1. High Expectations. Expectations were different for each student, because each student was different, but I expected much. When they knew I knew they could succeed, they'd rise to the occasion. At the beginning of each year we spent a significant amount of time going over the overall expectations of the class. In order to build a classroom community of learners they must be willing to work hard, be kind, work together, and be respectful. I gave examples from short stories, real-life stories, YouTube video's, children's books, music &etc. to motivate them and help them understand that with these expectations they'd get far in life and in the classroom.
2. Bullying Training. The first two weeks of the year were spent learning the effects of bullying on a victim, how to help a victim, how to prevent bullying, and how to recognize the different types. Taking a stand against bullying and being an advocate for the student who is/was a victim was incredibly helpful in building a classroom community of trust, kindness and respect. I encourage you to check out my unit on bullying, which was wildly effective.
3. Think-alouds. I do not care the grade, the class, or the subject think-alouds are vital for classroom success. Students need to see how you think as you read a math problem, history timeline, novel, poem, science text book, &etc. If you have a thought pop up in your brain as you read, stop and tell them about it. When you make connections, visualizations, think through a problematic text, use context clues, use what you already know to help you understand the text, pick out the important details, or process new information students are able to apply that to their own reading of the text. Think-alouds help students monitor their reading and it is proven to give comprehension success. (In my unit on the Elements of Plot, I give a full think-aloud to the short story The Lady or the Tiger? helping students to pick out the important details.)
4. Journaling. Did you know that writing is as helpful to remembrance as reading a text ten times? Want a student to remember a math equation, a piece of history, facts of science, an important detail of a story? Have them write about it.
5. Make Connections. If students can relate, they are hooked. It's how I start every.single.unit.
6. Manipulatives. Incorporate kinesthetic learning along with visual and audio and you'll have classroom success. In my Elements of Plot unit, for example, I include the pieces of the witches hat, that students must put in order and then pieces of a story to put in the corresponding places. I make graphic organizers a hands-on experience so students are engaged and play with what they see and what I'm telling them.
7. Self-Evaluation. I constantly ask myself, "What worked?" and "What didn't?" I made changes based on the answers to those questions at the end of every day, unit, and school year. I consider myself a life-long learner and if no changes needed to be made or something added/taken away; I felt I no longer cared or I stopped learning. I considered that unacceptable.
8. Be enthusiastic. Even when you don't feel like it. Enthusiasm played a huge roll in the attitude of the classroom. I found it extremely difficult to not let nay-sayers to squash my enthusiasm, but don't let them! The attitude of my classroom was a direct result of mine.
9. Be inspired. Get inspiration from other teachers through conferences, teacher friends who know all to well what you're going through, Pinterest, etc. etc. Ideas are everywhere! Fill your brain with them! Inspiration leads to motivation. An inspired, motivated teacher is drives student success!
10. Be consistent. Do not waver in your expectations, your discipline, or anything else.
I am super interested in hearing about your key's to classroom success! Please share!
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