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Creating the End of the Year
Honeymoon
This time of year most teachers can tell you how many days and hours remain before summer
vacation. If you are not aware of how many days or hours remain, just ask your kids; they're counting, too. In winding down the
academics, there's a tendency to loosen behavioral expectancies. Even if that isn't part of the design, your students are more apt to test the
limits when they smell summer. It's similar to a horse heading back to the stable. Their pace quickens.
The true pay-off for MYD is when students demonstrate the greatest levels of self-control.
The last few weeks of school will demonstrate how far many might have come. The obvious measure that one can take to ensure that students
maintain high levels of classroom decorum is to re-establish expectations as though one were introducing a new lesson.
The new lesson for the final weeks of school will require greater levels of student buy-in and
greater focus by the teacher. The greatest challenge for teachers is to maintain the continuity and atmosphere that was created in a more
focused academic setting. Some of the teachers are as anxious to "get back to the stable" as the horses.
It is most effective to establish a slower pace and calmer demeanor in our last few weeks of
instruction. Our students will mirror our disposition. Many of our students are anxious because they don't want to leave school for the
summer. Some of those students don't know how to verbalize that emotion. Some will act out. Our gift to those students is to
reassure them that we are confident in their abilities and talents, while letting them know we will always be grateful for having them in our
class. If we thank our students on their way out at the end of the year, they never forget us.
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Cheryl's Two Cents
Self-Esteem vs.
Self-Control
I read an article in the March issue of Better Homes and Gardens written by Jack Croft, because the title caught my eye, "Making Good
Adults." The article quoted Professor Roy F. Baumeister, Florida State University, who originally became enamored with the idea that improved
self-esteem would positively impact a person's life. In reading several of his articles, I found that he has changed his mind based on years of
research. The following quote from his article, "Should Schools Try to Boost Self Esteem: Beware the Dark Side," will give you something to think about for the summer.
"In the long run, self-control will do far more for the individuals and or society as a whole than will self-esteem. Moreover,
self-control gives people the ability to change and improve themselves, and so it can bring about changes in substantive reality, not just in
perception. And if one can make oneself into a better person, self-esteem is likely to increase too. Raising self-control may thus end up
boosting self-esteem-but not in the dangerous or superficial ways that flourish now.
My final message to all
the people working in today's schools and seeking to help the next generation get a good start is, therefore, as follows: Forget about
self-esteem, and concentrate on self-control."
This article
generated a lively discussion between Earl and me. Have fun!
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Brainstorm:
Sharing Ideas |
PERLE (pearl)
Developed by a group at the Regional Training in Everett, WA
to help students (and teachers) remember the components of a Consequence.
PS - If members of that group read this, please email
your names so we can give credit where credit is due.
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What
About
This
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Student Questions
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MYD from a Student POV
Question: Can I raise my
hand when I'm on steps?
Answer: You can raise
your hand at any time on steps. If it is an emergency, the teacher will help you out. If it's not an emergency, you are simply asking for
permission to go to the next step.
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SAVE THE DATE
Make Your Day Conference
Wenatchee, Washington
October 9 and 10
On-Line Registration Now Open |
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