Secrets of Success for Teachers: Why are we torturing our students?

Ok...we're not torturing them. But often we're much tougher on them than we need to be.

Why do we give pop quizzes? Why do we put kids on the spot? Why do we give assignments that are just busy work? I know that we need lots of grades for kids because parents demand that especially with the new online programs where parents can check grades constantly.

But my main feeling is that we're not creating positive environments that make kids want to learn. I taught math for 25+ years, a subject most kids hated. I would tell them that although they might not like math particularly, the were most likely going to be enjoy being in my class. They did enjoy it because I created a caring supportive environment for them.

Funny thing is when you do create that kind of classroom, kids thrive and begin to push themselves much farther than they intended to go. I remember one young man who was in my Algebra II class. He wasn't expecting to like math but he enjoyed the class so much that he signed up for Advanced Math the following year. It was the tougest year of his life math-wise but he perservered and passed. He is now a new husband, father, police officer and recent returnee from Iraq. Who can say whether how he pushed himself in Advanced Math helped to make him the wonderful man he is today?

For those teachers who are creating an adversarial type classroom, please think about how different life could be for your students...and for you...if you made their one year journey in your class a fun adventure.

And for those of you who are having fun while nurturing and challenging our kids to grow...my deepest thanks!

Secrets of Success: Why are we boring our students?

I'm back tutoring math again. As I looked at the notebook of one of the young men I'm working with, I saw the word "bored" written several times. Bored. Why are we boring our students? In fact, in a survey of 1000 students boredom was listed as the number one issue students had with school.

I taught math for 25 years and I know I had my boring days. In fact as I've probably written here before, I bored myself so much that I quit! Lucky for me I had spent the time away acting in a professional children's theatre company.

When I came back, I had a whole new way to teach. I began to blend the entertainment strategies I used to hold the attention of little children with the math instruction. Everything began to change. I didn't entertain them per se but I did realize that if I was boring myself, what was I doing to them?

Why are we boring our kids? Sometimes we forget we're not teaching little teachers. They're not interested in our subject as much as we are. We're got to find a way not to bore them. I know teachers are not trained to be entertainers but we do have to begin to find ways to capture our student's attention and interest. We've got to face facts. Kids are used to being entertained and if we're going to be effective, we've got to find the tools to make our classes into fun places to learn.

Need some help? I'd be happy to do so. I've been speaking on this topic for several years after seeing the dramatic changes in both my math classes and the Strategies of Success program I created. I'll be offering a teleconference this January where I will share many of the strategies I used to engage students.

More later...

Secrets of Success: Why don't they teach that in school?

I spent an interesting weekend at the Learning Annex seminar in Boston. I heard speakers from Donald Trump to Tony Robbins to Robert Kiyosaki (Of Rich Dad, Poor Dad fame). I even heard George Forman. They talked about what makes people successful primarily in the financial arena. And each of them said that our kids were not being taught financial literacy in school.

I have mixed feelings when I hear those comments. I know how hard I worked in the classroom to prepare my students for life. And I know that many other teachers do the same. But since I've also been in the business world for over ten years, I know that the way we teach needs some serious upgrading.

I made some massive changes in my teaching style in the last five years I taught after I began attending the mega business seminars. Nationally recognized speakers need to be highly effective to continuously hold the attention of their large audiences they attract or they're out of business. As teachers we really need to take notice. I know that when I began teaching using some of the technique of speakers...everything changed.

Oh...and by the way Robert Kiyosaki...I do teach financial literacy. I listened when you said we need to teach this in schools and it's been in my course for over 6 years now!

more on this next time....