Announcement:  Week Twelve

Done!  Just in time for the holidays, too.  The only thing left is the survey.  If you like, please respond to the last discussion question--this is optional.  It has been a joy working with everyone.  Merry Christmas!

Announcement:  Week Eleven

Can you believe it?  Just one final discussion and your project for this week!  Next week, after you complete the survey, I will be able to distribute your certificates.

Your project does not have all kinds of bells and whistles.  I would suggest looking at the Power Point I placed in the Power Points section if you need suggestions, but you probably already have a particularly well-received lesson you use.  You can write the project up as a lesson plan, submit a Power Point, or give another example that works for you.  I am looking forward to seeing your good work! 

Announcement:  Week Ten

This week we will have a discussion and will submit our discipline plans.  Just think, by the end of next week, all of the heavy lifting will be over.  Only evaluations will remain!

Announcement:  Week Nine

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.  This week we will finish the text and think about proactive vs. reactive discipline.  There is a web reading, but it is rather short.

Announcement:  Week Eight

Happy Thanksgiving week!  There is a web reading this week:  your choice.  Some options are pretty short, while some are longer.  All are worthwhile, but you only have to comment about one.

We are winding down and will soon be finished with the text.  Keep in mind that the project and discipline plan will be due in a few weeks. 

I hope you all have a fantastic holiday.  I will be counting all of  you among my blessings!

Announcement:  Week Seven

As Thanksgiving approaches, perhaps we should reflect on the benefits of our employment.  Are you supported in your disciplining efforts?  This week we look at systems:  if individual efforts are not part of a bigger picture, life becomes much more difficult.  Limits have to be set both by teachers and by administrators.  We will be discussing "one strike" issues this week.

Also, even though there is no web reading this week, you might want to take a glance at the web reading for next week.  There are many options, and while only one is required, they are all worthwhile.

Announcement:  Week Six

Consequences are a potent tool, and we not only need to use them consistently, we need to use them calmly.   If we say we will impose consequences and we don't, students will see us as untrustworthy.  If we do impose them, but in a threatening and judgmental way, students will see us as bullies.  We will be talking about consequences at length this week.

Announcement:  Week Five

No web reading this week!  We will continue the discussion about nonconditional positive regard.  While we have touched on this previously, it's worth talking about in more depth. 

Don't be alarmed when viewing the Dropbox.  Your documents haven't disappeared; I just moved them into a folder to keep things a little neater.  You will still submit future documents in the same way.

Announcement:  We're already at Week Four!

This week we will examine classroom ecology and our sometimes mistaken assumptions.  We will also see how we struggle with the concept of "should" and how that can hold us back. 

Announcement:  Week Three!

We are well into the readings and discussions at this point, and I am so pleased with the quality of work demonstrated so far.  This week we will read another chapter and discuss lower level misbehavior.

Announcement:  Welcome to Week Two!

I'm looking forward to your insights.  As I mentioned in my email, I will be waiting a bit longer before posting my responses this week.  I'm hoping that a spirited discussion among classmates will ensue. 

Please complete any work that has not been submitted for Week One.  I know this can be a crazy time of year:  Open Houses, Festivals, Homecomings, etc.

Please notice that I have edited the headings for the discussions.  I think it makes them easier to follow.  You can do the same by changing the subject line.  You don't have to follow the same pattern; in fact, I would encourage you to be creative.

It looks as though there might be some confusion as to the assigned web reading.  Please read the next-to-last listing on the Websites link.  This is a good lesson in self-reflection, a useful skill for teachers.  It seems as though my directions were unclear initially. 

Thanks to everyone for attending the orientation.  I hope it wasn't too taxing. 

Reminder:  Please respond to the introductions.  Also, this week we will discuss mangement styles, read Ch. 1 in the text, and submit a short reflection paper.

I'm looking forward to your insights.  Please feel free to post any thoughts that are contrary to what you read in the book or find on any of the web sites.  I will have my own two cents to add all through the course!

Teri

Welcome:

What a wonderful tool we have in the Internet.  In this class, we will work together to learn about classroom management skills.  I anticipate learning from each of the participants, and I hope we can help each other as well.  We will read and discuss different theories, talk about what works in practice, and contribute ideas for improving the future of education.