A WELCOMING PLACE TO BE Practical Ideas for Creating a Supportive Classroom

1. A WELCOMING PLACE TO BE Practical Ideas for Creating a Supportive Classroom

2. The Common Thread

3. ! TEACHERS !

4. The Teacher-Student Relationship Directly Affects Academic Performance

5. Positive relationships improve academics Negative relationships make grades drop

6. More than any other behavior, value self-respect. Help your students develop: • self-respect, • self-discipline, • self-esteem, • and self-confidence.

7. Self-respect I will show consideration to myself and others.

8. Model self-respect and respect for others • In the classroom, when a student is misbehaving still speak respectfully to that student. Call the student out in the hallway to talk to you, but still speak respectfully to that student.

9. Self-discipline I will choose to do the things necessary to achieve the goals I set

10. Start all your students with an ‘A’ and • A clear chart of expectations • Allow students to re-do their work

11. Self-esteem I am a person of value

12. Review Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs • Help them understand their own needs which • Helps them understand themselves and why at times they have very strong desires for acceptance, belonging, achievement, entertainment, etc. • Then explain that they have choices in how they address these needs.

13. Maslow’s Hierarchy • Physical – food, water, shelter • Safety – warmth, avoiding harm, being healthy • Social – belonging to a group and feeling loved • Ego – ways to increase our self-respect • Self-fulfillment – nurture your talents, learn just for the fun of learning, help other people, invent, create, follow your dreams

14. Self-confidence I am not afraid to try new things. I believe in my ability to work things out.

15. Help your student understand that they can choose to succeed. Activity: “I can’t….” “I have to…”

16. More Ideas based on the 4 Principles

17. 1.) Assess the Attitudes in Your Class • Pass out index cards and ask the students to write comments on how they feel about school, themselves, and your subject. • names are optional (keeps students from feeling vulnerable) You can start them with prompt questions such as: • What do you like most about school? • What do you like least? • What are you favorite/least favorite subjects? • Do you like to read? Why or why not?

18. 2.) Remember all your learning types Add some Right-Brain and Kinesthetic Activities to your lesson plans. Builds self-confidence when they can understand and relate.

19. 3.) Request Student Feedback Shows them respect for their ideas and thoughts

20. 4.) Teach Problem Solving Skills Builds self-confidence and self-respect

21. 5.) Teach students how to argue effectively Teaches self-confidence and self-respect.

22. 6.) Provide frequent progress reports Teaches trust and self-discipline

23. 7.) Show students how to set goals Teaches self-discipline

24. 8.) Show that mistakes are acceptable • Teaches self-respect.

25. 9.) Create a challenge • Teaches self-respect and self-confidence

26. The Letter

27. Four Foundational Core-Values • Self-respect • Self-discipline • Self-esteem • and Self-confidence

28. On the Path to Graduation You, their TEACHER, directly impact their view of themselves Be their Coach and Cheerleader and Be the Best!