Highly effective teachers operate through influence rather than through power. They focus on building positive relationships with students and reduce the need to exercise power to control students. The nonverbals are completely different. What do the nonverbals look like when operating from influence? You approach the student from the side. You have your eyes on…
Difficult Parent Conferences
There are many reasons why a parent conference can be difficult. Sometimes the content is difficult to talk about. Sometimes the student is difficult to deal with in class. Sometimes our own lack of comfort causes the difficulty. Sometimes the parent is difficult. Often there are misunderstandings that make the conference difficult. Controlling our…
Parent Conferences: Mastering the Non-Verbals
Parent conferences are a busy and demanding time for teachers, especially where we are dealing with complex issues, working with difficult people or delivering ‘bad’ news. Effective communication is vital in building trust. Our use of non-verbals is important Take care of yourself Never be alone in the building for parent conferences. Prepare well, ducks…
Strategies for Helping Kinesthetic Learners (Part 2)
Be yourself The kinesthetic learner detects phoniness quickly. Be yourself especially if you are slightly weird and/or funny. Teach with all your passion, enthusiasm, and drama. Kinesthetic students learn best when content is taught in an entertaining way—they engage more. By accessing your own nutty creativity, you can help dry content come alive. It may…
Strategies for Helping Kinesthetic Learners (Part 1)
Why do some students love school and do well while others in the same school, with the same dedicated teachers, are miserable in school? After working in schools all over the country, I’ve come more and more to believe that schools operate like a private club for visual learners. Kinesthetic students—those with a limited ability…