encourage college students to bring laptops to class (to take notes or look up class information on task), I am not a proponent (yet?) of integrating Twitter/texting in real time to post comments DURING class for immediate review. Yes, I believe that class is an improv troupe, with the unexpected just waiting to happen. However, there is also a certain structure and flow that would be disrupted by real time comments posted and displayed on the big screen. Maybe if I had a teaching assistant to filter the relevant comments/questions from the clutter in my class of 120 students, I'd consider this usage.

I do recognize that students are techno-multi-taskers and that everything a prof says is not so useful or interesting. Thus, I have no problem with a student receiving a silent text because it doesn't disrupt the class. Professionals at conferences are continuously under the table with their Blackberries, and I try to treat the students the same way - as adults. It's up to me to make the class dynamic enough so they'll resort to paying attention.

I do have one classroom rule: If an unmuted cell phone call/text goes off - I get to answer it! That usually gets students to mute the phones AND get a good laugh.
Anyway, do you really think you can prevent students from using technology in class?
Why Banning Social Media Often Backfires

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Graduation Gift Book Ideas


Here's Amazon's Best Graduation Book Gifts (my list)

They left out one of my suggestions - Oh the Places You'll Go!

Friday, April 16, 2010

Professor goes from caves to classroom


By Genevieve Adams - Kentucky Kernel April 15, 2010

What is learned in the classroom is only half of one’s education.This is the mentality one UK professor tries to bring to her students. As a cave diver, teacher, adventure seeker and published author, Stephanie Schwabe seeks to not only teach her students about geology, but the wonders of the world they don’t see.
“I try and bring my experiences and the excitement that I feel for what I do to the students,” Schwabe said. “I want them to be excited about this amazing planet as I am. That is the main reason for teaching. It certainly isn’t for the money.”

Continue reading:

Monday, April 12, 2010

Name School After Role Model - A Teacher


From Canada...

Admirers of inspiring teacher seek new tribute
April 11, 2010

GUELPH — There’s a movement afoot to have the new public school under construction in Guelph’s south end named after Michael Elrick, the high school teacher who ran environmental leadership programs for the board and who died of lung cancer in November last year.

For Joanne Harris, there’s dignity, passion, grace, and a quest for excellence associated with Elrick’s name, making it a fitting name for the new school, she said.

“He had a broad reach,” said Harris, who teaches the co-op education program at Centennial CVI. “Mike was on the national kayaking team, he was passionate about the environment and he touched so many lives. Teachers at Centennial are telling me this is a brilliant idea.”

Continue Reading:

Friday, April 9, 2010

Ranked # 2 in Kindle Book Sales > Education > Classroom Management category (April 7-9, 2010)


Bestsellers in Classroom Management (April 9, 2010, 1:00pm)
Kindle Store > Education > Classroom Management (Updated hourly)
1. The Daily Five by Gail Boushey (75 customer reviews) 4 customer discussions Auto-delivered wirelessly Kindle Price: $7.99

2. Unlocking Your Rubber Room: 44 Off-the-Wall Lessons to Lighten and Transform Everyday Life by J.D. Perry Binder (10 customer reviews) Auto-delivered wirelessly Kindle Price: $7.95

Also #13 in the > Humor > Lawyers & Criminals category

I like the J.D. Perry Binder name above! A lawyer, criminal, and famous writer?

Monday, April 5, 2010

April 5-12, Featured Author of the Week


Everyone - From Monday-Friday, I'm the Featured Author for "I JustFinished" Books. This link has a Q&A section for readers at the bottom of the page:


Enjoy! And have a great week.

Perry
Book Review: "This [book's] course of study can change your life"
Unlocking Your Rubber Room ISBN 978-1934938249
February 14, 2010
44 lessons by a former lawyer, teacher and motivational speaker offer keys to unlock the reader's "Rubber Room", a mindset that limits a person's happiness in life. Many of these lessons come from the realm of law, which also offer practical "advice" through anecdotes about "Law and Negotiation" ( section A). Remember, "It's good to be a Judge"; not so good to face one unprepared.

In the "Potpourri "section, Binder gives lessons abut "Law and Life", using positive attitude, laughter, and exaggeration. Lesson 22, Just Because You're an Expert, Doesn't Mean You're Right, relates an incident with a demeaning professor to point out that opinion is not fact, and attack is not a valid way to deal with people. Find a better way.

A close look at the justice system in America comprises the last section : Justice and Education. What do you do in the face of injustice? Make your choice between fear or anger. Consider consequences, and use your strengths. Anecdotes deal with facing your limits and overcoming them.

Then you take your final exam. You won't need a pencil, but a scream is mandatory.
If you have learned from these tales, you have indeed graduated, and Binder gives a graduation speech for the occasion. He relates a life changing incident that caused him to re-evaluate his life and "saved" him from himself.

Turn your life around. Get ready for the lessons Binder relates, and prepare for your graduation. This course of study can change your life.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Lights are going out on drama teacher’s career


This week, I reflected on the teaching career of Jaime Escalante (pictured), the teacher who inspired his students in East Los Angeles, and others in the movie, "Stand and Deliver" (1988). Mr. Escalante passed away a few days ago. He was 79 years young.

In Mr. Escalante's honor, I am celebrating the teaching career of a lesser known teacher, Doug Smith. Smith is a high school drama teacher in California. (His former students include American Idol's Adam Lambert)
Smith's teaching philosophy: Love the art in yourself, not yourself in the art.
He is the focus in the following article:

Lights are going out on drama teacher’s career
By Blanca Gonzalez, UNION-TRIBUNE
The curtain will come down on Doug Smith’s teaching career this spring after more than 30 years of inspiring and guiding high school drama students, but for now, the show goes on.