Teachers Do Make a Difference : The Teacher's Guide to Connecting with Students

by Judith A. Deiro

• ISBN13: 9781412906531
• ISBN10: 1412906539
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-11-24
• Publisher: Corwin Pr

Summary

Teachers make a difference not only in what their students learn about content, but in what they learn about life! Closing the achievement gap and creating high-performing schools depends not on what we teach but how we teach. The most powerful and effective way teachers can help students overcome negative influences in their environment as well as succeed in becoming their best selves is by developing close and caring connections with them. Developing quality relationships with students is key to their healthy development. Teachers DO Make a Difference gives teachers strategies, guidelines, and real-life examples of how to build and enrich close and trusting teacher-student relationships. This important new resource covers key topics including: Setting high expectations for students Conveying confidence in student capabilities Creating classroom rituals and traditions Networking with family and community Developing strong interpersonal skills Identifying relational resources Communicating appropriate caring and respect in the classroom Healthy connections with teachers are associated with a decrease in behavioral problems and an increase in social and academic skills. The relationships we develop with our students are at the heart of how we make a difference.

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix
Bonnie Benard
Preface	xi
A Little Book for Busy Teachers	xii
Overview	xiii
Making a Difference	xiii
Acknowledgments	xiv
About the Author	xv
Our Changing Roles as Teachers	1	(14)
Changing Student Needs and the Teacher's Role	2	(1)
The Answers in This Little Book	2	(1)
The Key to Making a Difference	3	(1)
Healthy Connections Equal Healthy Development	3	(5)
What Happened?	4	(1)
Education's Response to Societal Shifts	5	(1)
Technology Further Complicates the Problem	5	(1)
What Did We Lose?	5	(1)
Working Toward a Solution	6	(1)
Teachers Play a Key Role	6	(1)
Research Documenting the Power of Teachers	7	(1)
Meeting Students' Needs: The Caring Teacher	8	(4)
Appropriate Ways to Develop Close and Trusting Relationships	9	(1)
Guidelines for Caring Behavior in Teacher-Student Relationships	10	(2)
Critical Answers and More Questions	12	(3)
Making Healthy Connections With Students	15	(30)
What We Do to Make a Difference	16	(1)
A Little About the Study	16	(1)
Meet the Teachers	17	(4)
Teachers From Inner City High School	17	(1)
Meet the Teachers Chart	18	(1)
Teachers From Rural City High School	19	(1)
Teachers From Suburb Junior High School	20	(1)
Ways to Make Healthy Connections With Students	21	(1)
Creating One-to-One Time With Students	21	(11)
Common Styles for Creating One-to-One Time	22	(3)
Distinct Styles for Creating One-to-One Time	25	(6)
Summary of Ways to Create One-to-One Time	31	(1)
Using Appropriate Self-Disclosure	32	(3)
Pam's Style of Self-Disclosure	32	(2)
Tom's Style of Self-Disclosure	34	(1)
Having High Expectations of Students	35	(3)
Tom's Style of High Expectations of Students	36	(1)
High Expectation for Teachers, Too	37	(1)
Networking With Family and Friends	38	(3)
Making Connections With Family and Friends	38	(2)
Limitations on Opportunities for Making Connections	40	(1)
Building a Sense of Community Among Students	41	(2)
Providing Rituals and Traditions	43	(1)
Summary of the Ways to Create Healthy Connections With Students	44	(1)
Communicating to Our Students That We Care	45	(12)
Treating Students With Dignity and Respect	46	(2)
The Authoritative Parenting Model	47	(1)
The Key to Conveying Caring	47	(1)
Ways to Show Respect for Students	48	(4)
Treating Students as Adults	48	(1)
Disciplining With Respect	49	(1)
Using Humor When We Discipline	50	(1)
Handling Our Own Discipline Problems	51	(1)
Creating a Culturally Relevant Environment	52	(1)
How Students Respond to Respectful Treatment	52	(2)
How Respect Affects Student Learning	53	(1)
Student Receptiveness to a Teacher's Caring	54	(1)
Summary of How We Communicate Caring	54	(3)
Student Inventory	55	(1)
How to Score the Student Inventory Worksheet	56	(1)
What It Takes to Revitalize Ourselves	57	(22)
How We Can Revitalize Ourselves	58	(1)
Rewards and Feeling Competent	58	(1)
Beliefs About the Role of Teachers and Teaching	59	(7)
Belief One: Student Growth and Maturation Is the Key Educational Goal	60	(1)
Belief Two: The Purpose of Teaching Is to Be of Service and Make a Difference	61	(1)
Belief Three: Teachers Must Handle Their Power Ethically	62	(1)
Belief Four: Curriculum Is a Means of Promoting Student Growth	63	(1)
Belief Five: Teaching Is a Valued and Valuable Profession	64	(1)
Belief Six: Classroom Teaching Is More Fulfilling Than Administrative Work	65	(1)
Summary of Personal Beliefs as Inner Resources	65	(1)
Personal Qualities That Enhance Connecting With Students	66	(8)
Quality One: Genuineness	66	(1)
Quality Two: Tolerance for Imperfection	67	(1)
Quality Three: Sense of Personal Accountability	68	(1)
Quality Four: Tolerance for Ambiguity	69	(2)
Quality Five: Nonjudgmental Attitude	71	(1)
Quality Six: Sense of Humor	72	(1)
Quality Seven: Ability to Personally Detach	72	(1)
Summary of Personal Qualities for Connecting	73	(1)
Interpersonal Skills That Enhance Connecting With Students	74	(4)
Skill One: Interpersonal Communication Skills	74	(1)
Skill Two: Conflict Resolution Skills	74	(2)
Skill Three: Relational Skills From Childhood Experiences	76	(1)
Skill Four: Getting Support From Family, Friends, and Professionals	77	(1)
Summary of What It Takes to Revitalize Ourselves	78	(1)
Yeah, I Hear You, But . . .	79	(44)
The Good News	80	(1)
Yes, But . . .	80	(1)
Responding to Concerns	81	(4)
Just Like You or Me	85	(1)
Some Concluding Thoughts	85	(2)
Resources: Supporting Data From Each Teacher
Resource 1: Discipline as Moral Guidance	87	(2)
Resource 2: Treating Students With Dignity and Respect	89	(2)
Resource 3: Creating a Safe Learning Environment	91	(3)
Resource 4: Student Recognition of and Reaction to Respectful Treatment	94	(2)
Resource 5: Student Receptiveness to and Perception of a Teacher's Caring	96	(2)
Resource 6: Commitment to Student Learning	98	(2)
Resource 7: Personal Motivation to Be a Teacher	100	(2)
Resource 8: Power of the Position	102	(2)
Resource 9: Subject as a Vehicle	104	(2)
Resource 10: Viewing Themselves as Professionals	106	(2)
Resource 11: Genuineness	108	(2)
Resource 12: Accountability for Mistakes	110	(2)
Resource 13: Sense of Personal Accountability	112	(2)
Resource 14: Nonjudgmental Stance	114	(2)
Resource 15: Humor	116	(2)
Resource 16: Effective Communication Skills	118	(2)
Resource 17: Conflict Resolution Skills	120	(3)
References	123	(4)
Index	127