As always there is so much wisdom in each chapter it is hard to isolate only a few to focus on in my posts. (I will give it a try)
Chapter 9: Ten Days Out of Ten! This sounds simple but in reality can be very difficult to live out day to day. Especially on those days when it seems everything is going against you and you have your own personal rain cloud following you around. When that happens I think I will take TW words as a challenge to exchange that cloud with sunshine since, as we have already learned we are the ONE variable that we can control!
Chapter 10: This chapter was one that caused me to examine and reflect on the power of our influence as educators. When I (the variable) don't filter my response the repercussions can have a ripple effect that can go on for days or even years. It made me think about that old saying, "Think before you speak."
"Great teachers consistently filter out the negatives that don't matter and share a positive attitude."
What would our school look like if we ALL did this Ten days Out of Ten?
I just loved chapter nine- Ten Days Out of Ten! I TW said, "Effective teachers treat everyone with respect, every day." I think I need to put that quote in my office. This year, I had a particular student who was not very easy to like. I had to spend more time praying for this student and how I would handle our time together. I knew that if I treated him disrespectfully, even once, I would ruin any chance I had at helping him. He came to my office throughout the year, sometimes as a routine check-in and sometimes as a result of a meltdown. I know if I had given in even once to a sarcastic comment or any other disrespectful behavior, any hope for helping this student would be gone. I was at times guilty of taking the inappropriate behavior personally, so I appreciated the reminder from TW on page 52-53 that their behaviors "usually have more to do with how they feel about themselves than it does with how they regard us."
ReplyDeleteChapter 9 made a terrific point that we have to be positive 10 days out of 10 because everyone remembers the one time you aren't. I really liked he 5 strategies for praise :authentic, specific, immediate, clean, and private. I know that praise and postive reinforcement goes a lot father than negative and criticism. Everyone responds to praise better than negativity, especially children! We truly can never have "too much nice".
ReplyDeleteChapter 10 reminds me to be that filter and only keep the postive while filtering out the negative. It's easy to go into a rant and vent with others you work with, but at the end of the day, what does it accomplish? Usually, I am even more upset than I would be if I had just let it roll off my back. I know my own personal challenge this year will be to remember my "one goal" each day. I love my job and have to remember even during rough times that it is a huge blessing to do what we do each day. Thanks TW for reminding me :)
I plan to put several of the big ideas from this book somewhere near my desk this year and the 5 strategies for praise will be one of them. I want to remember to how important the right kind of praise is for my students.
DeleteI also plan on using the 5 strategies for praise this coming school year. I think this will only motivate my students to meet their goals.
DeleteI really like the 5 strategies for praise too! I plan on rereading this part again as school begins. These chapters were such great reminders! I liked "filter out the negatives that don't matter and share a positive attitude".
DeleteI have to agree as well. I love the 5 strategies that help praise work. I am going to remember the effective praise is private and strive to do more "private praise" with my new students this upcoming year!
DeleteI also loved the five praise strategies. I have witnessed the power of authentic, specific, immediate, clean, and public praise. Very often I will say,"I love the way Molly is standing so nice and quiet in the hall." You will see students immediately stand up a little straighter and get very quiet. They, too, are desiring that praise. I loved the idea of private praise because I know that public praise embarrasses me, so I would prefer private praise. Why haven't I thought of this before!?!?
DeleteI have to agree, also. I will be using the 5 strategies for praise.
DeleteIn Chapter 9, I really gained a lot of insight from TW's description of praise. One aspect that registered with me the most was the idea of "effective PRIVATE praise." As an adult, I can definitely relate to this. I also think this could be a way to build meaningful relationships with students. A handwritten note on a paper, or a private side conversation while waiting in the lunch line can really stand out to a student. I think it also models humble behavior as well. Definitely want to remember this going in to a new school year.
ReplyDeleteChapter 10 was very inspirational, but there was one statement that literally stopped me in my tracks- " On the first day of school, students hand us respect on a platter. We determine what happens to that gift."
Whoa! I have always known the importance of the "First day impression," but I have never thought about it in that way. I have to own this responsibility.
Jacqueline, I also really reflected on the section about effective private praise. I can see a little checklist being created to make sure I do this consistently with ALL students! :)
DeleteI too loved the statement that students hand us respect on a platter the first day of school and we determine what happens to it. I've never thought about it that way, but will from now on!
DeleteI am the queen of public praise! I am adding private praise on my list of things to work on this year.
DeleteI underlined that statement about the first day of school, as well. I too have known that the first days of school are important, but I have never truly looked at it the way TW stated in chapter 10. I will definitely look at the first days of school differently now. This book has definitely brought to my attention that I am the variable that determines the setting of my classroom. It is ME that established the tone whether the environment in the classroom is positive or negative. WOW!!
DeleteOh my oh my... that statement that our students hand us their respect on the first day of school on a platter hit too. We've done nothing to earn it. So think about it, if our students act as if they don't respect us as the year progresses, what did we do to loose that respect? It's ours to keep or loose. Again, there is a common them in this book. We are the masters of our fate in the classroom. So much responsibility can be overwhelming. We just have to be mindful MOMENT BY
DeleteMOMENT we have the power to determine how the day will go, nine weeks, semester or year by our behavior in our relationships with our students.
The first sentence in chapter 9 caught my attention, "One of the hallmarks of effective teachers is that they create a positive atmosphere in their classrooms and schools." I circled the word "create" in this sentence and thought about how I use the verb for DOK3 when I want students to make, produce, generate and build. It requires the student to bring something into existence. Ten days out of ten, if the positive atmosphere isn't there for us to build on, then we must bring it into existence. It is a challenge, but necessary, to create a positive, respectful environment every day.
ReplyDeletePraise works. I like how TW gave us the specifics for effective praise. I want to be more effective so I wrote ideas all over the pages of chapter 9 near the explanations and examples! I know that praise works and that everyone likes it. I plan to make authentic praise a bigger part of my day with students and colleagues. I'm also going to implement more effective praise in my home.
Chapter 10 has some funny personal notes on the pages, including "LOL, guilty" in the margin next to "The Angry Parent" subheading.
Not all of the time, but most of us can relate. :)
This chapter reminded me of the importance of perception too.
We are very blessed to do what we do!
I love how you pointed out the word "create". It is so true that we have the privilege and responsibility to create the positive atmosphere we want in our classroom. I think the trick is to recognize this power that we have and use it. Like TW quoted "When the teacher sneezes the whole class catches a cold"!
DeleteI did the exact same thing - circled the word 'create'! Loved it & then at the end of chapter 10, I noticed the word 'create' again! "By consistently filtering out the negatives that don't matter and sharing a positive attitude, we can create a much more successful setting." I love the way he connects all of his ideas together :)
DeleteI underlined that as well.."effective teachers is that they create a positive atmosphere in their classrooms and schools." This book definitely hits home to me in so many places. He brings to my attention that even though our jobs are hard and difficult at times, our attitude is the key to a successful or unsuccessful year. It is our responsibility to create that positive atmosphere by treating everyone with respect, EVERY day. It is so true that we never forget the one time that we were embarrassed by words or someone was sarcastic to us. It leaves such a lasting impression. My goal is to remember that WORDS do have tremendous power unlike the chant we would say as kids..."Sticks and stones my break my bones, but words may never hurt me." Words have the power to hurt or inspire. My goal is to focus on the latter.
DeleteCreate definitely is the key word here. Things do do happen on by chance. We have the create the positive that we want for ourselves, our coworkers and our students.
DeleteChapter 9 Reflection: #10outof10 #respect Treating everyone with respect, every day, is a tall order, but one that TW states is a must if we are striving for “greatness”. “Great teachers understand the power of praise.” This can be one way to break the ice or walls that may exist between students/teachers as well as other adults.
ReplyDeleteThe power of words…”They can inspire, or they can destroy. Choose yours well!” ~Robin Sharma “Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can be only forgiven, not forgotten.” How people treat us and negative comments or remarks that are said aren’t forgotten. We have all had those experiences where others have spoken inappropriately to us, and their words cut like a knife. It is so important for us to recall these times when we talk to students even if they aren’t our favorite student. All students and people in general deserve respect, and TW states that at times, we MUST fake it!
My favorite quote in this chapter is, “Our behaviors are much more obvious than our beliefs.” This not only applies in the classroom but also in everyday interactions. Words can make or break a classroom atmosphere or a relationship in a heartbeat. Words do hurt, and they matter!
I love TW’s strategies for reinforcing praise. These are great reminders and things to think about as we interact with others (students and adults daily). Praise must be: real/true, specific (reinforces authenticity), instant, clean (positive and to the point), and private. “The teacher who sets a positive tone can influence the interactions of everyone in the school.” These teachers stand out, and we strive to be like them! I found the “private” strategy to be intriguing. This is something I will strive for next year. I praise most often publicly, but I like TW’s suggestion for doing this more discretely due to the circumstances of our unique students.
Sometimes “too much nice or good” is looked at in a negative light even among adult interactions. This can be draining and discouraging. Knowing from experiences and research that modeling appropriate behavior pays off in the long run and can create one special classroom and build meaningful relationships, makes it worth it if we are in it for the right reasons. “We can never have too much nice!” #raisethepraise ~Holly Engberg, 5th grade, LES
Chapter 10 Reflection: #getafilter #bethefilter Once again, TW hits the name on the head. “Our behavior sets the tone, and we must choose our filters carefully.” Sometimes we rationalize our comments and behaviors by stating that we MUST vent to our coworkers about the negatives that happen during our day. However, TW indirectly states that this does more harm than good. This does not have to be a regular part of our day in order for us to destress and work for the good of the TEAM. In fact, we can actually be making our colleague’s day worse by sharing/spreading our negativity. “We have choices about how to respond. It is up to us to determine what gets through our filters and what does not. Our response affects the school. By sparing others the unnecessary bad news, we can create a much more productive environment.” #wellstated #teachergoals
ReplyDeleteOur focus is contagious. It becomes our students’ and colleagues’ focus. We set the tone! “The best teachers continue to nurture and build respect all year long.” We can filter out our negative energy. Students sense this. If our attitude shows we are excited about our job, it is often reciprocated.
As teachers we are constantly being tested because the temptation to dive into the negative is always lurking. “Great teachers don’t add to the litany of complaints. Instead, they filter them out.” Sometimes…silence is golden!
We must remember that we have chosen this job. Because of this, we should choose to focus on its rewards and challenges in a positive way. Great teachers accept the challenges daily and work to solve them…#growthmindset
TW states that one of the best ways to alter perceptions is to provide other perceptions…effective teachers have a “quieting influence”.
TW sums this chapter up well…”we are very fortunate to work in education. Sometimes we just forget how blessed we are. By consistently filtering out the negatives that don’t matter and sharing a positive attitude, we can create a much more successful setting. #noexcuses ~Holly Engberg, 5th grade, LES
“Great teachers don’t add to the litany of complaints. Instead, they filter them out.” Sometimes…silence is golden!"- I LOVE this!! There will always be negative and positive attitudes in any profession. It is easy to have a negative attitude especially when you are having a "bad day". This is an excellent quote to have posted on your desk/computer for a daily reminder!
ReplyDeleteChapters 9 & 10-
ReplyDeleteI underlined how we treat people everyday of the year is important and praising those teachers doing things right makes them want to continue doing things right. It is easy to be hard on yourself when you constantly hear what you are doing wrong. I believe that the students feel the exact same way. I love that TW states that praise must be authentic, specific, immediate, clean and private. There is no comparison to someone dropping in just to say I see what you have been doing and I appreciate it. This is the power of always being humble and kind and seeking the positive and good in everyone. Praise is crucial!
Chapter 10- I really seemed to keep going back to being kind and staying positive. This sets the tone for the classroom. No matter what, we are there for the students. Our job is to support, influence, grow, and nurture each student. We can't very well do that if we are not happy and seeking the positive in everyone. Be the teacher you want your child to have and the teacher you want to be next door to. I also love how TW states that other people's perceptions sometimes can hinder our own. Even if we try super hard to filter out what that "person" said about that teacher or that student, it still effects our judgment. Now that one person's perception has trickled into many different ears and has become a rumor. We must be the filter and separate the negative from the positive. Each day I want to wake up with the same goal and leave knowing that I did everything I could to reach it. #praise #kindness #filterthenegative
I like how you pointed out- Be the teacher you want your child to have and the teacher you want to be next door to. SO TRUE
DeleteDefinitely a great reminder. I personally do not want to be a teacher that parents would cringe at if their child was in my room. We do need to strive to be the best that we would want for our own children and grandchildren.
DeleteChapter 9-As educators, we have to take a positive approach--ten days out of ten. Does anyone else have trouble with this on Fridays at 2pm? Generally, I am a very positive person, and I try to see the good in every child. Sometimes, that can be hard to do! I will remember that even though we may not like every child, we must act as if we do! On the topic of praise, one area that I need to improve is making praise private. Most of the time, my praise is public and geared towards improving behavior. Always, I strive to make my praise is authentic, specific, immediate and clean, but very rarely do I take students aside and praise privately. My goal this year is to make a conscious effort to praise every student at least once in a private setting. And remember--"We can never have too much nice."
ReplyDeleteChapter 10- It is true that on the first day of school, the students "hand us respect on a platter." It is our job to build that respect all year long. I always strive to make students excited about learning and give them something to look forward to the next time they see me. I like to give them a "preview" of their next lesson. We must also remember that our behavior sets the tone. Filtering out the negatives that don't matter and sharing a positive attitude can influence the whole school. What an awesome point of view!
So much of this book is making a lasting impression, but one of my favorites thus far is on page 59, "One Goal, Every Day". This encompasses all we try to do as teachers. "No matter what the lesson plan covers, great teachers want their students to be more excited about learning tomorrow than they are today." Our attitudes and how we treat students on a daily basis filters into this mindset.
ReplyDeleteThis book is making a lasting impression on me too! I liked the "One Goal, Every Day". We do decide what to bring into our classroom each day! We need filter out the negative.
DeleteIn Chapter 9, I love the reminder that when teachers choose to make a sarcastic or negative comment to a student that it may as well have been "carved in stone". It is true everyone can probably recall that one teacher and that moment when the negative or embarrassing comment that was made. It is never forgotten.
ReplyDeleteChapter 10 is a powerful reminder that we must be the filter and remember that our students look to us to set the tone in the classroom. As teachers we must learn to make a contagious compliment and not a contagious complaint on a daily basis. "When the teacher sneezes, the whole class catches a cold."
There is so much in Chapters 9 and 10. Being positive 10 days out of 10, The Power of Praise, Five strategies of praise, and the list goes on. Like Julie McDaniel said, I will definitely read these chapters again as we get closer to school starting.
ReplyDeleteI too loved the way he phrased the students handing us their respect on a platter on the first day of school. What an awesome responsibility we have to accept and cultivate this gift!
One thing that I thought of when I read the part about using our filter is a book that I read to students during classroom guidance. It talks about using our thinking bubble and our talking bubble and how sometimes the things that take place in our thinking bubble should not make it to our talking bubble. Such a simple concept, but can be difficult even for us as adults.
What a great reminder at the end of Chapter 10! We are so blessed to have the privilege to work as educators!
I LOVE the thinking and talking bubbles!! What is the name of the book?
DeleteAudra, I think she's talking about a book by Julia Cook called I Can't Believe you Said That. I've heard her read that one, and it's really a neat book that the students love!
DeleteThanks!
DeleteAudra, I will order the book for us. I love the idea.
DeleteGinger, leg me know if you do. What a great book to read to re-establish the community we spent time building at the beginning of the year.
DeleteChapter 9 - Like others have mentioned, the idea of praise being "private" is something I'd like to personally work on during the upcoming year. I love that our school wide Patriot Pennies program is an easy way for me to privately praise students while they are in the library! Having a brief conversation with a student who is displaying the elements of our school motto and then giving them a Patriot Penny would be easy to do and would accomplish that private element of praise TW talks about!
ReplyDeleteChapter 10 - The whole "respect is handed to us on a silver platter" idea...y'all!!! The.Ball.Is.In.Our.Court. We set the tone! All day, every day! Exciting, challenging and so scary at the same time! This chapter reminded me of something my dad said (and still says) to my brother and I for as long as I can remember...If it's meant to be, it's up to me!
It's such a great responsibility to do what we do, but we can support one another and be awesome at it...every single day!
Great quote from your dad! We set the tone!
DeleteI too like the Patriot Pennies. I like sneaking it to a student when I know and they know they deserve one. It makes that penny seem so important! (Which is another reason we should be specific with the praise/penny and not just throw them out like confetti.)
ReplyDeletePS: I think my favorite part about this post is that I inserted your voice and expressions while reading!
Who me, Krista?!? :) This chapter spoke to me, I won't lie! Your comment made me LOL!
DeleteThe story in Chapter 10 that Whittaker tells about his first year as a principal really caught my attention. He explained how the teachers told him how terrible the students were. "The worst group of kids we've ever had." As he walked around the building, he agreed. But, he really believed that it was his perception because of what he had been told by the teachers that altered the reality of the situation. I have said every year that I don't want to ask about my students before I meet them. I don't want to hear from their previous teachers about how they were in the past. Not at first. It sets the expectations prematurely. I may expect too much or not enough. Even though I don't "dig" as much as I did early on in my career, it is still so tempting to ask. Once again... going to try to avoid that this year. Going to try to start fresh.
ReplyDeleteChapter 9, "Great teachers create a positive atmosphere in their classrooms and schools. They treat every person with respect. In particular, they understand the power of praise." Again, TW brings it back to the variable, the teacher, to model their expectations for how people should be treated on a daily basis. As I read I also felt the the Five Strategies that help Praise work was powerful. "To be effective, praise must be authentic, specific, immediate, clean, and private." Great strategies to remember for this upcoming year!
ReplyDeleteChapter 10, FILTER! Respect and Remaining Positive will set the tone for my classroom. This needs to be modeled so students also can FILTER! It is up to us, 'ME', what gets through my filter! It is a nice reminder to FILTER comments and keep comments positive because I am very fortunate to work in education. Even on the tough days where life, student behavior, difficult parents, etc. all put weight on our shoulders and we seem to feel like we are crawling out of the school to make it home, we are blessed! Hopefully, we will all have much better days than this, however, on the hard ones, I am going to stay focused on my FILTER and share a POSITIVE attitude!! I always think about what kind of teacher that I want my boys to have and in return is what I strive to be for my students.
Chapter 9 and 10 both had so much... Ten Days out of Ten, The Power of Praise, Five Strategies, positive attitude... I could go on! I really liked this quote, "Great teachers consistently filter out the negatives that don't matter and share a positive attitude." I think a lot of the time we as teachers want to share what's been going on in our day and sometimes it can go down the negative route. I'm going to try to steer clear of this and be more on the positive end. Being positive and upbeat always makes for a better day!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree! We all have stressful situations and venting about ours to others doesn't take away our stress, but it can certainly add to theirs! Of course, we all need to let feelings out and not keep our worries bottled up, but that is much different that simply venting and complaining. I love how T.W. ends Chapter 10 by reminding us that, "We are very fortunate to work in education. Sometimes we just forget how blessed we are." I couldn't imagine doing anything else!
DeleteAgain, great advice, great strategies! My only "disagreement" is that, while I do agree we should stay positive as much as possible, I must admit I have had good results from the "worst class ever" phenomenon. I find that hearing gloom and doom from the teachers of the upcoming class helps mentally prepare me for difficulties that more often than not never surface! I've had this experience more than once, and it's always such a relief when the students turn out to be average kids as opposed to the little demons I had been dreading. Maybe it's just me, or maybe it's maturity on the part of the students, combined with a new environment and new expectations (since I never completely take the gloom and doom prophesies to heart), but it almost always seems to work out well as long as I start the year with a positive attitude and without preconceived notions. It's as if every year is a chance for a fresh start and when they come in ready to give us that respect, we must be ready to meet them not only with respect, but with kindness and an open mind.
ReplyDeleteSimilarly, with coworkers asking "How's your day?" - we all know there are times we can really benefit from a little vent session with a friend who understands, but, as Whitaker reminds us, the middle of the school day is not the time or the place. If you don't want to seem phony (like saying, "Great!" when your emotions are written all over your face) you could always give a laugh and reply, "How much time do you have?" as you keep walking. We can all identify with and understand having a bad day, but we also appreciate not being dragged down into the depressing details. On the flip side, I hope my coworkers know that I am there for them if they do need to talk after school or over coffee or a soda, as sometimes we need a friendly ear to help keep things in perspective and avoid becoming too negative.
In closing, I was glad to be able to add the 5 strategies for effective praise to my tool box. I have definitely been guilty of saying things like, "I love how you described the setting for your story, but then you didn't describe your main character." From now on I will separate those two comments and address them at different times so as not to diminish the praise. That and the praise in private section really made me revisit some of my methods. Great food for thought!
A got a couple of new wrinkles on my brain while reading chapters 9 and 10. First of all, I realized that my praises are not always clean and private. I have been guilty of praising students as a means to an end. I do it publicly because the goal is to use the praise of one student to motivate the others to do likewise. I also use it to reinforce the desired behavior in the student being praised. I'm determined to clean up praises next year and genuinely praise each student privately. My hope is to write down something positive about each student and make a point to praise each one at some point during the year. I remember once that a teacher praised me in front of my mother at an open house. She said that she wished she had a class full of "Aprils". I beamed, but was a little in shock. I never knew she felt that way! I wonder how many good students I have failed to tell how much I appreciate their consistent good behavior!
ReplyDeleteThe second new realization I came to is that I don't always have to tell everything that happens. I can filter and decide what to tell and how to tell it. I've never considered that my bad day can change someone's good day to a bad day. I plan to "spin" the circumstances of my day into something positive for the benefit of those around me!
Laurie Poppenheimer, LES
ReplyDeleteI liked how TW closed Chapter 9. "If everyone in a school is treated with respect and dignity, you may still have nothing special. However, if everyone in a school is not treated with respect and dignity, you will never have anything special. Of that I am sure." These statements are so true. They blend so appropriately with TW's other nuggets of advice. The school atmosphere must include respect and dignity. It is that environment that fosters good student behavior and generates positive parent feedback. In chapter 10, I loved the story about the kindergartener who asked his teacher "Where do you work?" Wouldn't it be great if my fifth graders think I come to school every day because I am having such a great experience? I know how I hate going into a store and the employees are chatting among themselves about how they didn't want to come to work and how they can't wait to get off. It makes me want to put down the merchandise and shop somewhere else. Our actions and conversation should make the students feel that they are the highlight of our day, that we come to school because we WANT to, not because we have to.
April I understand exactly what you are saying. I agree that it is in our students and our best interest to make students understand we are there for them. Teaching is a calling not merely a career. I want to be there with my students. I need to find a daily way to remind each of them how important THEY are , the highlight of my day.
ReplyDeleteChapter 10 the reminder of a filter made me smile. It is true we all slip at times but if we filter the negative and accentuate the positive our school, classrooms and students will experience success. Thanks TW for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteTW is exactly right at the beginning of Chapter 9. Sometimes it is easier to point out the negative or get caught up in "glass half empty" scenario. Often times I realize this on the drive home or while I'm walking down the aisles of Kroger. I'll ask myself "Did I say anything positive today?" Sometimes it takes moments like that for me to even realize it! I immediately alter my mindset and the results are amazing. Sometimes we need to press the reset button:) I also enjoyed the ideas he shared on the power of praise and more importantly the strategies that make praise work. I especially agree with the last strategy of praise being private. I teach 5th grade and often times praise embarrasses a student for one reason or another. I have found that praising a child quietly is much more effective and meaningful.
ReplyDeleteAhh...Chapter 10...the filter. I loved this chapter! First of all, Kayce, I agree with you. I want to get to know each new class on my own. Previous teachers are a wealth of knowledge for sure, but I also feel that all children should start with a clean slate.
Secondly, there is nothing worse than the second something comes out of your mouth and you immediately ask yourself "Did I just say that out loud?" At times, I have allowed my frustrations to get the better of me and things just tumbled out. Like social media, once it's out there-it's out there! I immediately regret it and remind myself that it is my responsibility to remain professional at all times with all people. My favorite line from this chapter...."When the teacher sneezes, the whole class catches a cold."
Great words Amy! I do the same thing many days after school. I also like the idea of praise being private. I think it means more to the student.
DeleteChapter 9, "Ten Days Out of Ten", taking the positive approach everyday. That really spoke to me. Sometimes this is hard, especially with those hard to deal with students. I've been guilty of not doing this always. That also goes hand in hand with what Chapter 10 talks about, "setting the tone for our classroom". If I have had a bad morning before my students arrive in my classroom I have to remember to put whatever issue I have aside in order to bring in a positive atmosphere for my students. The same goes for when a student comes into my room after having a bad morning. I can not let this student set the tone of my classroom for the day, I have to be the one to set the tone or even reset it. I totally agree this affects all my students. I love when Chapter 9 talks about praise being authentic, specific, immediate, clean and private. I'm going to really work on the immediate and private of praising myself, especially with those "hard to deal with students", when they do things that are worth giving praise. I also agree where it says know one gets tired of to much praise. If they deserve it, then give it! Focusing on the positive things within our school and classroom gives us more drive and energy to get through the less positive times. That is hard at times but it is true. I think about the reflections we write every week at our school. I think these have helped me go back and think of how I could have a better day or do something different in my classroom. It also has helped me think of the great things that have happened in my classroom! I'm really loving this book!!
ReplyDelete"Our behaviors are much more obvious than our beliefs." This is such a true statement and has given me much to think about. I would hope that my behavior would match, but I realize, this is not always true. I am consciously striving more to keep this in mind now. Our attitude and words DO matter. ALL THE TIME, sometimes even MORE so in those hard moments!
ReplyDeleteI agree that our attitude and words matter all the time!! The attitude that we have as the teacher has a ripple effect on our students. It is very difficult to have a positive attitude at all times, especially when it's a tough day. This is also something that I am going to keep in mind moving forward!
DeleteWow! So much to reflect on in chapter 9. I resolve to do better with treating everyone with respect everyday. And it is true that some students are hard to like, but they should be treated with the same genuine respect and care as the "lovable" students. I like the five strategies that help praise work. I have never heard about "clean" and it was very interesting. After reading chapter 10, I resolve to speak more positively. I am so guilty!
ReplyDeleteJean-- You are such a positive teacher and a great role model for your students. I too plan to work on being more positive and understanding the power of praise in my classroom.
Deletechapters 9 & 10 speak volumes and many have already been echoed in previous comments.
ReplyDeleteChapter 9:
1. Great teachers create a positve atmosphere in their classrooms & schools.
2.Great teachers treat everyone with respect, every day.
3. Great teachers understand the power of praise.
4. The power of praise is so important. Our school uses Patriot Pennies and I have loved this concept. In order for praise to be effective, praise must be authentic, specific, immediate, clean, and private. I loved TW's explanations for each key for praise to be effective. I want to focus on praising privately. I loved the statement that TW writes,"Raise the Praise!"
5.The teacher who sets a positive tone can influence the interactions of everyone in the school. WE NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH NICE.
Chapter 10
1. Great teachers consistently filter out the negatives that don't matter and share a positive attitude.
2. We are ver blessed to work in education. Sometimes we just forget how blessed we are. By consistently filtering out the negatives that don't matter and sharing a positive attitude, we can create a much more successful setting. Consciously or unconsciously, we decide the tone of our classrooms and of our school.
chapters 9 & 10 speak volumes and many have already been echoed in previous comments.
ReplyDeleteChapter 9:
1. Great teachers create a positve atmosphere in their classrooms & schools.
2.Great teachers treat everyone with respect, every day.
3. Great teachers understand the power of praise.
4. The power of praise is so important. Our school uses Patriot Pennies and I have loved this concept. In order for praise to be effective, praise must be authentic, specific, immediate, clean, and private. I loved TW's explanations for each key for praise to be effective. I want to focus on praising privately. I loved the statement that TW writes,"Raise the Praise!"
5.The teacher who sets a positive tone can influence the interactions of everyone in the school. WE NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH NICE.
Chapter 10
1. Great teachers consistently filter out the negatives that don't matter and share a positive attitude.
2. We are ver blessed to work in education. Sometimes we just forget how blessed we are. By consistently filtering out the negatives that don't matter and sharing a positive attitude, we can create a much more successful setting. Consciously or unconsciously, we decide the tone of our classrooms and of our school.
One statement in Chp. 9 really sums it all up -- "If we do not set this positive tone, who will?" TW keep pounding this point. We are the variable; it is up to us!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love the 5 strategies for praise. We have all seen a student's face light up when given praise. It works and it's not difficult to do. I need to be more cognitive about it!
My filter has never been my strongest point... definitely a place that I need work. We have that split second decision to make - negative or positive. After reading Chp 10, I hope TW's words come to mind and help me make the positive choice! "By consistently filtering out the negatives that don't matter and sharing a positive attitude, we can create a much more successful setting. Consciously or unconsciously, we decide the tone of our classrooms and of our school."
I'm with ya on the filter issue... I loved the examples TW gave of the different scenarios and how the teachers responded to the next person they encountered. I am not going lie, I am definitely one to let you know that so and so is getting on my last nerve :| After reading this book, I am definitely going to try to better filter what comes out of my mouth, and make it positive more than negative! :)
DeleteCh.9 Ten Days Out of Ten
ReplyDeleteI also loved the 5 strategies of praise. It is typed and ready to hang in a spot where it will be read and used daily! It is true that the behavior we acknowledge often becomes the behavior that will continue. Why? It is because this is where our focus is,and if our focus is only on the negative then typically it drowns out all the positive,especially where our students work is concerned.
In teaching writing this past year I must admit early on I must admit that my perspective was that it was going to be a rough ride.For a time it was,but I decided to dig in to find the positives in my students work. In doing so I noticed that there began to be a lot more positive characteristics I was able to notice within their writing. I also noticed it was having the trickle effect. I know the book stated that praise should be private,but I found that praise in regards to this particular area yielded positive effects for more than just the students that were being praised. I also found that the students were able to relate to one another's work in writing much better than my created examples of hooks, transitions etc...
Chapter 10
TW states ,"It is always up to us to determine what gets through our filter and what does not." Let's just say this section was underlined in my book and noted with a side note written that says,"WORK IN PROGRESS!" DUALLY NOTED,and enough said in regards to that statement. I am lookin for that moment to be able to say "Nailed it!" concerning this statement from the book.
One other thing I will walk away with from chapter ten is that as educators our perceptions can become reality. It is what it is in the eye of the beholder,but even if perspective is not so great at times TW ends the chapter with some great advice that will help to shift our perspective in the right direction,"By consistently filtering out the negatives that DO NOT matter and SHARING a positive attitude,we can create a much more successful setting."
Chapter 9 gave me new perspective on praise. I had never really thought about praise being a private thing other than for scores. It does make me think of how powerful praise has been in my life when someone has taken the time to pull me to the side and tell me I'm doing a good job.
ReplyDeleteI do know that I need to praise a lot more than I do.
The statement that stuck with me was that "their (students') moods have much more to do with the way they feel about themselves than it does with how they regard us." We need to help them change the way they see themselves.
Chapter 10 speaks to most of us. How often do we stop to "vent" and give energy to the negative parts of our days instead of embracing the positive. When I step back and look at my job, I really love it. I love the kids and the teachers.
The recurring theme of this book is that teaching should be done deliberately and with thought. We should think before we react. We should dwell on the positive, and whenever we possibly can we should speak words that are positive.
Ch.9 Ten Days Out of Ten
ReplyDeleteI also loved the 5 strategies of praise. It is typed and ready to hang in a spot where it will be read and used daily! It is true that the behavior we acknowledge often becomes the behavior that will continue. Why? It is because this is where our focus is,and if our focus is only on the negative then typically it drowns out all the positive,especially where our students work is concerned.
In teaching writing this past year I must admit early on I must admit that my perspective was that it was going to be a rough ride.For a time it was,but I decided to dig in to find the positives in my students work. In doing so I noticed that there began to be a lot more positive characteristics I was able to notice within their writing. I also noticed it was having the trickle effect. I know the book stated that praise should be private,but I found that praise in regards to this particular area yielded positive effects for more than just the students that were being praised. I also found that the students were able to relate to one another's work in writing much better than my created examples of hooks, transitions etc...
Chapter 10
TW states ,"It is always up to us to determine what gets through our filter and what does not." Let's just say this section was underlined in my book and noted with a side note written that says,"WORK IN PROGRESS!" DUALLY NOTED,and enough said in regards to that statement. I am lookin for that moment to be able to say "Nailed it!" concerning this statement from the book.
One other thing I will walk away with from chapter ten is that as educators our perceptions can become reality. It is what it is in the eye of the beholder,but even if perspective is not so great at times TW ends the chapter with some great advice that will help to shift our perspective in the right direction,"By consistently filtering out the negatives that DO NOT matter and SHARING a positive attitude,we can create a much more successful setting."
Good idea about typing it and putting a copy near by. I think I will do that too!
ReplyDeleteI love the five strategies that help praise work! The strategy that really stuck with me the most is that praise must be private. I have never thought about praising a student in private being more effective than praising a student in front of others, but I completely agree after reading Todd Whitaker's explanation. I always try to make it a point to praise as often as possible, but I am anxious to try more of "private praise" with my students and see the difference that it makes.
ReplyDeletePraising in private stood out to me also. I have always done a little bit of both with my students, and I have found in my experience that praising in private is more effective. It is more meaningful to students when you look them in the eye and give them praise one-on-one.
DeleteChapter 9: If we all practiced the "ten days out of ten", our school as a whole would be a positive environment. It is important to treat everyone, including our students, with respect every day. That is definitely much easier said than done, but it is something that we should all strive for. I liked the five strategies that help praise work and I agree with each one. I also agree with Whitaker that we can never have too much nice. I believe that the most important part of our job is to establish great relationships with our students and parents.
ReplyDelete