The First Day of School

Today is the first day of school at Netivot HaTorah Day School! As educators preparing for the new school year, we have so many elements to focus on in the classroom. Let's focus today on a few of the ideas that Tom Whitaker talks about in his book, "What Great Teachers Do Differently."

1. Great teachers never forget that it is people, not programs that determine the quality of the school. Despite all the new curricula and programs that we incorporate into our schools, it is the quality of our teachers that make the difference. Great teachers make the school great.

2. Great teachers establish clear expectations at the start of the year and follow them consistently as the year progresses. The best teachers focus on expectations, not on rules. By the end of the first day  of school, your students should know exactly what behaviour is expected of them and any consequences that are attached to their actions. Consistency is the key!

3. Great teachers manage their classrooms thoughtfully. When they say something, they mean it. Don't depend on the commanding presence and booming voice to manage your classroom. Rather, students will respect authority when teachers express their expectations clearly and then follow through consistently.

4. Great teachers have high expectations for students, but have even higher expectations for themselves. If you find yourself in a situation where a student is not engaged, rather than assuming the student needs to change something (which he might have to), ask yourself if you need to try something new to engage him.

5. Great teachers know that they are the variable in the classroom. Good teacher consistently strive to improve, and they focus on something they can control; their own performance. The more effective teachers accept responsibility for everything going on in their classrooms and tend not to blame things on the students or others.

Links to Interesting Articles:
1. The Importance of Greeting Your Students Every Day
2. Five Critical Skills to Empower Students in the Digital Age
3. 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Giving an Assessment

Links to Interesting Web Tools:

1. Cybrary Man's Back to School Page
2. Online Badge Maker

Quote of the Day:
1. What if.....
2. The Role of a creative leader...