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from Edutopia. Excellent ideas for creating a community culture of acceptance.

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How well do you know your students? In a Nevada school, a simple strategy pushes teachers to look beyond the lessons.

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Four Skills to Teach Students in the First Five Days of School

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Four Skills to Teach Students in the First Five Days of School

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Ideas for getting your school year off to a powerful start!

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The first few days of school are a vital time to set the right tone for the rest of the year. Many teachers focus on important things like getting to know their students, building relationships and making sure students know what the classroom procedures will be. While those things are important, Alan November, a former teacher-turned-author and lecturer says the most important ideas to hammer home will help students learn on their own for the rest of the year.
POWER RESEARCHING
"The name of the game is to find the right information with the right question," said November during a workshop at the 2014 gathering of the International Society of Technology in Education in Atlanta. "My job used to be to give you the information, now my job is to teach you how to find the information." November firmly believes this dynamic needs to be made very clear in the first five days of school.

"The best teachers were kids who had really struggled with the material and really understand what it's like to learn."

Kids think they know how to use the internet to search and find the information they need, but November has found through many interviews and school visits that often students have no idea why Google or any other search provider works the way it does. And they don't know how to phrase questions to get the answers they seek.

"Kids literally take their teachers assignment and Google it," November said. "They don't understand that Google doesn't speak English or any other language." He's tested his theory in classrooms, asking students to research the Iran Hostage Crisis. Students inevitably Googled the event and cited the first few pages that came up. But every resource was written from a U.S. perspective on an event that affected two very different countries.

"Your kids are not thorough," November said to the hundreds of educators gathered. "They don't see what they don't see, so it's really important that teachers challenge what's missing." Even more important is for students to learn the syntax of searching. To find sources from Iran students need to type "site:ir" in order to direct a search engine to explore that part of the internet. Even using that trick doesn't solve the problem because Iranians don't call that event "Iran Hostage Crisis," they call it " Conquest of the American Spy Den."

"It's my observation that we are not instilling a discipline and rigor of the grammar and syntax of the tool they are going to use more than anything else for homework," November said. And worse, when he asked kids about the kinds of assignments teachers give, students said 85 to 90 percent of the answers could be found with a quick internet search.

"I think we should give kids problems that you can't look up on the internet," November said. "Or, if you do, build the capacity to do it well." With the Iran Hostage Crises example, a teacher could require that students use sources from Iran, and could spend time brainstorming the right questions to ask a search engine to get the best information. These skills will help students throughout the rest of the school year and should be covered early.

"In the first 5 days I think we should front load really high level research skills," November said. That means teaching students to " power search" using Google operators, the words that define how Google searches. "A lot of kids have never used the advanced system of Google algorithms," November said. Without it, the internet is a vast space with little organization. November compared power searching to the Dewey Decimal System in a library - without it people are just wandering around a building hoping they find the right book.
MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS
Another important concept to impart within the first few days of school to students: you can make meaningful contributions to the world, no matter how old you are, November said. He described MathTrain, a website created by middle school math teacher Eric Marcos. Marcos asks his students to make math tutorials to help one another and posts them on the site. Some of the tutorials have been viewed over 50,000 times by people all over the world. When students learn their work can make an impact, they're not only more motivated, but they work harder.

"A global audience can be more motivating than a teacher in the classroom," November said. And kids love to connect with other kids, so why not give them that experience early in the school year and make it a regular occurrence. Most kids say they will ask a friend for help with something they don't understand before asking the teacher, November said. So why not let kids teach each other and help them see that what they are learning can help others.

"The best teachers were kids who had really struggled with the material and really understand what it's like to learn," November said. "Sometimes teachers suffer from knowing too much. The material they teach is easy to them and it can be hard to empathize with the stumbles of a new learner. Kids who have struggled with the material understand the pitfalls and can often explain them in ways other kids will understand.
ASK THEM ABOUT THEIR PASSIONS
The school year is often broken into so many units of study, standards to cover and snippets of time, that kids rarely get to work on one sustained project for very long. November is a big proponent of letting kids define and work on a project that has very few parameters and no rubric, and that will be presented at the end of the year.

"They resist because they have all this anxiety over the unknown," November said. "They are seeking safety in your rubric." But insisting students give it a try can yield strong projects, and more importantly it gives students the experience of defining the project and deciding when it's good enough. In a computer science class November taught, the most resistant student ended up building a massive database of resources for people with disabilities in her town. She couldn't finish it by the end of the year, so she came in during the summer to complete the work.

"That's the difference when students define their own problems with intrinsic motivation," November said. They care so much they're begging for the computer lab to stay open during the summer.
BUILD A LEARNING ECOLOGY
One great way to teach students how to learn is to show them how teachers learn and what their sources are. November favors Diigo, but there are lots of sites that help people organize what they've read online and share those resources. For teachers who are actively improving their knowledge of the subject matter they teach, why not share that digital library with students and show them what lifelong learning looks like?

"I think teachers should demonstrate how they learn in the first five days," November said. Typically we demonstrate what we already know and have learned. That has to change. We have to teach students to learn to learn."

A great way to do that is through social media, one of the best ways for teachers to connect professionally and find ideas to further their own craft. If Twitter is such an important tool for educators, why keep it from students who also want to know how to connect and build a network?

"We should teach them to follow the best minds in the world on whatever their passion is," November said. He remembers showing a boy interested in becoming an entrepreneur the Harvard Business Review's Twitter page. The magazine follows heavyweights in their fields, who are accessible to students in ways they never were before the internet, if student know how to look.

"Before the internet there were two important things to teach: content and skills, like writing," November said. "Now there's a third skill which is to build out your network to the world."

Teaching students to view Twitter as a research tool, a way to see what the brightest minds in a discipline are thinking and reading is akin to teaching them to search the internet powerfully. It's giving them the tools to continue learning long after the test.

Four Skills to Teach Students In the First Five Days of School

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Four Skills to Teach Students In the First Five Days of School

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The first few days of school are a vital time to set the right tone for the rest of the year. Many teachers focus on important things like getting to know their students, building relationships and making sure students know what the classroom procedures will be.

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20 Strategies for Motivating Reluctant Learners

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20 Strategies for Motivating Reluctant Learners

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Often, the key to good classroom management is getting students motivated and engaged!

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1. Don't Be Boring
"In our engaging classrooms, we have to have a set of procedures and routines," Perez said. But they don't have to be boring. She often has students come in and look at a list of adjectives on the board, many of which stretch her students' vocabularies. She asks them to greet two other students and use one of the adjectives to describe how they are feeling today. The activity gets them up, moving and ready to learn, plus they've used a new vocabulary word in relation to themselves, checking in with their community along the way.

2. Vote
Activate students' brains with a quick round of voting. Perez often puts three learning goals for the day up on the board and asks students to vote for the one they think is most important. All three goals are good ones and there's no wrong answer. "The reluctant learners get to look around the room and see who else thinks just like them," Perez said. This quick activity helps create curiosity among students about what each of them is thinking.

3. Set Goals
Perez is also a proponent of both teacher and students setting personal learning goals every day that are achievable, believable and measurable. "Part of reaching that goal is publicizing that goal," Perez said. Making goal-setting a regular and visible part of one's teaching practice models it for students. But it's very important to leave time for students to revisit the goal they set at the end of the day, Perez said. That opportunity to reflect will help them see and value what they did during the day, as well as where they may have fallen short of the goal.

4. Form Groups
Perez constantly asks her students (in this case a group of educators) to break off to share with one another, brainstorm or collaborate, and she always sets a time limit for the conversation, like 72 seconds. "In my classroom I use bizarre time limits and then they think I'm actually watching the clock and they get to it," Perez said. She finds this promotes more time on task than a generic five-minute time limit, which students know is just as likely to stretch into eight minutes.

5. Quick Writes
Often Perez will throw out a question and ask students to quickly brainstorm on paper as many answers as they can. Then she'll do a "popcorn share" where students stand up whenever they want and throw out an idea. This could be an alternative to something like "round-robin reading," which can put reluctant learners in the hot seat. In this case, Perez sets her students up for success by giving them time to brainstorm first -- the answers are right in front of them. This strategy has the added value of forcing students to listen closely to their peers, since they don't know who will pop up next.

6. Focus on the ABCs: Acceptance, Belonging and Community
"Without this set of ABCs, traditional ABCs will not be as successful," Perez said. She's aware of the rush to cover content in many schools and classrooms, but says teaching is not about what is covered today, it's about what is uncovered in students. "Don't be so standards-driven that you forget the needs of your students," she said.

7. Continually change the "state" of the classroom
These are changes in who is providing the information, who is doing the talking. Perez likes to say for every 10 minutes of content, teachers need to give students two minutes of "chew time."

8. Empathize
Keep in mind the students' perspective and listen when they explain what they need to learn. Take Ned's Great Eight to heart.
NED's GREAT EIGHT

I feel OK

It matters

It's active

It stretches me

I have a coach

I have to use it

I think back on it

I plan my next steps

9. Do a BRAIN checklist

Build a safe environment

Recognize diversity in the classroom

Assessment must be formative, authentic and ongoing

Instructional strategies should be a palette of opportunities

New models

"We've got to be growing and open to new ideas," Perez said. "That's why teaching is such an adventure. Each day you walk into the classroom, you never know what you're going to get."

10. Simplify
Perez suggests framing every lesson in a similar format, but executing it differently each time. First activate the learners by making them curious and developing a need-to-know. Then, let them dig into the content in an exploratory phase that takes them deeply into rich content. Last, help scaffold students' broader understanding by helping them integrate it with what they already know. Some metacognitive questions that can get them thinking this way include: What part of the lesson did you like the best? What part was the most difficult for you? Why do you think that was? What do you think you can do today to help yourself stay focused?

"If we don't give our kids time to reflect, to connect, to marinate on the information, they're going to regurgitate what's right there in front of them without even thinking," Perez said. Reflection and rehearsal of what was learned is crucial to move information from working memory into long-term memory.

11. Chunk Information
Make information more easily digestible for students. "We need to be more purposeful in our delivery of information," Perez said. Too often teachers deliver an entire lesson without letting students move or discuss once. Kids will give up if they are overloaded with facts, and chunking provides a way to pause and let students think over what they've learned. Breaks to assimilate information are crucial for mastery.

"Lesson mastery means students have mastered the content when they do something substantive with the content beyond echoing it," Perez said.

12. Props
Perez keeps a box of props for when she's teaching. She often throws something to a child when it's his turn to talk so he has something to focus on. She says this works particularly well for kids with attention problems, as well as for the tactile learners.

13. Breaks
Short video clips can be a great brain break. A great clip can be interpreted in multiple ways. "You're fostering divergent thinking," Perez said.

14. Post-Its
Post-It note discussions are a good way to get all students involved without making anyone uncomfortable by putting them on the spot. Ask an open-ended question. It could be an activator at the beginning, a marinator in the middle, or even a summarizer to test for understanding at the end of a lesson. Students jot down their answers to the prompt on Post-Its. English Language learners or special needs students could write just one word or draw something. Then students share in pairs. "Even the most reticent learner is OK sharing one-on-one." Perez said. Post all the responses on a graffiti board and pull out some trends.

15. Make Snowballs
The Snowball brain break is one of Perez' favorite ways to summarize learning at the end of a lesson (and should be done when students are on their way to recess or at the end of the day). Students write answers to a prompt on a piece of paper. On the count of three, they throw their "snowball" randomly up and away (but not at anyone). Then everyone grabs a snowball that landed near them."It's a way you can purposefully pause, have them reflect and make connections," Perez said. She uses it in all subjects, sometimes asking students to write three new vocabulary words they learned, or three successes they had in that lesson, or three questions. "Students love it and it's inclusionary because it's anonymous," Perez said. Students also get to see one another's thinking in this activity.

16. Guessing Games
When slightly boring content must be covered, create a need-to-know in students by having them predict the answers. Students are more likely to be invested in the answers when they are revealed after students themselves have had a chance to debate and predict.*

This strategy among others is meant to get students to manipulate and think about the information themselves. "If the teacher does all the interacting with the material, the teacher's brain, not the students' brains, will grow," Perez said. That's why Perez advocates that teachers have a large toolkit of approaches to get students thinking, speaking, writing, touching, building, listening and, most importantly, doing something with the content.

17. Balanced Inquiry
Lectures do have a time and a place, but they are far more effective when they are interactive. Perez likes Harvey Silver's guide for an effective lecture: connect new knowledge to existing knowledge, organize the materials into chunks, dual code the information so it's stored in multiple places and exercise the brain.

"It's a matter of balance to keep the engagement alive," Perez said. She doesn't advocate that teachers always have students teach one another just because it has a high retention and transfer rate; doing all of one thing is never effective. Instead, she says, it's about a balanced use of all the inquiry approaches.

18. Mind-streaming
Mind-streaming is another fun brain break activity that also gives students a chance to recall what they've learned and teach one another. Have students randomly pair up and then each person teaches the other the most important things they've learned in that lesson. Each person will remember different things, and when there is overlap that will reinforce the concept. It's simple, effective and doesn't require any teacher preparation because students are teaching one another.

19. Be Interactive
Perez begs educators to always try to make tasks engaging and interactive by giving students enough knowledge, giving them the language to express it, giving them an authentic reason for the interaction they're engaged in, prime them with interesting questions, establish a community of learners that support each other, and give students a clear understanding of the task. If these elements are part of every class, she says, all students can be successful.

20. HOPE
The last tip Perez offered educators is to have HOPE, an acronym she uses for Have Only Positive Expectations.

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20 Strategies for Motivating Reluctant Learners | KQED

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1. Don't Be Boring "In our engaging classrooms, we have to have a set of procedures and routines," Perez said. But they don't have to be boring. She often has students come in and look at a list of adjectives on the board, many of which stretch her students' vocabularies.

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from NEA

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Whether you are a first-year teacher, a 20 year veteran, or an educational support professional, chances are that you have at least one area of classroom management you would like to improve upon. Managing the behavior, social emotional, and learning needs of 30 or more students is one of the biggest challenges most educators face.

So, how can you improve your classroom management skills or simply sharpen a few well established strategies or techniques? One thing you can do is to participate in professional learning opportunities. NEA provides two types of professional learning opportunities for members.

Blended Learning

Blended learning courses may be offered through your local or state association. Contact your state or local association if you are interested in starting a cohort in our affiliate. The following courses are currently available:

Classroom Expectations and Routines

Creating and Maintaining a Trauma-Informed Approach

Using a Trauma-Informed Approach to Create an Individualized Behavior Support Plan

Building Connections Between Home and School

Building Positive Relationships

Positive Response to Challenging Behavior

Aspects of an Engaged Classroom

Micro-credentials

NEA offers 6 micro-credentials focused on classroom management:

Or, view all of these micro-credentials in the Classroom Management stack.

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Whether you are a first-year teacher, a 20 year veteran, or an educational support professional, chances are that you have at least one area of classroom management you would like to improve upon. Managing the behavior, social emotional, and learning needs of 30 or more students is one of the biggest challenges most educators face.

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Top 10 Secrets of Successful Classroom Management

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Top 10 Secrets of Successful Classroom Management

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from Teaching Community

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from ASCD. A more scholarly approach, but excellent information.

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Abstract

Appropriate Levels of Dominance

Establish Clear Expectations and Consequences

Establish Clear Learning Goals

Exhibit Assertive Behavior

Appropriate Levels of Cooperation

Provide Flexible Learning Goals

Take a Personal Interest in Students

Use Equitable and Positive Classroom Behaviors

Awareness of High-Needs Students

Don't Leave Relationships to Chance

By using research-based strategies combining appropriate levels of dominance and cooperation and an awareness of student needs, teachers can build positive classroom dynamics.

Abstract

Appropriate Levels of Dominance

Establish Clear Expectations and Consequences

Establish Clear Learning Goals

Exhibit Assertive Behavior

Appropriate Levels of Cooperation

Provide Flexible Learning Goals

Take a Personal Interest in Students

Use Equitable and Positive Classroom Behaviors

Awareness of High-Needs Students

Don't Leave Relationships to Chance

Today, we know more about teaching than we ever have before. Research has shown us that teachers' actions in their classrooms have twice the impact on student achievement as do school policies regarding curriculum, assessment, staff collegiality, and community involvement (Marzano, 2003a). We also know that one of the classroom teacher's most important jobs is managing the classroom effectively.

A comprehensive literature review by Wang, Haertel, and Walberg (1993) amply demonstrates the importance of effective classroom management. These researchers analyzed 86 chapters from annual research reviews, 44 handbook chapters, 20 government and commissioned reports, and 11 journal articles to produce a list of 228 variables affecting student achievement. They combined the results of these analyses with the findings from 134 separate meta-analyses. Of all the variables, classroom management had the largest effect on student achievement. This makes intuitive sense-students cannot learn in a chaotic, poorly managed classroom.

Research not only supports the importance of classroom management, but it also sheds light on the dynamics of classroom management. Stage and Quiroz's meta-analysis (1997) shows the importance of there being a balance between teacher actions that provide clear consequences for unacceptable behavior and teacher actions that recognize and reward acceptable behavior. Other researchers (Emmer, Evertson, & Worsham, 2003; Evertson, Emmer, & Worsham, 2003) have identified important components of classroom management, including beginning the school year with a positive emphasis on management; arranging the room in a way conducive to effective management; and identifying and implementing rules and operating procedures.

In a recent meta-analysis of more than 100 studies (Marzano, 2003b), we found that the quality of teacher-student relationships is the keystone for all other aspects of classroom management. In fact, our meta-analysis indicates that on average, teachers who had high-quality relationships with their students had 31 percent fewer discipline problems, rule violations, and related problems over a year's time than did teachers who did not have high-quality relationships with their students.

What are the characteristics of effective teacher-student relationships? Let's first consider what they are not. Effective teacher-student relationships have nothing to do with the teacher's personality or even with whether the students view the teacher as a friend. Rather, the most effective teacher-student relationships are characterized by specific teacher behaviors: exhibiting appropriate levels of dominance; exhibiting appropriate levels of cooperation; and being aware of high-needs students.

Appropriate Levels of Dominance

Wubbels and his colleagues (Wubbels, Brekelmans, van Tartwijk, & Admiral, 1999; Wubbels & Levy, 1993) identify appropriate dominance as an important characteristic of effective teacher-student relationships. In contrast to the more negative connotation of the term dominance as forceful control or command over others, they define dominance as the teacher's ability to provide clear purpose and strong guidance regarding both academics and student behavior. Studies indicate that when asked about their preferences for teacher behavior, students typically express a desire for this type of teacher-student interaction. For example, in a study that involved interviews with more than 700 students in grades 4-7, students articulated a clear preference for strong teacher guidance and control rather than more permissive types of teacher behavior (Chiu & Tulley, 1997). Teachers can exhibit appropriate dominance by establishing clear behavior expectations and learning goals and by exhibiting assertive behavior.

Establish Clear Expectations and Consequences

Teachers can establish clear expectations for behavior in two ways: by establishing clear rules and procedures, and by providing consequences for student behavior.

The seminal research of the 1980s (Emmer, 1984; Emmer, Sanford, Evertson, Clements, & Martin, 1981; Evertson & Emmer, 1982) points to the importance of establishing rules and procedures for general classroom behavior, group work, seat work, transitions and interruptions, use of materials and equipment, and beginning and ending the period or the day. Ideally, the class should establish these rules and procedures through discussion and mutual consent by teacher and students (Glasser, 1969, 1990).

Establish Clear Learning Goals

Establishing and communicating learning goals at the beginning of a unit of instruction.

Providing feedback on those goals.

Continually and systematically revisiting the goals.

Providing summative feedback regarding the goals.

The use of rubrics can help teachers establish clear goals. To illustrate, assume that a teacher has identified the learning goal "understanding and using fractions" as important for a given unit. That teacher might present students with the following rubric:4 points. You understand the characteristics of fractions along with the different types. You can accurately describe how fractions are related to decimals and percentages. You can convert fractions to decimals and can explain how and why the process works. You can use fractions to understand and solve different types of problems.3 points. You understand the basic characteristics of fractions. You know how fractions are related to decimals and percentages. You can convert fractions to decimals.2 points. You have a basic understanding of the following, but have some small misunderstandings about one or more: the characteristics of fractions; the relationships among fractions, decimals, and percentages; how to convert fractions to decimals.1 point. You have some major problems or misunderstandings with one or more of the following: the characteristics of fractions; the relationships among fractions, decimals, and percentages; how to convert fractions to decimals.0 points. You may have heard of the following before, but you do not understand what they mean: the characteristics of fractions; the relationships among fractions, decimals, and percentages; how to convert fractions to decimals.

The clarity of purpose provided by this rubric communicates to students that their teacher can provide proper guidance and direction in academic content.

Exhibit Assertive Behavior

Teachers can also communicate appropriate levels of dominance by exhibiting assertive behavior. According to Emmer and colleagues, assertive behavior is the ability to stand up for one's legitimate rights in ways that make it less likely that others will ignore or circumvent them. (2003, p. 146)

Use assertive body language by maintaining an erect posture, facing the offending student but keeping enough distance so as not to appear threatening and matching the facial expression with the content of the message being presented to students.

Use an appropriate tone of voice, speaking clearly and deliberately in a pitch that is slightly but not greatly elevated from normal classroom speech, avoiding any display of emotions in the voice.

Persist until students respond with the appropriate behavior. Do not ignore an inappropriate behavior; do not be diverted by a student denying, arguing, or blaming, but listen to legitimate explanations.

Appropriate Levels of Cooperation

Cooperation is characterized by a concern for the needs and opinions of others. Although not the antithesis of dominance, cooperation certainly occupies a different realm. Whereas dominance focuses on the teacher as the driving force in the classroom, cooperation focuses on the students and teacher functioning as a team. The interaction of these two dynamics-dominance and cooperation-is a central force in effective teacher-student relationships. Several strategies can foster appropriate levels of cooperation.

Provide Flexible Learning Goals

Just as teachers can communicate appropriate levels of dominance by providing clear learning goals, they can also convey appropriate levels of cooperation by providing flexible learning goals. Giving students the opportunity to set their own objectives at the beginning of a unit or asking students what they would like to learn conveys a sense of cooperation. Assume, for example, that a teacher has identified the topic of fractions as the focus of a unit of instruction and has provided students with a rubric. The teacher could then ask students to identify some aspect of fractions or a related topic that they would particularly like to study. Giving students this kind of choice, in addition to increasing their understanding of the topic, conveys the message that the teacher cares about and tries to accommodate students' interests.

Take a Personal Interest in Students

Use Equitable and Positive Classroom Behaviors

Awareness of High-Needs Students

Classroom teachers meet daily with a broad cross-section of students. In general, 12-22 percent of all students in school suffer from mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders, and relatively few receive mental health services (Adelman & Taylor, 2002). The Association of School Counselors notes that 18 percent of students have special needs and require extraordinary interventions and treatments that go beyond the typical resources available to the classroom (Dunn & Baker, 2002).

Figure 1. Categories of High-Needs Students

The Key to Classroom Management - table

Category

Definitions & Source

Characteristics

Suggestions

Passive

Behavior that avoids the domination of others or the pain of negative experiences. The child attempts to protect self from criticism, ridicule, or rejection, possibly reacting to abuse and neglect. Can have a biochemical basis, such as anxiety.

Fear of relationships: Avoids connection with others, is shy, doesn't initiate conversations, attempts to be invisible. Fear of failure: Gives up easily, is convinced he or she can't succeed, is easily frustrated, uses negative self-talk.

Provide safe adult and peer interactions and protection from aggressive people. Provide assertiveness and positive self-talk training. Reward small successes quickly. Withhold criticism.

Aggressive

Behavior that overpowers, dominates, harms, or controls others without regard for their well-being. The child has often taken aggressive people as role models. Has had minimal or ineffective limits set on behavior. Is possibly reacting to abuse and neglect. Condition may have a biochemical basis, such as depression.

Hostile: Rages, threatens, or intimidates others. Can be verbally or physically abusive to people, animals, or objects. Oppositional: Does opposite of what is asked. Demands that others agree or give in. Resists verbally or nonverbally. Covert: Appears to agree but then does the opposite of what is asked. Often acts innocent while setting up problems for others.

Describe the student's behavior clearly. Contract with the student to reward corrected behavior and set up consequences for uncorrected behavior. Be consistent and provide immediate rewards and consequences. Encourage and acknowledge extracurricular activities in and out of school. Give student responsibilities to help teacher or other students to foster successful experiences.

Attention problems

Behavior that demonstrates either motor or attentional difficulties resulting from a neurological disorder. The child's symptoms may be exacerbated by family or social stressors or biochemical conditions, such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorders.

Hyperactive: Has difficulty with motor control, both physically and verbally. Fidgets, leaves seat frequently, interrupts, talks excessively. Inattentive: Has difficulty staying focused and following through on projects. Has difficulty with listening, remembering, and organizing.

Contract with the student to manage behaviors. Teach basic concentration, study, and thinking skills. Separate student in a quiet work area. Help the student list each step of a task. Reward successes; assign a peer tutor.

Perfectionist

Behavior that is geared toward avoiding the embarrassment and assumed shame of making mistakes. The child fears what will happen if errors are discovered. Has unrealistically high expectations of self. Has possibly received criticism or lack of acceptance while making mistakes during the process of learning.

Tends to focus too much on the small details of projects. Will avoid projects if unsure of outcome. Focuses on results and not relationships. Is self-critical.

Ask the student to make mistakes on purpose, then show acceptance. Have the student tutor other students.

Socially inept

Behavior that is based on the misinterpretation of nonverbal signals of others. The child misunderstands facial expressions and body language. Hasn't received adequate training in these areas and has poor role modeling.

Attempts to make friends but is inept and unsuccessful. Is forced to be alone. Is often teased for unusual behavior, appearance, or lack of social skills.

Teach the student to keep the appropriate physical distance from others. Teach the meaning of facial expressions, such as anger and hurt. Make suggestions regarding hygiene, dress, mannerisms, and posture.

Source: Marzano, R.J. (2003). What works in schools: Translating research into action (pp. 104-105). Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

School may be the only place where many students who face extreme challenges can get their needs addressed. The reality of today's schools often demands that classroom teachers address these severe issues, even though this task is not always considered a part of their regular job.

In a study of classroom strategies (see Brophy, 1996; Brophy & McCaslin, 1992), researchers examined how effective classroom teachers interacted with specific types of students. The study found that the most effective classroom managers did not treat all students the same; they tended to employ different strategies with different types of students. In contrast, ineffective classroom managers did not appear sensitive to the diverse needs of students. Although Brophy did not couch his findings in terms of teacher-student relationships, the link is clear. An awareness of the five general categories of high-needs students and appropriate actions for each can help teachers build strong relationships with diverse students.

Don't Leave Relationships to Chance

Teacher-student relationships provide an essential foundation for effective classroom management-and classroom management is a key to high student achievement. Teacher-student relationships should not be left to chance or dictated by the personalities of those involved. Instead, by using strategies supported by research, teachers can influence the dynamics of their classrooms and build strong teacher-student relationships that will support student learning.

Want to add your own highlights and notes for this article to access later?

ASCD empowers educators to achieve excellence in learning, teaching, and leading so that every child is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.

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Today, we know more about teaching than we ever have before. Research has shown us that teachers' actions in their classrooms have twice the impact on student achievement as do school policies regarding curriculum, assessment, staff collegiality, and community involvement (Marzano, 2003a). We also k

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New Teachers:  Classroom-Management Fundamentals

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New Teachers:  Classroom-Management Fundamentals

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from Edutopia. Excellent hints for getting the year off to a good start!

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New Teachers: Fundamentals of Classroom Management

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Resources for developing routines, fostering classroom community, managing disruptions, and building student relationships.

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The First Twenty Days:  Establishing Group Work in the Classroom

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The First Twenty Days:  Establishing Group Work in the Classroom

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by Doug Fisher and Nancy Frey. Great ideas for establishing expectations for group work that pays off throughout the year.

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from Fred Jones

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Home of Tools for Teaching. Find articles, purchase books and videos, read message boards and blog

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Creating Classroom Routines and Behaviors

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Creating Classroom Routines and Behaviors

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from Scholastic

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Creating Classroom Routines & Procedures | Scholastic.com

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Go inside 16 classrooms from across the country to see how other teachers have successfully established routines to manage important times of the school day. Each of the slideshows below takes you on a visual and audio tour explaining how to establish similar procedures in your classroom

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Back to School:  Rules and Routines in the Classroom

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Back to School:  Rules and Routines in the Classroom

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A blog from Edutopia that offers some good, basic hints.

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Edutopia is a free source of information, inspiration, and practical strategies for learning and teaching in preK-12 education. We are published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.