Articles for Classroom Motivation

Enjoy!

Light Bulb Moments for Teachers
http://www.perrybinder.com/lightbulb.htm

Perry's Graduation Speech
http://www.perrybinder.com/graduation.htm

Making a Case for Classroom Humor (AJC Op-Ed)
http://www.perrybinder.com/classroomhumor.htm

Transform Your Classroom by Unlocking your Rubber Room (Teachers.net Gazette)
http://www.perrybinder.com/transform.htm

Lessons to Transform Your Classroom

This week, I'm leading a workshop for the Georgia Association of Educators on Lessons to Transform Your Classroom from my book Unlocking Your Rubber Room. In addition, I will have "Lessons of Justice for the Classroom" with Participant Activities, including this one:

Lessons to Transform Your Classroom
Perry Binder, J.D.

Lessons on teaching, life, fun, and the intersection of education and justice – where you can make a difference in your life, your students’ lives, and the world around you. Lessons of Justice can be taught at all grade levels

Participant Activity, Part I
Hypothetical: You are a teacher in the state of Georgia looking for a way to teach lessons of fairness, justice, and empathy for your class. Today, you read about the following (fictitious) story: In the State of Apathy, the Utopia elementary school sits 400 yards downstream from a dam holding back billions of gallons of water mixed with coal sludge. The Apathy state government and local school board have refused to build a new elementary school in a safer location. The not so apathetic parents of children attending Utopia, afraid for their children’s lives, have tried for years to get a new school out of harm’s way. Finally, in April 2010, the local school board will discuss and vote on possible funding for a new school.

Pick one of the following grade grouping (we can refine the grouping if needed)
Grades 3-5
Grades 6-8
Grades 9-12

Brainstorm with one or two other teachers and come up with an interactive assignment for your students to better understand, connect with, and help the students at Utopia.

Participant Activity, Part II (handed out after completing Part I):

What would your lesson look like if this wasn’t a hypothetical and these events were occurring at your school?
Marsh Fork Elementary School, West Virginia
Advocacy Group: http://www.penniesofpromise.org/

Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=2256931294

Radio Interview, Thursday, Jan. 21 @ 3pm EST

I'll be discussing Unlocking Your Rubber Room on "Nothing but good news" with Kandee G (Miami, FL 880AM)

http://www.880thebiz.com

Kandee G hosts the Nothing But Good News Radio Show which helps listeners transform ordinary events into extraordinary moments. She is dedicated to bringing greater awareness to broadcast programming and satisfying the increasing public demand for integrity, honesty and impassioned living though quality programming.

On the Nothing But Good News Radio Show you will hear Kandee G interview the great leaders of today along with those everyday heartwarming stories that reflect personal breakthroughs. Our programs focus on the most current trends in science, philosophy, human potential, leadership development, team building, visionary qualities and improvements for personal development with practical solutions for better living in an ever-changing world.

What Makes a Great Teacher?

Good article in this month's Atlantic...

Education January/February 2010 Atlantic
For years, the secrets to great teaching have seemed more like alchemy than science, a mix of motivational mumbo jumbo and misty-eyed tales of inspiration and dedication. ...

Things that you might think would help a new teacher achieve success in a poor school—like prior experience working in a low-income neighborhood—don’t seem to matter. Other things that may sound trifling—like a teacher’s extracurricular accomplishments in college—tend to predict greatness.

by Amanda Ripley

Continue reading: http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/201001/good-teaching

Motorized bar stool in Ohio still unsold

What is your price point for these motorized beauties? (and will proposed legislation against distracted driving diminish their resale value)

MOTORIZED STOOL - Person who bid $1,125 didn't come through with the cash
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34644141/ns/us_news-weird_news/


MOTORIZED RECLINER (steering wheel, headlights, rear roll bars, power antenna, stereo, and cup holders included. It can top out at 15 to 20 miles per hour. Stickers on the back include a National Hot Rod Association logo and one that reads, "Hell yeah it's fast." What, no built-in fridge?) - sold for $9,999.99?
See my prior post from Nov. 6, 2009:
http://yourrubberroom.blogspot.com/2009/11/motorized-la-z-boy-dui-e-bay-lawyers.html

MOTORIZED RED ARM CHAIR - there were 24 e-bay bids (that's it?) - the highest was $700.00, but "reserve not met" when bidding ended in November
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ARMCHAIR-CRUISERS-MOTORIZED-RECLINER-LAZYBOY-NOT-DUI_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2c51817176QQitemZ190345998710QQptZLHQ5fDefaultDomainQ5f100

State Bills to Curb Distracted Driving Gain Momentum
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/02/technology/02distracted.html?sudsredirect=true

What is your preferred mode of travel?

Happy New Year - 2010 Rubber Fun

2009 was a fun year for me in the classroom and out promoting the book - here's a podcast from December, a newly published article, and a sneak preview to some upcoming Rubbery events:

Thursday, January 21, 2010 - 3:00pm-4:00pm - Dare to Be Remarkable (880AM - Miami, FL)

Saturday, January 30, 2010 - Georgia Association of Educators Annual Conference - Lessons to Transform Your Classroom

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - Noon - GSU Law School - Topic TBA

Friday, February 12, 2010 - 17th Georgia Conference on College & University Teaching

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 - Kiwanis, Peachtree City, GA, Book Discussion: Follow Your Dreams - At Any Age!

Podcast: Perry's Interview on A Closer Look Radio, Coast-to-Coast
http://www.achieveradio.com/archplayer.php?showname=A%20Closer%20Look%20with%20Pam%20Atherton&ShowURL=http://audio.achieveradio.com/closer-look/Dec-17-2009-at-01-00PM---A_Closer_Look.mp3

Just Published by Teacher.net Gazette (Cover Story)

Transform Your Classroom by Unlocking Your Rubber Room

Perry Binder

Rub•ber Room (noun) A confining mindset where thoughts and possibilities bounce around but never turn into action

At whatever level you teach, K-12 or college, the continual cliché to “Have a positive attitude” is intended to keep you inspired and refreshed in the classroom. Drawing from hilarious or serious lessons as a teacher and former student, this article digs down below that cliché with examples of what makes us tick as people, so we can in turn be better teachers. It is an exploration and celebration of our childhood motivations, passion to teach, and the special quality that fires us up to walk into a classroom each day.

Continue reading: http://teachers.net/gazette/wordpress/perrybinder/transform-your-classroom/

New teachers reflect on their first semester

I enjoyed this article about new teachers, the mistakes they've made, and the motivation they have to succeed in the 2010 spring term.

Enthusiasm is contagious (excerpt):

When I was in college, I had several friends studying to be teachers. Every time they would talk about student teaching or creating lesson plans, I would think 'No way. Not me.' " At that time in my life, the idea of holding the education of 20-some students in my hands was enough to strike terror in my heart. Now the idea of putting up with 20-some children who are not mine is enough to do the same. So my hat is off to those who decide to pursue that career. The best teachers are the ones who hold that calling on their life, who have that special gift of inspiring students to do their best and to explain the concepts they need to know in a way that each child can understand.

Read the article:

http://mywebtimes.com/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=394586

Did you know The Fonz co-authored 9 children's books about Dyslexia?

To his great surprise, veteran actor Henry Winkler has carved out a new career for himself as a children's author. Having struggled - and suffered - throughout his school years with unidentified dyslexia, it's still hard for him to imagine his name even appearing in the same sentence with the words "author" or "book." But, Winkler and his co-author, Lin Oliver, have completed nine novels in their series, Hank Zipzer: The World's Greatest Underachiever, which recounts the hilarious adventures of a resourceful, wisecracking fourth-grader - who also happens to have dyslexia.

Winkler, who recently turned 60, graduated from the Yale University School of Drama and has achieved a successful 30-year career as an actor, director, and producer. Although he's received many honors for his work, he's probably still best known and loved for his role as the definitively cool Arthur "The Fonz" Fonzarelli in the 1974-84 television comedy series Happy Days, co-starring well-known director Ron Howard.

Continue reading: http://www.greatschools.org/LD/managing/henry-winklers-dyslexic-hero.gs?content=977&print=true&fromPage=1

On Happy Days, The Fonz played an auto mechanic teacher. Here's an actual car mechanic with dyslexia who became a teacher...

“TEACHING has changed so much over the years,” are the opening words from Paul Reid, a 39 year old from Perry Barr, when you ask him what he thinks of his new career. “I really struggled when I was at school. It was differrent (sic) back then and admitting you had a problem understanding something wasn’t easy.’”

Paul was a car mechanic for 15 years before suffering from arthiritis and decided to change career.“I loved mechanics so much that I decided that I wanted to teach others how to do it,” he explained.

Continue reading: http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/691242

Radio Interview, Dec. 17, 4pm-5pm EST

Looking forward to this interview with longtime radio host Pam Atherton. I recently listened to her interview with Bill Kurtis, Journalist/documentary host (and recovering lawyer!) and learned some very interesting things about his life.

But what I really like is the cool promo photo for the show, pictured here.

A Closer Look with Pam Atherton

Dec. 17, 4pm-5pm EST

Listen hear: http://www.acloserlookradio.com/binder.php

NYC Teachers Sue for a Pass Out of Rubber Rooms

Pictured left: Cell phone photo from a Queens, NY Rubber Room

While this blog is dedicated to inspiring teacher stories, I'd be remiss if I didn't post this story about K-12 teachers who believe they are being unjustly treated:

BROOKLYN (CN) -Some 2000 schoolteachers say New York City is discriminating against them by confining them on trumped-up charges in infamous "rubber rooms" until they retire. Rubber rooms are study hall-like places where teachers are paid full wages to do nothing -- sometime for years. Continue reading - http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/12/01/Class_of_Teachers_Sues_NYC_For_a_Pass_Out_of_Rubber_Rooms.htm

I stumbled across the rubber room issue when selecting the title of my book.
In my book Intro:
Rub·ber Room (noun)
A confining mind-set where thoughts and possibilities bounce aimlessly

In my book Epilogue:
Rub·ber Room (noun)
An isolated place where schools send unruly teachers awaiting disciplinary proceedings

After the fact, I dug deeper into the NYC Rubber Room problem, and discovered some reasons (justly and possibly unjustly) that teachers get sent there. One of the biggest issues is how long teachers must wait until given a due process hearing to get reinstated (they are suspended with pay until a resolution). Though my book has nothing to do with the NYC Rubber Room issue, a couple of months ago I wrote this letter to provide moments of levity for Rubber Room occupants awaiting a hearing:

September 28, 2009

Michael Mulgrew
President, United Federation of Teachers
52 BroadwayNew York, NY 10004

Re: The Rubber Room New Yorker article – Your Letter to the Editor

Dear Mr. Mulgrew:

I am a Queens, New York native (PS 184, JHS 194, Bayside HS) and a Legal Studies professor at Georgia State University, who read your Letter to the Editor in The New Yorker with great interest. One of the most telling quotes in Mr. Brill’s piece concerned the city official’s statement: “Our standard is tighter than ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’.”

I had never heard the term “Rubber Room” used in the school system context, until I started researching the title of my enclosed book, Unlocking Your Rubber Room (2009). The reason I am writing is because I am interested in supplying each borough’s “Rubber Room” with a copy of my book (at no cost). www.YourRubberRoom.com

Unlocking Your Rubber Room is a humorous look at law and life (Sections I & II), with my bent perspective on the justice system (Section III). I believe that the book would help Rubber Room occupants maintain or regain perspective as they await their hearings. If anything, the book’s title and content would offer some needed levity.

Please let me know if you have any thoughts on how to accomplish the above task. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Perry Binder

Mr. Mulgrew's Letter to the Editor of The New Yorker
Brill captures the Kafkaesque quality of Rubber Rooms, in which teachers linger while the Department of Education ponders accusations against them. Read more:
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/letters/2009/09/28/090928mama_mail2

Postscript: To date, I have not heard back from Mr. Mulgrew, but a couple of people are attempting to assist me and get free copies of my book into the five NYC Rubber Rooms.