Friday, July 31, 2009

Palmyra Friday Final Blog

In this prompt please revisit a self composed question and how you might answer that question given the arguments you heard this week. Please bold your question at the top of your response and then develop your answer.

Finally, I would like you to respond to one question and response raised by a fellow participant. Start the response something like this... "In regards to Denise's question on..."

And that is it. Your blogging requirements are over. Not a requirement, but if you get a chance please shoot me an e-mail on the merits and shortcomings of blogging.

Had a great time this week. It was for me a week of professional reflection and rich conversation. Your professionalism was second to none as we kept the discourse mostly constructive and at moments humorous. I hope you all enjoy the remaining weeks of your vacation. I will be in touch.

Mark

Thursday, July 30, 2009

3rd Blog Day Palmyra

Great discussions again today. I know it gets a little off the topic from to time to time but it still is meaningful. And besides, not one of you is on a steady diet of government cheese living in a van down by the river. Seriously, one of the areas I liked from this morning was when we discussed what we would like to work on for next year. The idea of using a sign in sheet to manage tardies was excellent...thank you Matt.

1. Our first prompt will relate to the Glasser presentation (Noncoercive Discipline). Explain any merits of this system (teacher dispositions, approaches to misbehavior) that might have potential for your classrooms. You may weigh his pre-1985 arguments or post 85 arguments or both.


2. Sarah did a nice job discussion the merits and concerns of the classroom meeting. My question is this...if we don't go the road of classroom meetings...how do you communicate and teach your management system? Are the foundations of your system written down in a syllabus or other document? If you use a web page...are they posted in this space? Do you model them for clarity? Are there any creative ways of doing this?

3. We had an ethics discussion out of Warren's presentation about winners and losers. This partially stemmed from the Gordon position on how we might perceive a misbehavior. Have you ever had an experience in which a positive emerged from a misbehavior. In other words, you witnessed student growth or progress that stemmed from a misbehavior. Please don't give rich detail about the the incident...rather tell us what interventions occurred to foster any growth. These interventions may be the result of your actions, the actions of an administrator or counselor, parents, student peers...

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Palmyra Class: 2nd Blog Assignment

Great discussions today. There was a nice blend of "big ideas" and practical skill sets that one might find helpful in crafting a successful CM plan. Moreover, the "for examples from our classrooms" made these themes less ambiguous.

Before I forget, in the spirit of effective teaching to prevent misbehavior, Warren has offered to read us a 2nd grade level book.

Here we go...

1. As Danny did in class, I would also like you complete a self assessment on Dr. Mac's website

http://www.behavioradvisor.com/BehManCheckList.html

There are similarities with Danny's checklist I know---but there are some other matters as well. This is personal and as such I don't want you to publically reveal your personal areas of concern. However, this checklist reveals your strong areas as well. I would like you take one item from the checklist and describe just how well you do it for the rest of us. For example, if you use humor...how? explain, what type of humor? Why does it work on the kids?


2. Read the article, The Don'ts of Discipline (it is in the same packet as the other article). Given today's presentations or your own personal experiences, how might you expand the list to "11" don'ts. Please defend your "don't" with some sort of example.

3. Last one-this time open up the Teacher Vision site. When you are in the site you will see an area marked the "The Art of Teaching".

Click on the link entitled, "What I wish I'd known when I was a New Teacher".

Next, scroll down to where it says, "Behavioral Management Tips for the Classroom." You have arrived. This is a short slide show of teachers sharing big ideas for successful classroom management. Please reflect on one of the ideas that connect with your classroom or our presentations. Why did it connect? Finally, were there any ideas you would take to task?

Within your blog, please # your responses, 1,2,3 to keep them organized. Thanks, MZ

Monday, July 27, 2009

1st Prompt Palmyra Class(July 27th)

Great to meet you. Hope it was not information overload. And I hope any anxieties about this format will dissolve after today. Don't hesitate to contact me.

Your first blog question: In the the Monroe article, the author posits that understanding cultural contexts is the "key to effective discipline". The author goes further and puts out several strategies in order to become more culturally connected to the lives' of our students. In your blog response, assess one or more of these strategies as it relates to your own cultural contexts and teaching environments. Weigh any merits or shortcomings to her argument given the challenges of teaching in the 21st century classroom.

Remember if you are using a pen name for this project make sure I know it by e-mailing me.

Friday, July 17, 2009

July 16th post pres. blogs

Please make sure you take care of the July 16th blog before you move on to today's. I read these last evening and few of you need to finish this up. Thanks.

July 17th--final posts

Wow did this week go by fast. And July 17th is starting to sound like deep summer.


1. Our first prompt will relate to the Glasser presentation (Noncoercive Discipline). Explain any merits of this system (teacher dispositions, approaches to misbehavior) that might have potential for your classrooms. You may weigh his pre-1985 arguments or post 85 arguments or both.


2. Most of you sent me an essential question you wanted to explore in this workshop. In this prompt please revisit that question and how you might answer that given the arguments you heard this week. If you did not compose a question...now is the time. Please bold your question at the top of your response and then develop your answer. Finally, I would like you to respond to one question and response raised by a fellow participant. Start the response something like this... "In regards to Jamie's question on..."

And that is it. Your blogging requirements are over. Not a requirement but if you get a chance please shoot me an e-mail on the merits and shortcomings of blogging.

I will be reading your responses to these prompts throughout the day. Thanks and have a nice weekend. MZ

Thursday, July 16, 2009

July 16th Post-Presentation Blog

There will be 2 responses in this blog. Again, please number in your answer.

1. The Nelson, Lott, and Glenn model (presented today) of discipline provides a process rather than a set of techniques. What parts of the process might be workable fit for your classrooms?


2. (From the Curwin and Mendler model presented today)....Curwin argues that at-risk students are disruptive and difficult because their dignity is taken away. How can teachers help students if this is the students' own perception of their lives? Again, weigh their approach as well as your own approaches in thinking about this one.

July 16th Start Blog

From the white board.----2 ideas you might try.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Dover Class 2nd Blog

Fine work today. I enjoyed the blend of the best of your classes with what the scholars were asking us to consider. The participation level was very high as well--which says a lot about your professionalism and the quality of presentations.

Here we go...

1. As I mentioned in class I would like you complete the self assessment on Dr. Mac's website. This is personal and as such I don't want you to publically reveal your personal areas of concern. However, this checklist reveals your strong areas as well. I would like you take one item from the checklist and describe just how well you do it for the rest of us. For example, if you use humor...how? explain, what type of humor? Why does it work on the kids?


2. Read the article, The Don'ts of Discipline. Given today's presentations or your own personal experiences, how might you expand the list to "11" don'ts. Please defend your "don't" with some sort of example.

3. Last one-this time open up the Teacher Vision site. When you are in the site you will see an area marked the "The Art of Teaching".

Click on the link entitled, "What I wish I'd known when I was a New Teacher".

Next, scroll down to where it says, "Behavioral Management Tips for the Classroom." You have arrived. This is a short slide show of teachers sharing big ideas for successful classroom management. Please reflect on one of the ideas that connect with you or our presentations. Why did it connect? Finally, were there any ideas you would take to task?

Within your blog, please # your responses, 1,2,3 to keep them organized. Thanks, MZ

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Dover Class-1st blog assignment

Good morning all. Great to meet you yesterday. Hope it was not information overload. And I hope any anxieties about this format will dissolve after today. Beautiful day again and I hope you can mix your research with being outside a bit.

Ok---let's get down to business.

Your first blog question: In the the Monroe article, the author posits that understanding cultural contexts is the "key to effective discipline". The author goes further and puts out several strategies in order to become more culturally connected to the lives' of our students. In your blog response, assess one or more of these strategies as it relates to your own cultural contexts and teaching environments. Weigh any merits or shortcomings to her argument given the challenges of teaching in the 21st century classroom.

Remember if you are using a pen name for this project make sure I know it by e-mailing me.