Teacher Tips for Back to School

These are some basic tips I like to review every year before welcoming the students back.  It helps me get my head in the right place from the start.

What NOT to do...

• Be fair, be consistent, be clear.
• Clear messages combined with positive encouragement provide all the information a child needs to improve their behavior.
• Get close in proximity to a disruptive student.
• Use eye contact.
• Use the student’s name.
• Say exactly what you want them to do
• Stay calm and refuse to argue.
• Never discipline a student in front of the entire class.
• Speak with students in an ADULT voice. The ADULT voice is non-judgmental, free of negative non-verbal, and matter-of-fact. Avoid the PARENT voice.
• Don’t use “muddy” messages. (How many times have I told you? If you don’t stop right now, you are going to the office! Behave like good boys and girls! What am I going to do with you?)
• Don’t use destructive messages. (You are awful in class. Your sister was great in my class. What happened to you?)
• Never say or do anything that will damage your relationship with a student.
• Defusing arguments: If a student tells you something that has legitimate point, then discuss it. If they argue in order to manipulate you, wait until they stop talking and say,”That is not the point; I expect you to___________.”
• When a student does what you expect, give them immediate positive feedback in ways that are sincere, genuine, and meaningful to the students.
• Behavior is our best attempt, at the time, to satisfy one or more of the six basic human needs. The strongest needs for kids are freedom, belonging, fun, and power. Appeal to these needs to motivate students.
• You must make more “deposits” into your students’ emotional piggy banks than “withdrawals.” Deposits occur when you show courtesy, display kindness, give honesty, keep commitments, or do anything which appeals to their basic needs. Students will be more likely to say “yes” to a teacher who has a positive emotional piggy bank balance.
• If you make a mistake, apologize sincerely. This is a teachable moment.
• Emphasize that we don’t punish – we give consequences. We are constantly teaching.
• Give clear expectations: follow directions, stay in assigned area, read quietly.
• Treat everyone as if they are GOOD.