12 Powerful Words

1. 12 Powerful Words Presented by MHS Administration July 24, 2012

2. You became a teacher because you wanted someone to need you.Guess what?You got your wish!~Larry Bell

3. At-Promise Kids • Many students in the bottom-quartile come from homes that cause them to be labeled “at-risk”. • How we label someone determines how we approach them. • All students have promise. • It is OUR job as educators to bring out that promise. “On your worst day on the job, you are still somebody’s hero.” ~Larry Bell

4. Techniques to Transcend Cultural Barriers • Tell kids you care. Explain that you have high expectations because you believe in them. • If a child gets in trouble, ask to see him or her later. Give calm down time. Later, have a “start over visit”. • Consider your tone. Is it the same with every child? • Connect with EVERY child. • Surprise and engage students. • Assess understanding daily. • Authentic praise. • Consider that all students learn and communicate differently. “Every teacher can reach and teach every child.” ~Larry Bell

5. Prepare Kids for Standardized Tests • Prepare kids for long tests • Practice timed tests • Give higher order thinking questions • Know your student’s test data • Teach the language of the test (12 Power Words) • Give some homework/quiz questions in test format • Explain to kids what test day will be like • Discuss test anxiety • Tell students you believe in each one of them • At beginning of the year, tell kids that “No student will fail!” • Be a 100%er

6. 12 Powerful Words • Directly teach these words (Don’t assume they are understood.) • Put them in words that students can understand • Use them on tests & quizzes • Talk to students about what the question is asking • Word of the day • Share with parents • Post in the classroom • Show the 12 Power Words regularly “If we keep on doing what we’ve always done we’re going to keep on getting what we’ve always gotten.” ~Dr. John Maxwell

7. What do we mean by powerful words? • Words that stump students when they take standardized tests. • Words that intimidate or confuse students causing them to answer a question incorrectly when they know the answer.

8. AllWriteRoundRobin • Each person will need a piece of paper and something to write with • You will get 5 seconds of think time • When you hear the start you will have 3 minutes each person will say what they think is a possible answer and write it down on their own paper. No duplications

9. Question • Remember 5 second think time • Write down what you think is a powerful word that stumps students on standardized tests.

10. Team Wrap up • Get a poster paper and write down the words that members of your team think are powerful words and write a student friendly definition next to each word. (5 minutes) • Post your paper on the wall • Share out

11. 12 Powerful Words • Trace 7. Support • Analyze 8. Explain • Infer 9. Summarize • Evaluate 10. Compare • Formulate 11. Contrast • Describe 12. Predict

12. Four Simple Keys • Every day • Six minutes • Every child • Data Driven

13. How can you do this? • Introduce the 12 Power Words and use them with students on a daily basis • Ask students to use the words in their written responses to homework • Have students make up their own questions utilizing the words

14. Impact on students • Help them to better understand what each question means • To become familiar with words that require higher order thinking skills • To relieve test anxiety • To achieve better on tests

15. 12 Powerful Words Jingle http://www.youtube.com/embed/DdsaLduyChw

16. Ignite Your Passion Make Montwood a 100% Success School

17. “Nothing great is ever achieved without enthusiasm.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson We educators must show every day what we want our students to feel.Somebody needs you.

18. Resource Larry Bell, Multicultural America, Inc 4300 Ridgewood Center Drive Woodbridge, VA 22192 www.larry-bell.com