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Tag: classroom management

Networking 101 for Teachers

Networking 101 for Teachers by Jo Lein, founder of the Teaching & Leading Initiative of Oklahoma, adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University and, Leadership Coach at Tulsa Public Schools We all know the repeated line from the classic Princess Bride. “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” If you have seen this movie as much as I have, the repetition of this line may live in your head. But we can learn about how to effectively build relationships and network from this line. Classroom Management Workshop. Join us to learn effective strategies for managing

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Praising Students Effectively

Praising Students Effectively by Jo Lein, founder of the Teaching & Leading Initiative of Oklahoma, adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University and, Leadership Coach at Tulsa Public Schools Levi, a second grader, had always struggled in school. Known for his fun-loving, yet sometimes disruptive attitude, Levi was always the life of the party. Teachers loved spending time one-on-one with Levi. He would share insights about the world, ask thoughtful questions, and stay focused on what he was expected to do. But when Levi got into a crowd of peers, he would lose focus, run around, and even get physical with

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Five Ways to Engage Your Class Today

Five Ways to Engage Your Class Today by Katie Kinder 1. Stage your room! Hook your students into your curriculum by staging your room in a different way. That could be rearranging desks into tables to form small socratic seminars. Draping curtains on your windows to create a certain mood. The sky’s the limit!   2. Build movement into your lesson every day! It could be a simple brain break or create partners across the room in which they must collaborate with, and then return to their seats. Gallery Walks, Carousel, Silent Debates on paper! There are a plethora of

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Effectively Communicating with Parents via Email

Effectively Communicating with Families via Email by Jo Lein, founder of the Teaching & Leading Initiative of Oklahoma, adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University and, Leadership Coach at Tulsa Public Schools Years ago, I got an email from a parent asking why her daughter was failing. I assumed that this mom knew about all of the missing assignments considering the progress reports going home regularly. Here was my response: Dear Mom,Thank you for your email. As you saw from her progress reports, Jessica is missing a number of assignments. She has received all of her assignments and I am waiting

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Classroom Management: The Importance of Strong Directions

The Importance of Strong Directions by Jo Lein, Executive Director of Teaching and Leading Initiative of Oklahoma In my first year of teaching, I would consider myself a bit all over the place when it came to classroom management. One day I was on top of everything and the next I wanted to throw in the towel. My principal told me that I needed to work on my classroom management. “Duh!” I thought. She told me to visit another teacher’s classroom down the hall – Ms. Tome. I walked into her classroom and it was like magic. Students were meeting

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Behavior Management: Kids Do Well If They Can

“Kids do well if they can” Dr. Stuart Ablon by Jo Lein, Executive Director of Teaching and Leading Initiative of Oklahoma Years ago, I coached in a first-grade classroom with Ms. Janie Harvey. As with many first-year teachers, she struggled with classroom management. Transitions were challenging. Centers were a nightmare. She blamed much of the challenges on a single student, Deon. It was true. Deon had his struggles. He would hit other kids. He would yell and even run out of the classroom. Soon, Ms. Harvey decided that Deon needed to attend an alternative school for elementary-aged kids. The graduation

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With All Due Respect

With All Due Respect: Ronald Morrish by Jo Lein, Executive Director of Teaching and Leading Initiative of Oklahoma With all of the craziness going on in the world, it is easy for students to come into our classroom with all sorts of baggage. They carry in the negative interaction with a guardian in the morning, ongoing substance abuse in the household, the loss of a loved one, community factors, and much more. These traumas can manifest behaviorally in the classroom. With All Due Respect author Ronald Morrish, it is important to think through what schools (not just classrooms) can do

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