Teach students WHEN to use phones!

Phones

Suppose as a teacher, you walked into a staff meeting, and someone at the door asked you to place your cell phone or computer in a rack. How might you feel about that request?

Here’s another scenario:  How might a presenter feel when they look out at their audience and see heads bent over, texting or typing as the presenter is  trying to get a message across?  

We all recognize it's a fast-paced, multitasking world, and teachers are extremely busy. You might be thinking, “If I can get a note off to Johnny's mom while sitting in this meeting , then it will save me time.”

What about your classroom? Do you allow your students to text and email during your instruction?  If your answer is ”no”, then we have a problem.   Most teachers set expectations for phone and computer use in their classrooms. Often you can see posted on classroom walls, a set of rules, such as, "NO ELECTRONICS." In response, students quickly learn to put their phones on vibrate, sign out, use the restroom, and disappear for 10 minutes to check messages and text friends.

As teachers, it seems we have created 2 sets of rules regarding electronic and cell phone use---one for teachers and one for and students!  hmmmmm…..

I wonder how to establish an electronic & cell phone policy which honors both the teacher and learners in the classroom. When in the classroom, I tried to honor students by saying:

“If you have something going on at home, and your

mom is calling you, I understand that you need to take

that call.  Could you please take the call in the hallway so as

not to disrupt the learning going on in the classroom?"

Quite frankly, by treating students as adults, I only had a handful of students who abused this privilege, and I dealt with these students on a case by case basis.

  

The bottom line is----I feel it’s critical that we teach and discuss with students how to self-regulate their usage of electronic devices in the classroom rather than having them continue to find ways to circumvent the rules. As an educator and facilitator, I am going to become more cognizant of my own electronic habits.  In this way, I am modeling and practicing the type of behavior  I  expect of  students and future employees.

Always Learning,
Laura Robinson

Make Learning an Experience

     My sister is a fourth-grade teacher, and I learn a lot about teaching by listening to her. Her classes are always fun! The other day she and her class spent the entire day going through the sessions of the day by speaking in a British accent....think about that, funny to listen to fourth graders in a small town in the Midwest, talking through their math problems in a British accent.

     Today I saw an idea where a teacher laid out books onto of paper plates and on a plastic checkered tablecloth. Nothing fabulous, but very fun and it made me think about how to make all lessons engaging and fun. I hold to a belief that from top level PD down to the second graders, learning can always be an experience. 

     Think about how students in this class are looking forward to coming to school! 

In the beginning (of the school year)......Be consistent, be consistent, be consistent!!!

4/19/2016



       In the beginning.....
       How to win control of your class....

    It begins with consistency and ends with consistency. You must learn to reinforce the behaviors you want......all while smiling (because of the mimic response in brains, if you are smiling.....they will smile. Isn't that a crazy idea??? and if someone is smiling they are happy. Go on and try it...crazy!). Ok, so decide what your signal is going to be, now smile, and reinforce it. It may take a bit (don't give up), and BE SURE to reinforce using positive reinforcement (put in your phone as a reminder every 3 days or whatever it takes). Don't ever "let a behavior go". You MUST must must must .....be strong! If you teach the behavior well in the beginning of the year, and then reinforce intermittently you will get there( sometimes use crazy reinforcers, kids love that....hand out dum-dum suckers....and tell them it's because they are not "dum-dum's and know how to respond to your signal, or be honest and tell them how much you appreciate their efforts in listening you even when they are busy. Remember at least a 4 to 1 ratio of positive reinforcers! FOUR TO ONE!!!!!)

     It is hard to do this half-way through the year. It will work SO much better if you start your year out doing this......on the very first day of school. When students come in for the first time (in high school you have a few days of a honeymoon period......use it!)  Call them all up to the front of the room, huddle up, and teach them this concept (any signal is fine, I prefer a hand raise in high school).It will become the "this is how we operate in this classroom". As your year progresses, you can give more control to the students,  allow them the "power" of the raised hand.Plan on your first 3 weeks of school spent on teaching behaviors you want and reinforcing.



+ :)  = Happy class