We are Getting There: 61-70

We are almost half-way home. We have already identified 30 wonderful characteristics and attributes for educators to emulate. Each trait has made a person’s life memorable and motivated, possibly resulting in a child to enter education profession. We will continue to add to the list. None of the ones before should be discounted. However we are entering the collection of the traits that are repeated more often by students entering the teacher profession.

61. Clear

Definition: easy to perceive, understand, interpret, or completely.

Key Thoughts for Application: understandable, comprehensible, intelligible, plain, uncomplicated, explicit, lucid, coherent, simple, straightforward, unambiguous, clear-cut, crystal clear, perspicuous, completely, entirely, fully, wholly, totally, utterly

Each day the learning and teaching needs to be targeted and focus on communicating effectively. The “clearness” of the information allows students to understand the subject matter. One way teachers can do this is to say what they wrote on the board, and write on the board what they say, and have the students take notes. Teaching, too often, is lecture (verbal) and the visual and kinesthetic learners check out with the Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah of lectures. Seeing is believing, picture worth a thousand words, etc. Know the sensory aspects of learning. Don’t just ramble in the content. 

62. Learning

Definition: The acquisition of knowledge or skills through experience, study, or by being taught. 

Key Thoughts for Application: education, schooling, tuition, teaching, academic work; research, scholarship, knowledge, education, erudition, intellect, enlightenment, illumination, edification, book learning, information, understanding, wisdom

I cannot emphasize this enough. Teaching isn’t as important as the learning. We don’t retain teachers for poor performance, but sometimes kids fail because of poor, not connected, or articulated teaching. We assess the STUDENT test scores! I tell my student candidates in our teaching program to become educators not teachers. Do all you can do to reach the kids, not just teach the content. I could add more and will in my book but this area is the MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF SCHOOL in all grades!!!!! 

63. Loud

Definition: producing or capable of producing much noise; easily audible. with a great deal of volume.

Key Thoughts for Application: noisy, blaring, booming, deafening, roaring, thunderous, thundering, ear-splitting, ear-piercing, piercing; carrying, clearly audible, lusty, powerful, forceful, stentorian, forte, fortissimo

If you watch news casters on TV, they have a small space to keep everyone’s attention. They don’t speak softly and calmly, yet they use emphasis of their voice as ways to communicate the value in their presentations and keep our attention. Pace, volume, enunciation, and pauses engage the learners in many ways. Auditory learners like patterned, rhythmic speech patterns. Visual learners like faster and louder, kinesthetic learners love slower and modulated voice patterns. So loud relates to the many aspects of the voice/volume (loud) being heard to understand the content.

  

64. Busy

Definition:  Having a great deal to do. Keep occupied.

Key Thoughts for Application: occupied, engaged, involved, employed, working, hard at work; rushed off one's feet, hard-pressed, swamped, up to one's neck, on the job, absorbed, engrossed, immersed, preoccupied, involve, concern, absorb, distract, divert

Time is precious in schools. I said that last week. Still remains that each moment is not to be wasted. Students engaging and participating have been hallmarks of learning effectiveness. There are many techniques incorporate to make sure that students remain on task (busy) in their activities in the classroom. I do believe that students need to be busy, but the quality, as well as expectations of the work, need to be determined as worthy of the results sought.

65. Loved By Teacher/Kids

Definition: teachers who are patient, understanding, and willing to answer questions. Teachers praised students who are positive, organized, and kind to other students. Kids like funny teachers. Teachers like students with a sense of humor, funny, not disruptive.

Key Thoughts for Application: darling, dear, dearest, precious, adored, much loved, cherished, treasured, prized, highly regarded, admired, esteemed, worshiped, revered, venerated, idolized

Who doesn’t want to be admired or loved by their peers and clients? When students like the class and their teacher they are more apt to come willing, work harder, and engage longer in the tasks presented for them to complete. Many of the other traits have been precursors and when put in place will accomplish this end result. The qualities in the definition above all have major impacts to what students feel about who is helping them. They like being around you. They want to contribute to your goals. They connect more to the ownership of the learning and teaching becomes effortless and, to students, seems magnificent. I want kids fulfilled going home each day, yet eager to come to school while looking forward to many significant and special events that await them.

66. Hands-on

Definition: involving or offering active participation rather than theory, requiring manual operation, control, adjustment, or the like; not automatic or computerized; behavior in accord with rules of conduct; behavior and order maintained by training and control: the rigor or training effect of experience, adversity,

Key Thoughts for Application: Firsthand, manual, primary, direct, experience, explicit, immediate, individual, intimate;

Application beyond knowledge and comprehension is the minimal step we as educators need to take each day. It is not always the case, but this first step into higher-order thinking levels will impact the learning tremendously. Student learn something in school each day. So What! They need to own, manipulate, create, and digest the learning. They are expected to recall the major factors and use the learning, and will show proficiency (and maybe mastery) plus encounter great successes in their journey of learning and activities in their own lives. 

67. Discipline

Definition: training to act in accordance with rules; drill, activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training:

Key Thoughts for Application: control, development, education, method, practice, preparation, regulation, restraint, self-control, self-restraint, exercise, will power, strictness

Operating in our world without boundaries and expectations creates chaos and wasted, misdirected consequences. I am not a stickler for discipline of enforcement of rules, but when needed students expect to be able to operate in a safe and rational environment. Classroom management is the key to preventing students from diverting to what everyone doesn’t want. The feeling tone set by the teacher through their discipline with the instruction and in the classroom keeps the eye on the prize, learning, and prevents distractions from occurring.

68. Open(minded)

Definition: properly expectant, organized, or equipped; ready, provide, arrange, order, prepare, contrive, devise imply planning for and making ready for something expected or thought possible. To prepare is to make ready beforehand

Key Thoughts for Application: arrange assemble, brace, develops, draw up, equip, form, formulate, gird, make, plan, produce, provide, qualify, ready, strengthen, supply, train, adapt, adjust, anticipate

Teachers no longer can operate with the “sage on the stage” mentality if they want true understanding to occur in the classroom. Students need to be trained to own the learning and be held accountable for their efforts. We, as the adults, need to be a resource to be the “guide on the side” planning for full interactions, engagement, and collaboration, just as it does in the “real world” our students will enter after their school days are over.  

69. Calm(ing)

Definition: adjective: accessible. (of a person) easy to meet, know, talk with, etc. suitable or ready for use; of use or service; at hand:

Key Thoughts for Application: Cool, harmonious, low-key, mild, placid, serene, slow, smooth, soothing, tranquil, hushed, still, at a standstill, at peace, in order, inactive, motionless, quiescent, reposeful, restful, rural, undisturbed, unruffled

The poem “If” talks about “keeping your head while others around you are losing theirs and blaming it on you” is the epitaph for the classroom. There is so much going on in the classroom. If you take four aspects of the student learning; philosophy they all own, learning styles they individually have, working styles they have and are continuing to develop, and their innate 7 intelligences of interest, multiply that by 30 students, 60 seconds per minute, and 60 minutes per class period, a teacher may possibly have to make 108,864,000 in their room. This doesn’t even count in the curriculum and content of the moment. No wonder teaching is hard. Like the saying goes “STAY CALM.”

70. Social

Definition: relating to, devoted to, seeking or enjoying, or characterized by friendly companionship or relations: friendly; sociable; gregarious, relating to the life, welfare, and relations of human beings in a community:

Key Thoughts for Application: cordial, familiar, nice, amusing, communicative, entertaining, gracious, gregarious, Pleasant, popular

Classrooms are an enclave of relationships and interactions. We teach academics mostly, but the emotional and social growth are key aspects to a successful learning environment and development of our students that contribute to their success in life. The social aspect is enhanced through activities of engagement and collaboration. Character development emphasis can lead to a healthy, emotional stature that will serve the students well for the challenges they will face in their life.

Stephen Ahle Principal
Educator
2006 National Distinguished Principal
National Association of Elementary School Principals