As we begin the second week of school, I allege there will still be a few more days of the "honeymoon" period that we have with our students. But very soon, a few students will test the boundaries we have set. They will question the procedures we have taught and see if we really mean it. The manner in which we handle these tests is so critical to the success of the entire school year.
Proverbs 21:11 says "When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge."
This verse talks about the three groups of people, or students in our case, — the wise, the simple, and the mocker - all of which may be in our classrooms. We hope and pray that our rooms are filled with the wise students who listen to instruction and learn from it. Wise students are open to learning from others. The wise student has an heart for learning and sees its benefits.
Simple students are not confident in themselves; they are still trying on different persona to determine who they want to be. They can be easily influenced by the popular, the funny, or the confident. They decide how they will behave when they see our response to misbehavior. If we are consistent in enforcing procedures and expectations, the simple will join the wise in learning. Practice Do It Again* and 100 Percent*!
If you give in, allow yourself to get tired and look the other way, the students who rebel against your expectations will interrupt teaching and learning. The students who are sitting on the fence will join in the bad behavior. Fortify yourself with prayer each morning to have the strength to be consistent with boundaries. As we remain consistent in our high expectations, more and more students will become wise. The fence-sitters' response to authority depends upon the actions of the teacher. They will either follow the learners or follow the mockers when they decide which side wins.
The students who test us must receive firm and quick correction. But, I challenge you to correct with finesse. Use positive framing* and What To Do* as you work toward 100 Percent*. Do not overlook little challenges—rolling eyes, smirks, put downs, innuendoes, partial obedience, and challenging questions regarding your ability as a teacher. Ignoring the rebel or mocker is like feeding a cancer and allowing it to grow.
Reward those who join in creating a positive learning environment. As we reward the "right" choices, we encourage correct behavior. When we reward those who make good choice with appreciation and privileges, the fence-sitters learn the value of learning and cooperation. When we consistently deal with the rebel by giving him/her their earned consequences; the simple will decide that the ways of the rebel are not worth it.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray for each of us to be strong and firm in our desire to create a positive learning environment in which no student or group of students steal from another the opportunity to learn. Give us the courage to say what we mean and mean what we say. Help us to be specific in our expectations and direct teaching of procedures and expectations. Open our eyes and nudge us to reward the students who follow directions and participate in class. Help us to lovingly discipline the students who misbehave, so that those who are unsure learn wisdom and the mockers learn to make wise choices. Help us to hold one another up and strengthen our resolve to provide an environment where all can learn.
I also pray for the students who are not yet wise. I pray for them to soften their hearts to correction. Help them to see the value in education. Help them to overcome personal circumstances and experiences and come to the point where they see us as partners and people who love them enough to hold them accountable to becoming the best they can be.
In Jesus name I pray - Amen.
Adapted and personalized from content found on http://www.teacherdevotion.com/Devotion_Archives.html.
*Strategies to taken from Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lemov.
No comments:
Post a Comment