How to Reach the Unreachable

Popular author and blogger for Education Week, this article by Larry Ferlazzo in ASCD's Educational Leadershiip  is well researched and offers excellent thoughts and strategies to engage students who are unmotivated.  We all have at least a few disengaged students, I'm sure, in our Title I classses.  Ferlazzo approaches the topic in the same way school reformers approach school improvements with their initial question,  "What do effective schools look like?"
Here we experience the issue from a skilled teacher's point of view.  How do they think?  What do they say?  What do they do?
In your comments, please share what you think, say, and do to engage your disengaged students.

Eight Things Skilled Teachers Think, Say, and Do.  Larry Ferlazzo. Educational Leadership. October 2012 Volume 70 Number 2
ASCD.  Students Who Challenge Us
http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/oct12/vol70/num02/Eight-Things-Skilled-Teachers-Think,-Say,-and-Do.aspx

How Can Checklists Help You And Your Students?

If you are a lover of checklists (and I know some of you are), then this article is your perfect resource for any kind of checklist you, your parents, and your students can think of.  If you are making your own, there is even a  link to ""do's and don'ts."
There are three categories of checklists and direct links to see them

1. Students - 12 different types for various purposes
2. Parents - only links:  Supply list and Parent-Teacher Conferences
3. Teachers - 16 general checklists

The author's favorite online list manager, Remember the Milk, integrates with Google Calendar, iPad, iPhone, and Android. www.rememberthemilk.com
For you list lovers in LE, what works for you?

A Definite Guide to Teacher Checklists.  Todd Finley. 9/27/12. Edutopia
http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6806707884730346906#editor/target=post;postID=7227453885306896286

Dogs Help Struggling Readers

While I don't recommend bringing your dog to your Title I class, this story reminds me of several situation where dogs were used as silent, gracious listeners.

1. Our neighorhood library brought a calm golden retreiver and his handler to the library once a week so that children could read to him.  Great success and very popular with young children.
2. For several years when we had the prescriptive program at Atlas, the teachers recognized that Hmong children were very reluctant to read aloud to their teacher, mainly because of cultural respect for persons in authority.  Hmong children even have difficulty giving their teacher eye-contact.  I took it upon myself to dress up a big, old stuffed dog from my daughter's childhood and added a hat and a tie around his neck.  He was "Fred."  Fred had his own private space in the room.  Children went to him to read and often brought Fred back to their table.  Worked wonderfully!
3. Two of our participating schools in the past had a time-out corner in the "office" where students needing a 'time out' came to stay.  There were stuffed animals, books, and chairs.  In no time, children were reading to the stuffed animal and calmed themselves down.

We certainly could renew "dogs" in reading sites with young children if there is enough space.  Struggling readers do not like to read aloud alone and much prefer choral reading, much like my tone-deaf self who needs a good singer next to me to carry a tune.

Any similar ideas?  Share them with us.

Education assistance dogs help students with reading.  Angela Ward. 9.9.12. news-journal.com. Longview, Texas.
http://www.news-journal.com/news/local/education-assistance-dogs-help-students-with-reading/article_a3980e51-6373-500a-b259-cc0b5958b58b.html

Sticky Notes - Cool Ideas!

Ben Johnson lists and explains the power of the simple sticky note with 10 examples, many of which could easily be used in Title I.  He concludes it is a simple way to get student feedback, give praise, help with organization, study helps, and give behavior remarks.  Really great tips!
This article is not to be missed!
Any other ideas you've used for sticky notes?

Tools for Teaching:  The Amazing Sticky Note. Ben Johnson. 9.10.12.  Edutopia - Student Engagement.
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/sticky-note-teaching-tool-ben-johnson

Easy Ways to Get To Know Your Students

Need ideas to develop positive relationships with your students?  This article is for you!  Kelly Clark describes easy, very effective ways to get to know your students.  This is where teaching becomes an "art form."  A very worthwhile read!  Do you have ideas to share with our other Title I teachers?  Please include them in your comments.

Five Practices for Building Positive Relationships With Students. 8.7.12 Kelly Clark. (Premium Article) - Education Week Teacher
http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2012/08/07/tln_clark.html?tkn=QOUFZuCVjmgUSA3UYr6NgT6p82r247YnR9kc&cmp=ENL-TU-NEWS1

Help Kids Find Their Passion

Read what renowned educational advisor, Sir Ken Robinson and author Marc Prensky have to say about teachers' role in helping kids find their passion.  Focus of the article is the content of Sir Ken Robinson's speech at the International Society for Technolgoy in Education, held in June 2012. Also speaker, Marc Prensky, author of the book BRAIN GAIN-- Technology and the Quest for Digital Wisdom.  Read about the 4 ways teachers can help students find their passion.  What might work in our Title I setting?  Other ideas?

Beyond Technology, How to Spark Kids' Passions. 7.28.12 Tina Barseghian  Mind/Shift
http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2012/06/beyond-technology-how-to-spark-kids-passions/

Simple Ways to Build Relationships With Students

We know what works to build community in our classes, but sometimes we don't bother with it….so much to do….so little time.  Please read this article to remind ourselves that little things do make a difference in student achievement.  Remember our focus this year is the 3Rs (Relationships, Rigor, Relevance)
Share ideas you have used that might help other LEX teachers.

How to build a stronger sense of community in the classroom. Cammy Harbison. VOXXI (Voice of Hispanic 21st Century)
http://www.voxxi.com/community-classroom/

How Can We Help Students Develop Good Habits?

Veteran blogger, Larry Ferlazzo consulted expert, Charles Duhigg, author of 'The power of Habit-- Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business.'  Article is in Q and A form aimed at teachers in the classroom.  Exellent!  How do you teach your students good habits?  Share your thoughts.

Response- Several Ways We Can Help Students Develop Good Habits. Larry Ferlazzo. 6.4.12  Education Week Teacher
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/classroom_qa_with_larry_ferlazzo/2012/06/response_several_ways_we_can_help_students_develop_good_habits.html?cmp=ENL-EU-VIEWS2