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February 2009
Vol 6 No 2
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Teachers.Net Gazette Vol.6 No.2 February 2009

Cover Story by Alfie Kohn
Why Self-Discipline Is Overrated: The (Troubling) Theory and Practice of Control from Within
To inquire into what underlies the idea of self-discipline is to uncover serious misconceptions about motivation and personality, controversial assumptions about human nature, and disturbing implications regarding how things are arranged in a classroom or a society.


Harry & Rosemary Wong: Effective Teaching
To Be an Effective Teacher
Simply Copy and Paste

Columns
»Do You Have a Student Teacher?Hal Portner
»Test-taking Skills Made EasySue Gruber
»Teaching Children Refusal SkillsLeah Davies
»How to Be ConsistentMarvin Marshall
»The Busy Educator's Monthly FiveMarjan Glavac
»Dear Barbara - Advice for SubsBarbara Pressman
»What Side of the Box are YOU On?Kioni Carter
»Global Travel GuruJosette Bonafino

Articles
»Teacher Study Groups: Taking the “Risk” out of “At-Risk”Bill Page
»Can Anyone Learn to Draw?Tim Newlin
»The Heart of Mathematical ThinkingLaura Candler
»Finding Free Art Materials in Your CommunityMarilyn J. Brackney
»The Downside of Good Test ScoresAlan Haskvitz
»February 2009 Writing PromptsJames Wayne
»In The Middle School (poem)James Wayne
»Using Photographs To Inspire Writing IVHank Kellner
»Teacher Performance AssessmentPanamalai R. Guruprasad
»How To Help Victims Of Bullying: Advice For Parents & EducatorsKathy Noll
»Unwilling Student Meets Unwavering Teacher Lauren Romano
»Notes from The JungleJohn Price
»Lead the Class - Teachers as Leaders John Sweeting
»Opposing Views of a Post-Racial SocietyRoland Laird
»Who Really Needs Four Years of Math and Science? Steve A. Davidson

Features
»Apple Seeds: Inspiring QuotesBarb Stutesman
»Today Is... Daily CommemorationRon Victoria
»The Lighter Side of Teaching
»Teacher Blogs Showcase
»Carol Goodrow’s “Healthy-Ever-After” Children’s Books
»Printable Worksheets & Teaching Aids
»Memo to the New Secretary of Education and
John Stossel: American students are NOT stupid
»Lessons, Resources and Theme Activities: February 2009
»All of the Presidents in Under 2 Minutes!, Needle Sized Art, I Am a Teacher!, How It’s Made: Copy paper, and If My Nose Was Runnin’ Money
»Live on Teachers.Net: February 2009
»T-Netters Share Favorite Recipes
»Technology in the Art Classroom
»Newsdesk: Events & Opportunities for Teachers


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Cover Story by Alfie Kohn

Effective Teaching by Harry & Rosemary Wong

Contributors this month: Alfie Kohn, Sue Gruber, Kioni Carter, Marvin Marshall, , Marjan Glavac, , Hal Portner, Leah Davies, Barbara Pressman, Tim Newlin, Bill Page, James Wayne, Hank Kellner, Josette Bonafino, Marilyn J. Brackney, Barb Stutesman, Ron Victoria, Panamalai R. Guruprasad, Alan Haskvitz, Kathy Noll, Lauren Romano, John Price, John Sweeting, Laura Candler, Roland Laird, Steve A. Davidson, and YENDOR.

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Bill Page

Good Teachers
Archive | Biography | Resources | Discussion

Teacher Study Groups: Taking the “Risk” out of “At-Risk”

by Bill Page
Continued from page 2
February 1, 2009

  1. The Teacher Is the Difference
    Whether students learn a little or a lot; whether they have a good day or bad depends on the teacher.
  2. Kids Are never NOT Learning
    Only nine percent of a kid’s life is spent in school. The rest is spent elsewhere, but they are always learning.
  3. My Personal Teaching Creed
    Beliefs determine actions. My creed serves as an applied part of my beliefs, and as a student “Bill of Rights.”
  4. Teachers Are Individuals Too
    Neither students nor teachers can be standardized in a cookie cutter curriculum; each is an individual.
  5. Marching To a Different Paradigm
    Teachers and students are independent, yet each is responsible and accountable to each other.
  6. School Learning Occurs in School
    Children learn continually on their own but the learning for which school is responsible, occurs in school
  7. My Reactions to an Incident Reported in the St. Louis Post Dispatch
    What they call problems at the inner-city high school are really just symptoms of the problem.
  8. A Great Model of Differentiation
    Learning is individual; kids are different. Here are the elements of differentiation and how it works for all students.
  9. On Florida’s Flunking Thousands of Third Graders
    Children are living the only life they have. Schools should refrain from diminishing their lives by failing them.
  10. If You Ask the Wrong Question; You Get the Wrong Answer
    Teachers should always “question the question before they answer the answer.” It makes a difference.
  11. Kids Are Always Learning
    There are seven categories of learning, which every kid experiences continuously in every class
At-Risk Students are not teaching problems. They are victims of a one-size-fits-all curriculum
  1. Teacher Self-Reflection
    I am the only one who can change me. That is not an easy task, and I don’t like it. But I can do it.
  2. How to Get Kids to Sit Down, Shut-Up, Pay Attention, and Want to Learn
    We know what to do, but schools still struggle with the failed stick and carrot method of discipline.
  3. Mandating versus Teaching; People versus Products
    Kids are not products; they are humans and contrary to policies, they act like humans –that’s the problem.
  4. Insights, Strategies, and Rules for Parents of At-Risk Kids
    Troubled students mean troubled parents; if kids have a good year, parents have a good year. Rule #8 for parents: Don’t support the school, the teacher, or their policies.
  5. Just Ask the Kids
    Getting kids involved in feedback is a way to get cooperation, develop responsibility, and motivate them.
  6. What I Know about Teaching
    At-Risk Students are not teaching problems. They are victims of a one-size-fits-all curriculum

With Joy in Sharing, billpage@bellsouth.net Questions and comments welcome.

Faculty Focus Group Award Goes to At-Risk Students, 2nd Edition

Teaching for the 21st Century a professional development group since 1980
Presented its “Outstanding Contribution Award To: At-Risk Students, 2nd Edition, 2009.

Ms. Bettye Davies, Executive Director announced the award:
At-Risk Students was chosen for its unique contribution to faculties. “Bill Page’s one-of-a-kind book with 31 personal essays and vignettes provides a unique guide to reflecting, individually or collaboratively, on the daily experiences that are the heart of teacher’s lives and the essence of students learning--all students. It is designed for Faculty Focus Groups.”

For Book Information and preview: www.teacherteacher.com

At-Risk Students: Feeling Their Pain, Understanding Their Defensive Ploys - Insights and strategies for kids who can’t, don’t, or won’t learn, try, follow procedures, cooperate, or behave.

At-Risk Student: One whom teachers cannot motivate, interest, control, or teach via traditional techniques. The term “At-Risk” refers to being at risk of failure, but it has come to mean “at-certain” of not being taught.

At-Risk Students is currently in its second printing and will be released January 1st , 2009, 280 pages, $24.95 including P & H, Educational Dynamics Publishers, Nashville, TN, Visit www.TeacherTeacher.com for information, preview, and orders. Satisfaction Guaranteed. Send to billpage@bellsouth.net for quantity discounts for Teacher Study Groups. My favorite article, “Insights and Strategies for Kids Who Can’t, Don’t, or Won’t even try to Learn, Cooperate, or Behave can be read or downloaded free at: www.teacherteacher.com. Also, teachers can sign up there for my free monthly newsletter: At-Risk Student Advocate.



» More Gazette articles...




About Bill Page ...

Bill Page, a farm boy, graduated from a one-room school. He forged a career in the classroom teaching middle school “troublemakers.” For the past 26 years, in addition to his classroom duties, he has taught teachers across the nation to teach the lowest achieving students successfully with his proven premise, “Failure is the choice and fault of schools, not the students.”

Bill Page is a classroom teacher. For 46 years, he has patrolled the halls, responded to the bells, and struggled with innovations. He has had his share of lunchroom duty, bus duty, and playground duty. For the past four years, Bill, who is now in his 50th year as a teacher, is also a full time writer. His book, At-Risk Students is available on Abebooks, Amazon, R.D. Dunn Publishing, and on Bill’s web site: http://www.teacherteacher.com/

In At-Risk Students, Page discusses problems facing failing students, “who can’t, don’t and won’t learn or cooperate.” “The solution,” he states, “is for teachers to recognize and accept student misbehavior as defense mechanisms used to hide embarrassment and incompetence, and to deal with causes rather than symptoms. By entering into a democratic, participatory relationship, where students assume responsibility for their own learning.” Through 30 vignettes, the book helps teachers see failing students through his eyes as a fellow teacher, whose classroom success with at-risk students made him a premier teacher-speaker in school districts across America.


Bill Page Articles on Teachers.Net...

Related Resources & Discussions on Teachers.Net...

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