Teaching thought

This is a comment I posted in a friend's journal, but I thought it would be important to share it here. It's about my answer to the question, "How do you control your class?"

I think I became an effective teacher on the day that I realized my kids needed something from me emotionally, and if I gave it to them in a firm-but-fair way, they'd give me respect in return.

They need to feel that they're important to me - that I honestly care what happens to them and how they're feeling. If they don't believe that I feel that way, they're never going to try to please me, and my class will be total chaos.

There are, of course, other elements to effectiveness in the classroom. There's a certain presence I project when I need their attention, accompanied by a simple hand signal or verbal cue, that usually works for me. There's an expectation that they are capable of behaving as I wish them to, and that they need to make every effort to do so - but also that mistakes happen and we'll deal with them when they do.

But the key is that honest empathy. If for some reason I don't feel that for the majority of my class, or they act badly enough to damage it partway through the year (as happened last year) then my job takes a sudden downswing.

People ask me how I control 25 kids and get them to do what I want. The truth is, I don't control them. They control themselves, because they want me to be pleased with them and easy to get along with.

Fabulous commentary. . .

. . . on the Gospel of Judas. Warning: This is NOT canon!

http://ursulav.livejournal.com/465189.html

Registry!

Those little targeted gmail ads next to your email are evil. But sometimes that's good.

I went to a site called Nikki's Diapers. I didn't buy anything - but I DID make up a gift registry! I have no idea if anyone buying gifts for this baby will bother to check it even if I point it out to them, but I figured it was no skin off my nose if they didn't. It took me ten minutes, it was fun shopping, and I didn't have to spend any money. Everyone wins!

I've decided to go for contoureds and fitteds for the most part, rather than pocket or AIO's (though I've bought a few of those.) The biggest reason is that I already have several covers in every size range, so AIO's and pockets would be counter-productive. Also, the extra drying time and necessity (for some brands) of hanging to dry are both downsides. I've got tons of stuff in the small size range (up to 15 lbs) so I'm concentrating on the 15-30 lbs range in my looking and buying. I don't need boosters, really - my infant prefolds will make good boosters for the bigger sizes - and I think I'm set for covers, too.

Anyhow, if anyone's interested, the website is http://nickisdiapers.com/ and it's under my real name. I figured anyone who was likely to be buying me stuff already had my address or would bring it in person, so I didn't include my address.