| Along with my full-time job as a middle school | | | | water, but you can't make him drink". |
| social studies teacher I also teach a college level | | | | I have been trying to stress this point to my |
| course on classroom management. In that course | | | | college students and I believe it is finally starting |
| I use my own books ("eteach: A Teacher | | | | to sink in... |
| Resource" and "52 Teaching Tips") as well as | | | | During my last few college classes more and |
| Harry Wong's book "The First Days of School" | | | | more students have been telling me what new |
| and Harry Wong's videos "The Effective Teacher". | | | | teaching strategy they have tried. Nothing makes |
| While I do not agree with everything that Harry | | | | me happier than this |
| Wong teaches, by and large our teaching | | | | One student flat out told me that she thought my |
| philosophies are very similar. | | | | "giving-students-a-break-during-class" tip was nuts. |
| More than anything though, what I agree with | | | | However, she followed my advice and gave it try |
| most is what comes at the end of the Harry | | | | and was shocked at the positive impact this |
| Wong videos...Wong asks everyone in the | | | | simple teaching tip had on her class. |
| audience to say "Own It!" if they plan to go back | | | | Another student told me that she took my |
| to school and actually implement the teaching | | | | advice about using movie clips, labs, and other |
| strategies taught in his presentation. | | | | hands-on activities at the beginning of the lesson |
| Now, while it is not exactly my style to shout out | | | | rather than the end of lesson and was thrilled at |
| "own it!" in front of a bunch of people, I absolutely | | | | how excited her kids were to want to learn more |
| agree with the point he is trying to make... | | | | about the topic. |
| The fact of the matter is, you can study all the | | | | I even had a student approach me about how |
| teaching tips and teaching strategies in the world, | | | | much she loved using the interaction sequence |
| but they will do you no good if you do not | | | | (by far the most effective teaching strategy I |
| actually implement these teaching strategies in | | | | have ever used - explained in great detail in |
| your own classroom. | | | | "eTeach: A Teacher Resource"). She described |
| I tell my college students one of three things will | | | | how this simple teaching tip has literally |
| happen if you try the teaching tips discussed in | | | | transformed one of her worst students and she |
| my class and taught in my ebooks... 1. The | | | | can't believe she ever taught a day without it. |
| teaching tip will not work and you will never use it | | | | What separates these effective teachers from |
| again. 2. The teaching tip works, but needs some | | | | other non-effective teachers? |
| modification to fit your teaching style and your | | | | Not much more than a simple willingness to take |
| student's learning style. 3. The teaching tip works | | | | risks. |
| like a charm and you can not imagine how you | | | | All these teachers did was apply what they have |
| ever taught a day without it. | | | | learned. |
| However, the only way any of this can happen is | | | | Remember...to be a truly effective teacher one |
| if you actually give the teaching tips a chance...you | | | | must not just continue to learn new teaching |
| must try them out and test them yourself to | | | | strategies...to be a truly effective teacher one |
| know for sure whether or not they work. | | | | must actually implement those teaching strategies |
| As the old saying goes, "You can bring a horse to | | | | in the classroom. |