. This newsletter can also be viewed at: http://www.coachingforexcellence.biz/Newsletter.htm
Inside Out |
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October 23, 2007-- Volume 3, Issue 10 |
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A Message from Kim |
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Hi Everyone, I know it's been a while since I last communicated with you but I'm back at it now and ready to go! This has been an incredibly productive and exciting summer. I taught Choice Theory in Kenya, addressed an audience of civilian and military folks in Hawaii on diversity, taught cultural awareness in Rhode Island, taught Basic Weeks in Reality Therapy to at least five different agencies in Pennsylvania and consulted with the NBA on diversity issues. It's been an incredible summer but I'm back to my regular routine and wanted to immediately get back to you with a topic I believe many of you are thinking about--back to school issues. I am so excited to announce that a branch of Coaching for Excellence, LLC, called "The Alliance of Chicago Trainers", is putting on an Empowerment Symposium on October 27, 2007 at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, IL. This is a great opportunity for the general public to hear some empowering messages. It is also advantageous for teachers, social workers, counselors, and business people. Anyone with clientele or employees they want to empower can benefit. It you have an event and are looking for a speaker, this is the place to go. You will get to see some major talent showcased at this event. You won't want to miss it. Make today the day you want it to be! |
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In This Issue |
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Feature Article Upcoming Events Book Review |
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Quality School Teacher There is a program that is run by the William Glasser Institute called, "The Quality School" program. It is an outstanding program that gets to the heart of school failure and disengagement. It is not based on fancy curriculum. No, instead it focuses on building need-satisfying relationships with students so that they will want to learn. Competency-based learning is the focus and the results are that students’ scores on standardized testing significantly increases and discipline problems are greatly reduced. This program is only endorsed when an entire building is on board with Glasser’s teachings. That means everyone in the school has to be trained in Choice Theory—teachers, administrators, custodial staff, cafeteria workers and students. It is not always possible for every teacher who wants to implement Glasser’s ideas to work in a Quality School. There are many teachers who are trying to do this alone or with one other partner. It is certainly more difficult but definitely not impossible. This is why Glasser wrote the book, The Quality School Teacher, as a follow up to The Quality School, so every teacher who wants to create a quality classroom can do so even if his or her school is not following the same principles. What does a quality classroom look like? Well, first of all it is up to the teacher to reach out to every student in an attempt to connect in some meaningful way. Forming positive relationships is crucial in a quality classroom. How do you do that? One of the first things a teacher can do is learn everyone’s name and greet them warmly when they enter the classroom. Engage in conversation to determine some common interest. Inquire when things seem a little out of sorts. This will help with the need for love & belonging. Teachers will also teach their students about the Deadly and the Caring Habits and encourage everyone to use the Caring Habits to facilitate positive relationships between them. Another way to create a need-satisfying environment is to help students feel safe. This is done by establishing a minimum of non-negotiables in the classroom. I recommend having three. First, everyone is going to be safe in the room. Second, people will respect one another and their property. And finally, no one should interfere with anyone who is trying to learn. Once these have been established and agreed upon (after all, what student is going to say they don’t want to be safe, respected, or have the ability to learn if he or she chooses to do so?), then most of the students will help keep each other on track and the teacher’s job becomes relatively easy. Quality School Teachers recognize that there are times when students are not going to be of the mindset to learn. I am an adult educator and even in my stimulating, dynamic workshops, occasionally a participant will nod off after lunch! Your students are no different. One time that is historically difficult is that moment of the first snowfall for the year if you happen to live in a colder climate. A Quality School Teacher would recognize the obstacle and provide his or her students with the opportunity to just stop, turn and look out the window. After about five minutes of this, students are ready to get back into the learning mode. This is so much more effective than trying to teach through the students’ and possibly the teacher’s awe and excitement. A quality classroom would have a space in the room where a student could go if he or she were having difficulty managing his or her behavior in class. It would be a comfortable place where students could voluntarily go to “get themselves together.” This provides an opportunity for students to self-correct and self-discipline and well as gives the teacher another option other than to eject the student from the classroom, which would be damaging to the relationship. There are many other elements of a quality classroom and you can learn more about it by visiting the blogs of two teachers I taught Choice Theory to this summer—Denise Leifer and Vicki Chambers at http://newwavescience.blogspot.com and http://radical-teaching.blogspot.com, respectively. They will be blogging about their efforts to implement Choice Theory in their classrooms this year. Check them out, provide encouragement and perhaps even attempt to implement some of your own strategies. It’s an exciting journey these two teachers are on and you can watch their journey unfold.
Copyright © October 2007 Kim Olver. All rights reserved
NOTICE: This article is free and can be copied and reproduced |
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*Click Here to read some of Kim's other articles* |
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Teleconferences All teleconferences are free, one (1) hour in length and all you need is a telephone. When you register we will send you a phone number that you will call five minutes prior to the start of your teleconference. You will have the opportunity to ask questions, but if you prefer to just listen that’s all right too. You do not need a computer or Internet, only a telephone. Don’t delay. There are a limited number of slots available. The following Teleconferences are FREE
Empowered Leadership How would you like your leaders to be more effective? How would you like to create a work environment that is empowering to your employees? Register for this call and learn the skills necessary to create an empowered workforce for both management and your employees. Time Management Learn how to manage and prioritize your time in a more efficient manner. Goal Setting & Attainment Are you serious about attaining your goals this year? Do you want to do more than make a New Year's Resolution that you forget by the time the Super Bowl is on television? Join me on the free teleconference to learn my time-tested 7-Step process for Goal Attainment. We will do more than set goals--we will discuss a system to implement that will exponentially increase your opportunity for success. Also, my Goal Attainment System is multi-faceted. You won't just be focusing your attention on your career goals unless you want to. My system has you take a look at all areas of your life so you can accomplish an optimal work/life balance for yourself. There is nothing to lose but an hour of your time and so much to gain. Let's make this year your best year yet! Celebrate Diversity Do you maintain a diverse workforce in your place of business? Do you celebrate diversity? Would you like to learn how to create a diverse workplace that embraces diversity? Register for this call and learn how creating a diverse workforce in your place of business can increase your bottom line and create a more pleasant work environment for you, your co-workers and your employees. Choice Theory & Reality Therapy January 29, 2008 -- 8:45 - 9:45 p.m. This class will preview the revolutionary work of one of the greatest thinkers of our time, Dr. William Glasser. During the call, you will learn the basic tenants and concepts of Choice Theory, an explanation of human behavior; Reality Therapy, a process of self-reflection that encourages problem solution and self-growth; Lead Management, a democratic style of leadership that is not only effective in managing workers, but is also effective with the management of students in the classroom and for agencies working with non-voluntary clients; and Quality Schools, a new way of teaching and managing the classroom environment that creates trust, quality relationships, and improved test scores. Sign up today. Workshops Empowerment Symposium The Alliance of Chicago Trainers have put together an amazing day of motivation and inspiration. We will have six of our most passionate speakers here to motivate and teach you what they know. Their thought provoking speeches and workshops will incite you to take the next step in your career and in your personal life. The cost of this day includes lunch, as well as, a magnificent opportunity to network and meet people. In between each speech or workshop there will be an opportunity to purchase products. Diversity from the Inside Out Discover how to create a diverse workplace that embraces diversity. Register for workshop now and discover how creating a diverse workforce in your place of business can increase profits, reduce turnover, and create a more pleasant and productive work environment for you, your co-workers and your employees. Introduction to Choice Theory Stop believing that some degree of unhappiness is necessary in this life and that relationships are always difficult and tumultuous. It doesn’t have to be that way! You can be happy and satisfied in your relationships. All it takes is some adjustments in the things you are doing and the thoughts that dominate your life. Learn the concepts of Choice Theory® and see the difference it will make. Empowered Leadership Empowered leadership is based on the teachings of W. Edwards Deming and Dr. William Glasser, both of whom had excellent models to capitalize on the talents and abilities of the workforce for the growth and development of the company. In this workshop you will learn concrete steps you can take to achieve the results you want. Finally, real answers to creating an environment that empowers your entire workforce, both management and employees. If you want to keep pace with the changing times, now is the time to take action! Goal Attainment Every year millions of people make their “New Year’s Resolutions” and every year many of those same people make the same resolution again. Are you one of those people? Do you know why you are not achieving your goals year after year? I know you start out the year strong and determined that this will be the year you will lose weight, go back to school, buy a home, look for a new job, complete that project etc… and you suddenly find another year has gone by and your list is not only the same, but it has gotten longer! You have new goals to achieve. That is why it is so important to work on your goals now! My Goal Attainment Workshop will give you the strategies you need to make a plan, manage your time while still maintaining a positive attitude and staying motivated until you complete your goals. Reality Therapy & Choice Theory In this week long workshop, you will learn so much about yourself, others and life in general. You will learn Choice Theory, a new psychology of personal freedom. Its practice will help you gain control over your life by focusing on those things you can change. Learn a four-step problem-solving method that will ensure your success. Use the same approach to help others self-evaluate their own behavior. This process is helpful for friends, children, parents, or anyone in your life looking for solutions. You will be able to help. Choice Theory can be applied in all areas of your life and its application to various areas will be discussed this week. If you are seeking more peace and concrete solutions, then this workshop is for you. |
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Chat Room All Chats are from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. EST |
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"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, --John Quincy Adams This is what I believe good teachers are. You are leaders by inspiring your students. Many of the at-risk students have given up on dreaming, learning and doing. It is your job to befriend them, show them a better way through your actions and support their attempts to move in a positive direction. Do this and you will truly have an impact and make a huge difference. I wish you well on your journey. |
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Shadow Children: Understanding Education's #1 Problem This is a great book for anyone who comes in contact with at-risk youth. Dr. Dallmann-Jones actually speaks of at-risk youth in a different way from the mainstream. It isn't just the youth who are struggling behaviorally or academically, it is those youth who just fall through the cracks--the ones no one seems to notice. These are the kids who really need your attention. In a Glasser Quality School, relationships are the key to success with
students. Dr. Dallmann-Jones speaks of the importance of connecting with
your students. He then goes on to list essential components of effective Dr. Dallmann-Jones is the founder of the National At-Risk Education Network
(NAREN), which does great work to support the educators who are rising to
the challenge of working with at-risk youth. Check out this website at
www.atriskeducation.net. Click here to order this book |
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It is important to have a place in the classroom where students can go to regain control over themselves. First you must teach students that they have the ability to control themselves. I like to borrow from Stephen Covey by saying that between the stimulus and the response is a gap and in that gap is your ability to choose your response. Once students understand the only person's whose behavior they can control is their own, then they can go about the process of doing do. Provide them with a place--an oversized comfortable chair--where they can elect to sit when they are feeling particularly challenged. This will greatly reduce incidents of classroom misbehavior and will keep the student in the classroom instead of constantly being sent to the office for correction or discipline. If we keep sending children to the dean, principal or assistant principal for discipline, we are sending the message that they can't control themselves. Is this really the message you want them to learn? |
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Question: As a teacher, I am very concerned that if I allow certain things in my classroom that are unconventional, like allowing a particular student to listen to his or her ipod, then everyone is going want to do it and I'll lose all control over the class. Answer: This is a common fear. Anytime we start talking about creating a need-satisfying environment, those in charge think, "If I give an inch, they'll take a mile." Initially, you will most likely see some of this. If you allow one student to have an ipod, yes, everyone will want one. So you allow it across the board. What you will see happen, is that gradually, the novelty will wear off and only those students who really benefit from listening to music will continue to use their ipod. So often when we create rules that have no real substance, we are creating the very behavior we are trying to stop. Tell kids they can't have ipods at school and they are trying to figure out ways to listen to music in school. Allow it and they will generally not abuse the privilege. If a student does, then deal with that student individually. Don't punish all students for the act of one.
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