1. Connect my students to the subject - I do this by asking them how this affects our lives today

2. Use different notes, videos, and activities to reach students in ways they like to learn.

3. I will research our subjects so they get more than the textbook teaches.

4. Be flexible in my schedule. If we need to spend time on a subject because there are questions or comments, I stop. Such as the questions my students have when we talk about Civil Rights. Most of them only know what they were taught at home and do not know the deep connection people have to the movement.

1. For me, the biggest part of this is being open-minded. School today is not like it was when I was in High School, we sat still and did not disrespect the teacher. Today we only have their attention for a short time

2. Make sure I know my students and what their strengths and weaknesses are. Not just what some test scores tell me, but what I observe too.

3. Be a student of my students. Know the struggles they have at home and how can I work through those at school. As an example, I had a baseball player when I coached that was always sleeping at the end of the day and sluggish at practice. This young man was a large kid, he shared with me one day that he was hungry and did not get enough to eat. I bought him granola bars and snacks he could keep in his locker and get whenever he needed them

4. We have to be willing to slow down and speed up when the classes call for it. I strive to keep all my classes together, but I also have to be willing to adjust when needed.

1. We have an agreement when someone shares we do not judge. Everyone is allowed their opinion and we will be open to them.

2. If something is shared in the classroom it stays in the classroom.

3. We all connect to things in different ways and we interpret them in different ways.

4. Be a student of my students

If I hear of something that was shared in the classroom being shared outside the classroom, I will have a discussion with the students involved and explain trust goes both.

1. Talk to them outside of school. I talk to parents at sporting events and anywhere I see them.

2. Keep families in the loop when there are good and bad times. Just the other day I called a parent with something positive when all they ever hear is the negative. Since this call, there have been issues with her student.

3. Make sure my parents know the door is always open. This one area I need to put some limits on. I have my email on my personal phone and I will answer an email at night when it should be family time.

4. Community connections I have made are asking recruiters from the different military branches to come and share the connection with the history they have made through their time. This is not a recruiting time, it is a time to show anyone who comes that history is alive

My wife has gotten used to it, but every time we are out someone comes and says hello to Mr. Orr whether student or parents. I want them to say hi and not hide.