Jim Butts - Effective Discipline

Jim Butts - Effective Discipline

Part 1 How to Hide Your Buttons

I know from personal experience with my two children how important it is to hide your buttons. I was also a Girl Scout assistant troop leader for almost seven years which gave me added experience with children who are not my own. I am sure that some or even many teachers have a problem with this issue when they begin their teaching career. The best advice I can offer is to never raise your voice (whoever loses control first has lost the battle ~ this also works in marriage). Once the student knows they can get your goat, you’re done!

 

Part 2 How to be Consistent with Discipline

 

The same goes when it comes to discipline. Once you set a consequence for breaking one of the ‘few’ rules you have in place, it is imperative that you follow through. You can’t always be the nice guy/gal. Keep it professional and not personal. Assure the student that you are not mad at them, they just need to learn to follow the rules.

 

Part 3 How to Relieve Stress with Psychology

 

As hard as it may be at times and even some entire days; you must always be the ‘cool cucumber’ in the classroom. Stay upbeat and praise the students for a job well-done at least three times more than you do for poor choices. I feel that the students will respond better to a reprimand and learn from the experience in a positive way when they are used to getting positive comments most of the time. Catch them being good and offer praise to set an example for them all.

 

Part 4 How to Become Better, Not Bitter

 

If you find yourself thinking and feeling like the examples in the book; get better or get out! You have to understand that your career is unique in that your bitter attitude doesn’t only affect colleagues; you are influencing hundreds, if not thousands of young minds. It is your responsibility to be the best you can bee for the sake of the children who are our future.

 

Part 5 How to Give Students What They Want and Need

 

The interview results from the 12th graders mentioned in the book does not surprise me at all. I graduated high school 31 years ago and I would have written a lot of the same things. After reading this section, I have decided that I will have the My Promises to
You, My Students on page 105 posted on my wall. Enough said.

 

Part 6 How to be Self-Disciplined

 

If you cannot master this, you might as well find another job. To manage a classroom full of students and be effective at your job; self-discipline is an absolute must.

 

Part 7 How to Find the Good in Every Child

 

We must remember that no one is perfect. We all have faults and some have more issues contributing to those faults and we need to find ways to circumvent the bad while locating the good. When you can do this and make a student feel better about who they are, they will be more likely to perform at their best for you.

Enjoy the last of your placement and relish in the wonderful things before us in our own classrooms!

The Secret of Professionalism- Kaytlin Roser

All of the parts in The Secret of Professionalism chapter in Seven Simple Secrets all seemed like common sense to me, but it is harder than it seems/looks to stay positive and professional in the school setting. I have observed both professional and inspirational teachers, and I have observed just plain sleezy (for the lack of a better term) and discouraging teachers. It all comes down to the attitude and passion of the educator. If there is no passion and love for children then your attitude is just going to be negative and students can see it when a teacher loathes his or her job. I will just go through each of the parts of this chapter and comment on what I have experienced personally as well as my opinions.

Part 1- How and Why to Dress Porfessionally:

I completely agree with this section, if you want your students to take you seriously and look up to you as a professionally then you must look the part. Although, I don't think it is necessary to get all dressed up and wear expesive clothing, but your student should be able to disstinguish you from their classmates. I have witnessed plenty of teachers who havent exactly made the best wardrobe choices, and it really affected how their students viewed them.

Part 2- How to 'fit in' without 'falling in'

I thought this was an interesting topic to discuss about professionalism. I am very much an observor and I like to take things in and get a feel for them and do more listening than chatting, and this also true in the teacher's lounge. I cannot believe some of the poor attitudes and disrespect some teachers have for one another. But I have to say I have never met such a positive and collaborative team of teachers than I have in this 2nd placement of student teaching. They all seem to think of the students first and there is very little negativity and gossip. They all seem to naturally fit in without falling in. Everyone is just themselves and I love that.

Part-3 How to maintain control of your actions

I have witnessed some teachers with very short fuses and it just made me feel sorry for them that they could lose their cool and become so angry. I have also seen teachers who I wondered how in the world they kept such a straight face and never just lost it on their students. You truly do have to bring out your acting skills sometimes with students because once they see they can get to you it may be all down hill from there.

Part 4- How and why to continue your professional growth

I have always been told to never stop learning. I believe this should be the case for every human being. It is impossible to just know everything and reach your limit so you should always strive to learn more and improve yourself and this especially true in the teaching profession.

Part 5-How to bleed professionalism without cutting yourself

This is tough thing when you are frustrated and stressed out. It is very tempting to vent with your coworkers and badmouth others, but in the teaching profession this can be very risky and detrimental to others especially if you are talking negatively about your students. I believe you should always see the good in your students and never talk badly about them no matter how hard it might be. They are children!

Part 6- How to do your best, not be the best

This is something I personall have struggled with. I can get pretty competetive and try to be the best of everyone else but this can be very exhausting and unsuccessful for you since it impossible to be perfect. I have learned that I need to just be my personal best and not always compare myself to others, especially in teaching.

Part 7- How to make decisions that benefit children

The whole time I was reading this section I had two school district in mind (I will remain anonymous). It is so uncanny, but schools can be almost exactly the same except one successful and one not due just to the attitude and professionalism of its faculty. I am glad I am student teaching in one of the best school districts in this area. :)

The Secret of Professionalism-Samantha Self

During my field experiences, there were many situations where I felt I was in an unprofessional environment, and it made me very uncomfortable. I was always looking for reasons to eat by myself or not be in the room when other teachers came to visit because I did not want to be the field student who gossiped with the teachers. During student teaching, it has become a completely different world. I have had two exemplary cooperating teachers when it comes to professionalism, and I feel as though they have helped me grow in my professionalism. They deal sternly with students who misbehave but never raise their voices. In a very difficult urban placement, students were talking when they should have been working. I walked around the room of 41 students and pointed out the students who were working nicely and asked the other students to please continue working. I had one student ask me why I did not yell at him. It definitely threw me off because there was no reason to yell at any of them. I asked him why I would need to yell at him, and he told me, "Because everyone else does." That comment has stuck with me for quite sometime, and it really made me believe that I can be successful and professional in an environment completely different than what I know.

One section that really stuck with me was Part 2. Every school has the teachers who "fall in" to the gossip and negativity. I have been very lucky in my two student teacher placements that my cooperating teachers definitely "fit in" but do not "fall in." After the lectures at practicum, I expected to hear gossip and negative comments about students at lunch, but there has not been any. Teachers discuss how excited they are about a lesson or what they did with their families over the weekend. I am really thankful that I have not had to deal with the awkward situation of excusing yourself from lunch. I really liked the quote at the end of the section about naturally fitting in with the right teachers. If you are a positive and professional teacher, you will fit in with the positive and professional teachers.

 I had a hard time with Part 7 and what the text said about the less effective schools. Yes, the less effective schools relied solely on textbooks, stayed on a strict schedule, and multiple choice tests, but that may not be completely the teachers' faults. During field, I was allowed to do pretty much whatever I wanted as long as it met the same objectives as the curriculum. During student teaching, however, I do not have that same luxury. The teachers are told to follow the curriculum and stay with the schedule. As the text says, that may not be the most effective way to teach, but that is what the teachers are told to do. Every once in awhile they may stray from the text but not very often, and honestly, if that was my reality everyday, I'm not sure I would love my job either. I did not go into teaching to read a textbook to students, and I would hate to do that everyday. Yes, it is upsetting that the focus isn't on the students, but I'm not sure all of the blame can be on the teachers. I'm sure there are some ways to make the textbook lessons more exciting, but having no say in how to deliver the material would burn me out very quickly.

The Secret of Professionalism- Kamie Crum

Through my student teaching experiences, I feel like I have demonstrated professionalism in and out of the classroom.  My last co-op would always say that we are the only "parents" these students have.  That really sticks with me and makes me think that like chapter five talked about how there are hundreds of role-model-seeking students and we could be their role models.  If we are their only "role models"  like in my past school, then I want to set a good example and make decisions that are best for my students.
One point that will help me improve my professionalism as an educator is to not get involved in the "lunchroom" talk.  Through my experiences I have heard a variety of topics in the lunch room and teachers talk about students.  I think that students lives should be private  unless other paraprofessionals are involved in the matter and like I said in the previous paragraph, you are their role models and you need to make sure that you have that trust with your students or you could lose all control of them or your classroom.
Another point that will help me improve my professionalism as an educator is to not take student behavior personally.  In my new placement there is a variety of behavior problems that go on daily.  A lot of the students cannot control their behavior and if they know that it bothers you then once again you have lost all control.  Like the book said, you need to smile through the pain and not lose control of your own emotions.  Also, the book said you should hold everything in and take it out on your spouse when you get home, this statement made me laugh because sometimes I feel like I do just this.  I hold all my anger in and take it out on my boyfriend because a lot of students just hear negativity and I as an educator I promised myself that I will not bring that into my classroom.  I want a positive and warm environment where students can feel safe.
After reading this chapter on professionalism I now have a different viewpoint on professionalism in and out of school.  When I heard professionalism I use to only think about how you should dress and how you should handle behavior but it is more than that.  Being a teacher there is a lot of responsibility and I as a future educator I need to grasp control and never stop growing professionally.
"If you make decisions based on children you teach, mountains they will climb for you; stars they will reach!"- Every student is capable of reaching the stars, it just takes that extra ordinary person to help them realize that and I hope I can be that person.

The Secret of Professionalism- Kate Martin

This chapter is very important for prospective teachers, and I have seen current faculty members having difficulty dealing with professionalism. It seems like every day in lunch and during team planning time, there is a complaint of some sort against a student. I find those conversations extremely awkward, and stay quiet throughout the whole conversation. A lot of the time, my cooperating teacher starts these discussions or encourages other teachers to talk badly about their students. I feel like the conversations are very inappropriate and unprofessional, but I often feel stuck in those situations without a way out. If I were a faculty member there, I’d be able to get up and leave, but I feel weird doing this since my cooperating teacher has the keys to her room and seems to be enjoying the conversations.

I have seen several instances of inappropriate behavior of teachers around their students. While doing an observation this week, I saw a teacher make a student cry twice over math problems as she scolded her for not remembering her math facts. I really felt terrible for the student, and couldn’t believe the teacher pushed her to tears more than once in the 40 minute class. I’ve also heard some really negative things said to the students in a joking manner, that I didn’t think were very appropriate. Some teachers really want their students to like them, but this often comes at the expense of keeping that professionalism. Some things that were said could be seen as hurtful and put students down in front of their peers. While you may look professional to your students, you may not have their respect for that professionalism if you behave like you are at their level.

I think I have been doing a very good job with my own professionalism during student teaching. I feel like it is very easy to look professionally, but it can be harder to act professionally. I feel like I’m getting better at hiding my emotions and frustrations while teaching and I’m very aware of my interactions with students. Last week after a long week of PSSA testing, I taught one of my first actual lessons to my math class (with a substitute teacher in for my cooperating teacher). My first period class was very unmotivated, tried to get me off track with my instruction at every possible moment, and were constantly off task. I was really frustrated with them, but instead of raising my voice or getting angry, I just stood quietly at the front of the room and waited for them to be quiet. I didn’t take it personally, because I knew they had a long week and it was almost the weekend. I had one student ask me “Why are you so frustrated with us today?” I was really surprised that she asked that, because I felt like I was completely in control of myself. I simply said I wasn’t frustrated, that I knew they had a long week and I was just trying to do the best I could to teach them, but it was difficult with all of the interruptions. 

Jenny Yurky- The Secret of Professionalism

I believe that I have demonstrated a high level of professionalism throughout my student teaching experience.  I can definitely relate to several of the topics mentioned throughout the chapter. 

One particular occurrence relates closely to some of the different points.  One day in my math class we were doing station activities so my students could practice the new concept.  I had one group that I was constantly asking to get to work and had stopped to help to several times, but as soon as I walked away to help another group they were, again, off task.  My professionalism was truly tested when, after being asked to work on the problems yet again, a student wrote “I hate mis. Yerky” on his marker board.  When I returned to see this, I simply said “please erase that, and you know I have to write you up for that.”  I think I did a good job at remaining in control; he seemed shocked that I asked him so nicely to erase it.  Then the hard part was to not take the behavior personally.  I didn’t show any emotion in class and after some thought realized that this student really doesn’t hate me, he was just frustrated at the time.  Even though it was difficult, I went in the next and acted as though nothing happened, and this student and I have a good relationship.  After thinking about this some more, I wish that I would have reacted by saying, “oh, you spelled my name wrong.” And then asking him to erase it.  I think he really would have been shocked then!

Another point made in this chapter that I can really relate to is keeping students the main focus.  I always try to make sure I am focusing on what is best for my students throughout every part of the day.  I work hard to make sure that my plans reflect that and that my activities are meaningful to the students.

Aricka Ladebu - Secret of Professionalism

The Secret of Professionalism

Part I speaks to the subject of dressing professionally.  There certainly has been no lack of addressing this topic within our education department at EUP.  I have been working in professional situations for years, so this area was a no-brainer for me.  I completely agree with the author that in order for people to respect you, including your students, you must dress in a professional manner.  I have noticed that people look at me differently when I’m simply out at the store if I am dressed in professional clothing versus jeans and a t-shirt.  My teacher-hero, Ron Clark, from the Ron Clark Academy in Georgia, has said that his students would always act differently (rowdier) on days when he had a reason to dress down (field trip, etc.).  By the same token, he would notice improvement in their behavior when he would dress his best.  I recall a proverb I learned while taking Latin in high school, “vestis facit virum,” “the clothes make the man.” 

Another point that spoke to me in this section is the one about “fitting in without falling in.”  No matter what age we are, we all desire to fit in and be accepted into the group.  Throughout the past couple of years, when visiting other schools for observations, I have been very surprised to hear teachers making negative comments about other staff members – to me, a stranger.  It doesn’t make that person –the speaker- look good at all.  I’ve also had opportunities to join in on negative commentary at my student teaching location.  I’ve chosen to only smile and attempt to change the subject.  Most of what’s been said I have agreed with, but I didn’t let that person know it.  I wouldn’t want to be the one who’s being talked about, so I choose to not talk about others in a negative way. 

So many quotes from this book remind me of excellent parenting practices.  “Because everything I do and say influences who they will be” has been one of my mottos in parenting (pg. 88).  I must control the way I act and what I say because the kids are watching.  Everything I do and say makes an indelible impression upon their minds and contributes to their formation as individual contributors to society.  I have always exercised self-control as a parent because I love my kids enough to want them to turn out well.  I exercise control of myself as a teacher, because I want my students to turn out well.