Wouldn’t it be nice if someone could pull up beside you and take part of your work load from you? One of my favorite commercials a couple of years ago was from a lending company. A guy bemoans how much in debt he is, and with a fixed smile on his face, he says, “Somebody, please help me!” For example, I have to:
–>produce a web site for my Master’s program
–>help design a lesson plan for a teacher tomorrow for Kidspiration 3, and the program got wiped off my hard drive
–>figure out how to fix the broken pipe in the garage
–>write two papers for another graduate class
–>read a textbook that causes me to nod off after four pages (honestly!)
–>and so the whining goes…
I just CAN’T get motivated. Think what our students go through! This must be why their eyes glaze over when they hear SOL test for the millionth time. Putting ourselves in their shoes, I wonder what we could do to motivate? If someone right now leaned over me with their eyes furrowed and said, “Quit daydreaming and get to work NOW!” it wouldn’t make any difference. Where’s the motivation?
How can we help our students when they’re in this plight? Some ideas:
a) Take some time to explore your DiscoveryEduation possibilities. Check out the writing prompts, for example, that they can type on line and send to you. You can also design tests of your own that they can take online.
b) Put away the textbook. Have them break into groups and make PowerPoints and teach the class a concept for test review.
c) Instead of a boring book report, why not have them film a snippet like Reading Rainbow?
d) If you have a Promethean Board, step aside and let them come up to it to write.
e) LAUGH with them. Ask yourself this: would you like to be sitting in your room listening to yourself? When I was a classroom teacher and was even boring MYSELF, I knew it was time to switch gears. My students said they felt like they finally had a teacher who UNDERSTOOD them (and my test scores were good by the way).
f) Don’t show the WHOLE clip of a UnitedStreaming video. After 15″ the students are numb.
g) Do a Voicethread activity
h) Make a PhotoStory project
i) Start a blog (plan way ahead though). Here’s an example of some: one two three
j) On Monday morning, take the first 5″ to see how your students’ weekend was.
k) Is there a place you can take your students outside for class? The year I took mine out for SOL test review, my test scores rocketed through the clouds.
l) Do you teach Social Studies? Look at the foldables and activities on Lisa’s blog. IT’S ALL DONE FOR YOU!!!!
m) INVITE A SPECIALIST INTO YOUR CLASSROOM!!!! INVOLVE YOUR SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER IF YOU TEACH INCLUSION! INVOLVE YOUR PARAPROFESSIONAL INTO THE LESSON!!! Three specialists the other day were shaking their heads over this issue. I hate to be blunt, but honesty is needed!
n) You’d be amazed how willing the principal is to come in and help with your lesson and give great (non evaluation) feedback!
o) Explore ideas on this blog for resources. Look at the vertical pane on the right under tags, months, and Blog Roll.
p) Although I haven’t started one, many enjoy starting a class Wiki.
Feel free to add to the list!
