One
point that the authors make is that negative teachers rarely see that quality
in themselves. If you were to ask your
principal or colleagues about your attitude what do you think they would
say? No matter how positive our
attitude, we can always reflect on how we might improve. Utilizing the secrets shared in this chapter,
what improvements might you consider making in the future?
I think my principal and the other teachers I work with say that I’m a pretty positive person. When I get frustrated I also get very quiet, which is good because that keeps me from saying anything that I shouldn’t say in those situations. However, one thing I could improve is my image as a role model in the classroom. I think there’s always room to improve this area, since teaching is such a stressful job and it’s hard for any of us as teachers to keep from getting frustrated or stressed out 100% of the time. As in any school district, there are a lot of students in my classroom who have rough home lives and family situations. My co-op has always encouraged me to maintain a positive attitude for as long as the students are in the building, because after our time with them is over for the day we don’t know what’s waiting for them when they get off the bus. As easy as it is to get frustrated with students who don’t want to participate, to stress over work or lesson plans, or lose patience when students misbehave, I always have to remind myself that the students are watching the way I react to these situation, and for some of them I might be the best adult role model they will see all day.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean! You are not alone! It is hard to remain calm and positive in every situation that you are presented with throughout the day. Your co-op is right! As I mother, I can't even fathom what is waiting for some of these children at the end of each day, but as a teacher, I know that I have a small window of opportunity to make a difference. You are frustrated because you care! That my friend is a good thing!
DeleteTeaching is a lot like acting. I often remember acting positive and smiling a big smile to find that at the end of the day, I really felt very positive and really was in a good mood. Being positive is contagious!
DeleteI completely agree with you Brennan, we do not have any idea of what these students are dealing with when they leave the safety of school. I also try to be there for my students especially if they start the day off bad because they probably had an issue before they even started their day at school. I know myself that is something happens before I even start school it will bother me the whole day and for myself I was teaching Kindergarten and they had "big" people problems at such a young age. I had a soft spot for my "problem" students because I knew they had a rough life at home. I never tried to play favorites but sometimes it was best to chose my battles with them.
DeleteThis is so true. There are so many students that we come in contact with who have to deal with so much outside of school. School should be their time to have fun and feel comfortable and respected. As teachers, we need to give students a model to follow as they grow and develop. Teachers make a huge impact on their students, so why not try to make that a postive impact.
DeleteI have always thought of myself as a positive person; however, during my first student teaching placement I realized that being positive takes work. I never really had to work at being positive; it just seemed as if it came naturally. I realized quickly that the students react to everything based on the climate of the classroom. As a teacher, if you make it warm and inviting, the students will feel welcome. If the classroom is cold and uninviting, the students will develop a negative attitude about everything that relates to school. I put myself under the magnifying glass. I analyzed everything! I found that when I ask students to do something it should be approached from a positive angle at all times. For example, during floor time, I would always tell the students what not to do. Now, I tell the students what they should do in a more positive approach. I am constantly reminding myself that everything that I say and do affect the well-being of all students inside and outside of the classroom. "If you talk-the-talk, you better walk-the-walk!"
ReplyDeleteThis is really smart thinking! You are absolutely right; when you tell students what they should do, the result is much more positive than when you tell them what not to do.
DeleteI have certainly learned that was well. I set my expectations out there before a new task or direction is given and it definitely seems to help. Of course, there will always be that one, or even more, student/s that won't listen, but if they see all of the other students following the expectations, they will most likely follow along.
DeleteI agree with what you said about always having to put yourself under the magnifying glass, because I most of the time our students pick up on the negative parts of our instruction better than we do. Even in things as simple as giving directions can have totally different effects on the students depending on how we present them, like what you said about redirecting student behavior during floor time.
DeleteI think that I am a positive person but I do agree that with teaching, you have to constantly work at being postive in every aspect. The teacher that I was working with for my first placement made a huge impact when it comes to staying positive. The whole time I was there, I constantly was hearing the postive part of teaching. I asked her what her secret was. She said that each day is a new day and each day you should look for the positive instead of the negative. If you find yourself in a tough situation, find the positive first.
ReplyDeleteAlso this week in teaching, each class went through an anti-bullying class. We talked about how to take a time out when you are angry or frustrated. I think that this applies to teaching. If you are feeling frustrated with a student or teaching as whole,take a step back, take a break and assess the situation in a different perspective. I need to also to remember to stay positive so that my students have a model of how to behave when things go wrong. When working with other teachers and parents, always start with the positive part of the situation, then approach the problem in a calm, and caring matter. I like how in the other chapter they said that as soon as the teacher starts yelling at the students, that is when the teacher has lost control. It is hard to always keep a postive attitude but I believe that it is an important part of a teachers job.
I also had a very good model for positive attitude toward teaching. It was a great help in learning how to see the positive instead of the negative in certain situations. I'm sure we have all come a long way since the first day!
DeleteI try to be positive towards my students but sometimes I look more towards what they should not be doing then what they should be doing. I tend to say don't do this or stop that rather than saying I like this behavior. I also sometimes say things that maybe looked at as negative when I'm not meaning to. I will continue to work with this thru my next placement. The first day of class, I did inform the students that I would never ask them to do something that I wasn't willing to do myself. Which I think helped with some students even though they are Kindergarten students they already have the attitude of why do I have to do this. So them seeing me doing the same things they have a better attitude towards doing certain things. I feel that most people would say I positive but there is always some improving and I continue to work through it
ReplyDeleteI think my principal and/or colleagues would say that I have a mostly positive attitude. I try my hardest to compliment the students and reward positive behavior more than I try to see the negative behavior. Students who are behaving negatively need to know that they are doing so, but it is possible to "reprimand", if you will, in a positive way. All you need to do is ask the student what the better choice would have been to do or say. They can usually answer those questions right away. Remind them that they need to make good choices all the time. Will I say I never let my negative attitude out? No. It still comes out sometimes, but it is usually towards a group of students who are always doing the same thing, not an individual. (After many positive attempts of fixing the behavior, we have an issue with when someone is called on, there is a few students who keep their hand raised while that person is talking. All of the students who keep their hands raised, owe a dollar. But I also reward those who are following the procedures as well.) I have been improving on telling the students what I expect of them in a positive way too. Instead of letting what they shouldn't do, I tell them, or even ask them, how I expect them to be acting in certain situations.
ReplyDeleteI think finding the positive in situations is hard but as you work on it and keep trying, it will become a habit like anything else. Telling the class or a student that you really liked something that they did, those students will strive to get that approval again from you. Every one needs encouragment in their lives especially students. I really like how you ask students how you expect them to be acting in that situation. This allows them to own up to thier behaviors and take a look at how they are acting.
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