Teacher Appreciation Week 2011

[#1]

I teach middle school and with 165 students it is diffcult to connect with all your students.Middle school students are notorious for their behavior. If you make an effort to show the students you are interested in them, they will pay attention more and work harder for you.

I have all the students complete information cards about themselves with questions like: What is your birthday? Do you have in common with others? What is unique about you? What is your scar story or tell me about a time you were hurt badly?, What is your least favorite food? If you could have one superhero power, what would it be? If you could go anywhere in the world where you like to go? Is there anything I should know about you? I also have students interview each other and write the answers on a piece of paper

I then put these note cards in a box, and once a week I have a student of the week. Where I randonly choose a card, I use the information on the card to narrow the class down until one person is standing. For example, I'll say, "Stand up if your birthday is in the Summer?" Then, "Keep standing if you own a dog?" and so on until I only have person standing. We all clap for this one student. Then the child that interview the person standing, introduces this person to the class. I then will continue to ask questions, or have other students in the class ask questions of the student of the week. This takes about 7 minutes. I give candy to that student as well. The students LOVE P.O.W or Person of the Week, and if I skip a wek they always let me know! sometimes I do 2 a week , if there is a little dead time at the end of the day.

I also write a VERY short note to each child acknowledging something we learned about them, or how interesting they are. The students ALWAYS love to get these personal notes, they always comment about it at the end of the year. And it is because of this little bitof effort, that I get way more buy in!

[#2]

Congratulations on winning Monday's drawing! I love your "Person of the Week" idea, that's a great way for students to get to know each other!

[#3]

Congratulations for being the winner on Monday! Middle school students are my favorite age and your ideas are great!

[#4]

Congratulations Christina,  I love your interesting note to each student.  I think it's a great way to make the student feel comfortable and to know that your care and concerns are genuine.  

[#5]

My advice for new teachers it to find a mentor on campus and don't be afraid to ask for help and don't let the students see your fear.  You can't hide in your room and struggle.  Your mentor can help you with lesson plans, advice on students, the ins and outs of the school and other political things you need to know about the school you are teaching at.  They are your life line and in return you are their lifeline.  You need to have a buddy that you can depend on incase of an emergency to get a lesson plan together for you at the last minute.  Things will come up and you need to network.  Your car might break down, you could be in a wreck on the way to school or you could have a family emergency. These things are more likely to happen when you are least prepared to deal with them.