Rewarding Unsatisfactory Behavior

Beware of giving rewards to students with less than satisfactory behavior. The assumption is that “he or she has done good enough.” However, this is a student who constantly disrupts the class, bother others and defy your instructions on the regular. You may feel a little sympathy for him, but you are doing him a disfavor if you go ahead let him participate in the pizza party.

Let him understand that bad behavior has stiff consequences, not only in the classroom but outside the classroom as well. Making a child see the error of his ways before he becomes an adult or old enough to be held accountable by the legal system could go a long way in helping him to escape worse scenarios in the future.

Ignoring Disturbing Behavior

Beware of ignoring disturbing behavior until later. Many teachers’ novice teachers get so overwhelmed in the classroom that they put off responding to a significant disturbance until a later time. Consider this scenario: you are teaching a very important lesson. I said comes up to you and tell you about a kid who is doing something very inappropriate. However, you tell the kid that you will take care of the matter later.  But as time passes you forget about the issue altogether and the situation never gets resolved.

Never ignore the disturbing behavior of a student. I have known Friend educators who faced the wrath of parents and administration for not responding to significant misbehavior in the classroom. Never allow this to happen to you. Respond immediately to disturbing situations.

Tolerating Argumentative Students

Engaging in arguments with students is a big mistake. First, you are an adult. You are the teacher. You command the classroom. You have the power to send the child out of the classroom as well as call his parents.

Why argue word for word with a child who doesn’t know where he is or doesn’t know the purpose for being in school? Such child needs to be reminded time and time again that he isn’t the adult in the classroom. If he attempts to drag you into an argument, don’t fall for it. Neutralize his attempts by sending him out of the classroom.

You will get more respect from other students who see your decisiveness in refusing to tolerate insubordination.

Your goal is to be the best teacher you can possibly be. For every disruptive student, you have five who desire to learn and become the best they can be.

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According to Roland G. Fryer at Education Next, “On average, black students typically score one standard deviation below white students on standardized tests–roughly the difference in performance between the average 4th grader and the average 8th grader.”

This Achievement gap remains highly discouraging.

According to  Valerie Strauss of the  Washington Post, “The persistent gap in the District reflects on the questionable nature of some of the reforms that have been implemented in the city and elsewhere around the country — which too often ignore the outside-of-school influences that affect how well a student does in class.”

Non-academic influence plays a significant part in a child’s motivation to succeed in school.

No doubt, there has been some educational progress made on various local levels across the United States. But the overall initiative to elevate African American students to the level of academic competence needed to be successful in life has been elusive.

So the question is why African Americans students are still behind and why the achievement gap is so difficult to close. I believe there are several reasons.

Lack of Understanding of Life Skills

One reason African American student trail other students in academic achievement is the misconception of how life works.  Millions of black students are not aware that hard work and perseverance is a necessity in life if success is to be achieved. These principles are largely ignored on the domestic front. Many African American homes are in turmoil day in and day out.

Poverty, drugs, crime and disregard for meaningful progress are the pitfalls of the black community in America.  A mentality of living for today characterizes daily existence. The preference for pleasure over hard work and purpose is the dominant mentality, especially in many oppressed African American communities.

The parents are not largely to blame for this overwhelming preference for pleasure.  African American culture, especially in the music sphere, has had a massive influence on the young black Americans. The entrance of gangster rap music in the black community played a significant role in hijacking the minds of young black men.

The negative messages sent into the black community created a poisonous perception of life, a life in which women are degraded, and bitterness against others is glorified.  Others may disagree, but I believe this conclusion with immense conviction.

Before the introduction of gangster rap, a sense of brother and sister hood existed in the black community.  Strong brotherhood, respect for women, teachers, and the community were powerful attributes of black culture.

Lack of Life Altering Discussions

The most important person in a child’s life remains his or her parents. Whatever words parents say or don’t say will lead and guide their children throughout life.  A parent’s failure to have life altering discussions with their children is like allowing a toddler to walk toward an open well where snakes and crocodiles dwell in massive numbers.

If you examine the lives of the most successful people in life, you will discover that they attribute their success to an encouraging message their parents told them at a younger age. This parental obligation is the key. Parents must instill a success mentality within their child at an age (infant to 10 years) in which the child is still receptive.

But what should a parent tell her child? The most important words I think a child should hear from the lips of a parent is that they are” unique, loved, and made for excellence in all which he or she does.”  A child should hear these words over and over again over the course of many years.

The sole responsibility of African American parents is to teach their children the value of success and progress in life.

Not only should a parent teach their children success, but they should also do all in their power to talk and walk success as well. Small children are imitative. For the most part, children do what they see their parents or other adults do.

Lack of Teachers of Color

Let’s face it. Studies show that African American Students, as well as Hispanics, Asian and Native Americans, can often relate more effectively with teachers that represent their ethnicity. Not to say the Caucasian teachers are not effective. This myth is furthest from the truth.  Some of my best teachers were Caucasian. I related well to them. But I also delighted in sitting in a classroom where black teachers were in charge.

Studies show that black children often rebel because they are cast into an environment in which they cannot relate. They find it difficult relating to Caucasian teachers.  Many come from oppressive homes and environments which are hostile toward Caucasian people in general.

Some students are going to be rebellious regardless of whether the teacher is black or white, but I have discovered in many instances were black children acted totally different when in the presence of a black instructor.

Warnings and Recommendations

In examining the reasons for failure in African American education community, the next step is to discover ways to resolve the issue. The plight of African American Education cannot be ignored.  For society to pretend as if nothing is happening is a gross betrayal.

Initiatives which include all facets of society must be implemented to close the achievement gap between black and white students.

Districts must discover new and better ways to enhance African American Education:

• Get parents to make more life altering discussions with their children. Such discussions will help shape a positive mentality in students. Parental influence is the most powerful way of instilling self-esteem in children. Unfortunately, many young parents may have to be trained how to instill success within their child.
• Hire more teachers of color. There should be a massive effort to get more African American teachers into the classrooms. Having a more multicultural teacher force will enhance the entire school environment and create a sense of meaningful connection.
• Train more non-African American teachers how to relate the black children. Let’s face it many non-African-American teachers are at a loss when it comes to effectively relating the African American Students. Because of this sense of confusion, many teachers give up and become frustrated and settle for less than perfect efforts from black students.
• Offering classes which teach on black culture and oppressive communities will go a long way in understanding African American culture.
• Implement more effective programs than “No Child Left Behind.” An effective program must not place the burden of educating students solely on teachers. It will take a village oriented approach to healing the African American community and close the achievement gap among white, black and Hispanics students.

One new initiative offers great hope. Promise Neighborhood is an educational program designed to guarantee that ” all children and youth  living in Promise Neighborhoods have access to state of the art schools and strong systems of family and community support that empower them to attain an excellent education and successful transition to collage and a career.”

The purpose of the program is to target and maximize the educational outcome of children living in the most oppressive communities.  The African American education condition demands more programs of this nature. As I mentioned earlier, a village concept is the most effective approach for transforming African American Education and closing the achievement gap.

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However, the practice of establishing smooth classroom transitions should involve taking students through a step by step training process. This will require constant repetition until the idea of transitional mastery is forged in the minds of every student.

Executing the Plan

The mastery of classroom transitions should be a school wide effort, with administration leading the way and then teachers executing the plan throughout the day. Administrations should make a major effort explaining the significance of transitions during assembly time.

Types of Transitions

There are several types of transitions. The most common ones are these:

• Subject to subject transitions
• Station to station transition
• Classroom to class room transition
• Classroom to bathroom transitions
• Classroom to specials transitions
• Classroom to lunch transition

All school transitions should be taught on three levels: verbally, physically and materially. Using these three approaches have a way of instilling the concept of brilliant transitions in the minds, hearts and spirit of each student.

Verbally

Teachers must emphasize the importance of classroom transition before each major switch from one thing to another. Never feel that students are getting tired of hearing about transitions; some need to be reminded on a constant basis. Sooner or later students will begin to honor your directives, anticipating your reminders and what is expected of them in transition times.

Physically

Teachers must find time out of a busy schedule and actually train students on how to perform a smooth transition. This should be step by step implementation. During training students practice over and over again until they get it right. If they do not get it right, the first, second, and third time, they should start back over again.

Manually

In the first few months of the school year, students need to get in the practice of writing down the significance of good classroom transitions. Studies show that the act of writing down something impresses the idea upon the psyche. Writing down the guidelines of smooth and brilliant transitions will go a long way of helping hard-to-listen students master their responsibilities when it is time for classroom transitions.

In addition to having students write the rules of transitions, teachers and administration should have poster-reminders located in various points in the hallways as well as the cafeteria. The importance of mastering transitions cannot be overstated. The culture of learning dramatically increase when the idea of perfect transitions are promoted.

The mastery of classroom transitions carries a number of transformative benefits, including,

• Accelerated learning
• Enhanced mental focus
• Better seatwork execution
• Stronger teacher-student connection
• Increased instructional value
• Improved student collaboration

The chaos of classroom transitions must become a priority to teachers and administrators if a dynamic whole-school learning environment is to be established. When students understand the importance of smooth and brilliant classroom transition to their education, the majority will be motivated to fall in line with the expectations of administrators and teachers.

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When students know that you, as an exceptional teacher, are in constant New Recommendations for Teacher Training: The Well-Rounded Approach to Student Learning communication with their parents regarding academic matters, these student s tend to be more motivated to learn. I discovered this in my third year as an elementary teaching. I had a little boy who presented a major challenge in the classroom. He couldn’t pay attention to instructions for a minute without interrupting me or aggravating some other students. I often took away privileges, administered timeouts and buddy rooms breaks to no avail.

So I decided to arrange a conference with his mother in order to find a way to work together to help the child. I discovered that the mother worked two jobs and was unable to spend any significant time with her little boy. But I cautioned her that something had to be done because her child was failing and failing badly. In fact, he was close to getting dismissed from the school program because of his many visits to the principal’s office.

I told the mother if we worked together (encouraging and motivating him) we might significantly alters her son’s destiny. Concerned about her son’s progress, the mother quit her night job and concentrated on helping her son in several areas of academic weaknesses. For weeks, I kept in contact with her as we worked together. What happened was nothing short of a miracle. The child had made a 360 degree turn around and became a model student in class, both academically and behaviorally.

The purpose of teachers is to find ways to help students achieve and love it. Connecting with parents is the best way to realize this. We must let parents know that we have their best interest in mind when it comes to educating their child. Sometime this effort may take us beyond what is expected of us as teachers, but if we desire to be among the best and make a significant difference in the life of a struggling student, the investment is worthwhile.

Teachers, who are in the classroom just for the money, don’t really care about going the extra mile. They would rather concentrate on the good, well-behaved students. Such teacher’s do only what is expected of them. But the thoughts of exceptional teachers are always on their students, whether they are at work or taking care of personal business on the weekend.

Strategies for Developing Strong Parent Relationships

Establish Constant Communication

Our job in educating children begins with developing a constant communication cycle with the parents. We can do this in several ways. We can make phone calls, write letters or send emails. Phone calls should be made in urgent or emergency situations, which may include severe discipline issues, school crises or snow days.

Letters should be mailed out to inform parents of important events such as teacher/parent conferences, staff development days and special school activities. Sending emails can include all the above, but takes a more personal tone, such as informing the parent that you are proud of her child’s progress or that you are excited about working together on behalf of his or her child.

Some teachers advocate making constant trips to a child’s home, but this approach can be very invasive in the beginning of a new parent/teacher relationship. It all depends on the demeanor of the parents as well as the atmosphere of the home environment. Many times the home situation is not conducive for teacher /parent interactions. Instead, parents and teachers can meet at a neutral place such as a library or restaurant if necessary.

Present your vision for the Child

Telling parents about your vision regarding their child makes them happy to have you as a dependable teacher. Parents are excited about teachers who have the best interest of their child in mind. When you tell them where you want to take the child academically during the course of the school year, you create positive expectations.

Parents are happy when they have a way to measure the progress of their children. Teachers who present to parents a vision plan for the child stands head and shoulders above everyone else. These are the type of teachers who make it to the peak of their profession and receive great rewards.

Discover Parent Expectations for their Child

You must not only present your vision for the child, but exceptional teachers always find out what parents want for their children. When we ask parents what they expect for their child to learn in our classroom, then they know that we are sincere about educating them. Parents have expectations for their children, but sometimes their expectations must be sparked by the teacher’s inquiry.

Since many parents are working and sweating hard to make ends meet, they don’t have the time to contemplate the goals they have regarding their children’s academic progress. But a meeting with the teacher at various times within the school year can ignite awareness.
Once you know the expectations of the parents, assure them that working together for the betterment of their child will pay dividends both academically and ethically.

We as teachers must not cast aside the importance of good parent/teacher relationships. I believe that this neglected area is one the main reasons that the achievement gap still remains to be closed. The old adage, “It takes a village to raise a child,” is no more apparent in our struggling school system here in America. All must become involved (teachers, parents, community) in order to create the quality of education needed for the future success of our children as well as the nation.

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