Using Leverage to Move Students Forward
December 16, 2009
Archimedes, the Greek mathematician who lived from 287 to 212 B.C. said, “Give me a lever and a place to stand, and I will move the earth.”
Leverage is “doing a lot with a little” and may be defined as the ability to influence a system, or an environment, in a way that multiplies the outcome of one’s efforts without a corresponding increase in the consumption of resources.
Leverage, from a teacher’s perspective, is having the ability to influence a student’s performance or behavior with little effort, which raises a question. How does one gain this ability? Answer. Through the use of ”The Class Compass,” a strategic model introduced during the initial class orientation. This new paradigm provides direction by making the student/teacher aware of the factors that move the class forward and those that hold it back.
However, models are not a panacea. We must be mindful when attempting to influence the learning curve of another. This is where leadership comes in. Leadership is an energy that others find interesting, enthusiastic, supportive and productive.
Tools, from a screw driver to a copy machine create efficiencies in our work. The “Class Compass” is an awareness tool that enables teachers to leverage a student’s performance that can be downloaded from my website.
Co-active Teaching Revs Up the Energy
December 14, 2009
“Co-active teaching” is a collaboration between teacher and student. The purpose of this arrangement is to generate mutual respect, interest and participation, which leads to the creation of educational moments.
Image your students:
- Being aware of the qualities that move a class forward and hold it back.
- Being mentally present.
- Making conscious choices.
- Being in harmony with their studies.
Teaching is a team sport. Team sports have coaches who call the plays. Plays have an order to them and are designed to move the team forward. There is an order to teaching and instructors who are co-actively skilled employ a universal axiom; when you start true, you end true.
The Heart of The Matter
December 14, 2009
Unbelievable as it may sound, every year, nearly one third of all the high school students in this country, drop out. Our educational system has a massive leak and it’s filling our cities, towns and neighborhoods with those who are likely to: be unemployed, receive public assistance or be involved with crime. And here’s the sad part, we don’t understand the human condition well enough to fix it.
For example, in the report, The Silent Epidemic that was prepared for the, “Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,” boredom and being uninspired were listed as the two primary reasons why students drop out of school.
Whether it’s reading a book, watching a movie, hanging out with a friend or being a student, we want to be engaged. We want that connection and when it’s not there, our minds wander.
So what steps can teachers take in order to make that connection?
- Explain the co-active role students will play in creating educational moments.
- Communicate the goal of each class before instruction begins.
- Ask open ended, thought provoking questions that support the goal and its underlying principles.
- Stimulate the hopes and dreams of their students.
- Link the subject matter to a student’s interests.
- Celebrate a student’s progress.
Educators’ impact lives. You never know when a word, a phrase or a look, becomes that invisible spark that motivates a student to complete their education and go on to do wondrous things.
If we are nibble enough to capture a student’s heart, there is a good chance, their diploma will follow.
