Becoming Memorable Traits More Frequently Mentioned, numbers 31-40

In Traits Becoming Memorable More Frequently Mentioned, numbers 31-40, most of these ten characteristics are traits that exemplify the quality of a person, place, or thing. Students remember traits that lean toward the nature of the quality of effort not the routine or structure. As stated before these qualities can be used for anyone who interacts with people. They are what “what we want to do” more than “what we have to do” in life. These intangibles are how we feel about the experience and can be taught to teachers, but many times are who we are in our personalities. They were mentioned by students 22% of the time in our survey.

31. Motivating

Definition: to provide with a motive, or a cause or reason to act, incite, impel, to give incentive or incentive to perform

Key Thoughts for Application: induce, move, provoke, prompt, cause, drive, excite, galvanize, inspire, persuade, spark, spur, sway, trigger, arouse, draw, incite, pique

Students come to school ready and motivated to be taught as well as “learned.” We need to continue to ignite their passion of learning by identifying in each lesson a purpose and/or a meaning for their valuable attendance and participation.  The long argument between intrinsic or extrinsic motivation doesn’t exist if we give them a real life reason for the learning. Initiating their own value of the day, linked to the real reasons for learning, creates motivation and develops ownership for their participation in the instruction. 

 32. Organized

Definition: order, having a formal or structure, give character to, form as, especially to coordinate or carry out for widespread activities, to systematize,

Key Thoughts for Application: frame, construct, coordinate, create, establish, form, regulate, run, set up, adjust, classify, codify, combine, compose, fashion, fill, harmonize, settle, tabulate,  

Remembered as" organized" carries both a quantitative and quantitative aspect of the traits that students find memorable. I never understood why a person wouldn't get ready to “perform” in the classroom. Successes in the most complicated jobs (surgery, piloting airplanes) are reliant on preparation that allows the performance to look and be good. Learning is life and death for our kids. Structure, expectations, staying to task, and following correct steps all directly relate to the results of the lesson- Learning! It also impacts many other the qualitative traits of feeling safe, comfortable, secure, no surprises, clear, and overall feeling tone of the environment- learning or working.

33. Smiles

Definition: to assume a facial expression indicating pleasure, favor, or amusement, but sometimes derision or scorn, characterized by an upturning of the corners of the mouth, to regard with favor, to have a pleasant or agreeable look, appearance or aspect the act or an instance of smiling; a smiling expression of the face, favor or kindly regard

Key Thoughts for Application: laugh, beam, grin, smirk, be gracious, express, friendliness, express tenderness, look delighted/amused/happy/pleased

There should be a joy of learning every day. A smile goes a long way to reducing tension and a feeling of acceptance for the risk taking students need to try every time they enter a classroom. It is difficult for educators when tired or frustrated, and sometimes a smile is used in a negative fashion. The smiles that students find positively memorable are the ones that come from the heart of the teacher and the pure joy it is to help students learn. It is an energy-sucking job and being “always on” is both physically and emotionally draining. It takes less muscles in the face to smile than it does to frown. Teaching is already tiring. Conserve energy. Smile more.

34. Open

Definition: set so as to permit passage through the opening it can be used to close, to give access to; make accessible or available, afford access

Key Thoughts for Application: accessible, clear, free, susceptible, wide, disclosed, expanded, extended, revealed, unblocked, unlocked, extensive, unobstructed

An adventure of any kind is confusing at times, difficult at best, unsure each moment of the routine and skills to survive, and usually in need of a guide. Learning is an adventure for students. If you went on a trip of unknown origin, a guide is essential to help you manage the pitfalls, right the wrong turns, missteps, challenges, and surprises that inevitably befall you. Be ready to help these novice learning adventurers to become the experts they needs to be when they grow up. After they leave your class and enter another kingdom of another adventure, they will need to be ready and supplied with the necessary tools for each of the adventures that await them year after year.  

35. Positive

Definition: explicitly stated, stipulated, or expressed, admitting of no question, stated; express; emphatic, confident in opinion or assertion; fully assured

Key Thoughts for Application: clear, conclusive, confident, decisive, specific, acknowledging, acquiescent, affirmatory, approving, supporting, consenting, corroborative, endorsing, favorable, ratifying, unflappable, collected, certain, gung ho, unhesitating, absolute, emphatic, authentic, genuine, truthful, thorough 

Like "Smile" mentioned before, people will work harder when praised, smiled at, or given assurances of their successes for each effort. It takes very little effort to look for the good in what we do using less muscles with positive feelings. We should try to build on what is needed next (not what was wrong) in order to keep the collective energy up for the challenges of each day. This is extremely true of the school environment for each grade of their educational life. The old days of challenging students by telling them what they can’t do may help some that can “take it.” It hurts all the others. Assisting students down the path they need to take, and coaching them to achieve success has been found to be more effective. The intent is for good for all with success for all. All are expected to participate and contribute to the collective effort for the betterment of the team. Collaboration and cooperation are the tenants as well as hallmarks for success for groups and communities which makes up life.   

36. Bright

Definition: radiating or reflecting light; luminous; shining, filled with light, vivid or brilliant, quick-witted or intelligent, clever or witty, as a remark, animated, lively, cheerful, characterized by happiness or gladness

Key Thoughts for Application: brilliant, able, adept, astute, bright, clever, expert, gifted, ingenious intelligent, smart, talented, teachable, prompt, savvy, sharp, skilled, skillful, shrewd, keen, canny

  

Teachers are the vessels and conduits of knowledge. They need to be bright and know what they are presenting and talking about. They need to act and react in a lesson. They must be able to be quick on their feet to adjust to the learner, not be the hoarder of the curriculum. We arrive at school each day as the educator and see how many of our students we can help succeed and pass. It isn’t very bright if teachers think failing their kids means their doing a good job. Making them better and tougher for life doesn't make sense. Life and competition will come soon enough. Let them enjoy the learning as long as they can and be ready for the stresses in the world when the time comes.

37. Relaxed

Definition: being free of or relieved from tension, inhibition, worry, or anxiety, not strict; easy, informal, to make less tense, rigid, or firm; make lax, to make less strict or severe, as rules, discipline, etc.

Key Thoughts for Application: calm, carefree, casual, composed, easy, informal, laid-back, nonchalant, serene, spontaneous, collected, poised, moderate, even-tempered, low-pressure, mild, natural, patient, unhurried

School needs to be a place where kids learn and work to be better. History has shown us that the traditional thought that kids work and learn to be better has increased the number of students dropping out, feeling unsuccessful, disliked, pressured, and a failure at implementing skills into proficiencies needed for life. The intensity of the person in charge has a direct relationship to the performance of the people working in the environment created. The feeling tone of the class needs to be relaxed. Everyone performs better under less stress, anxiety, and worry. Level of anxiety, however, can generated interest, enthusiasm, excitement, anticipation, motivation, rewards and fun even when done in a relaxed environment. 

38. Involved

Definition: engaged or employ, to affect something, to include, to include as a necessary circumstance, condition, or consequence, imply, entail

 

Key Thoughts for Application: captivated, consumed, deep in thought, engaged, engrossed, fixed, really into, wrapped up, immersed, intent

Traditionally learning was sit and get, sage on the stage, be seen not heard. None of the students in our study offered these situations as Memorable. Skills-based learning is a thing of the past. Knowledge and comprehensions are the 2 lowest levels of learning. Life needs application analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Most companies and jobs don’t work in isolation anymore. The need to collaborate and cooperate, as well as being engaged in an integrated process, is our future and should also be included in our present with the learning today. Teachers need to be educators that are guides on the side facilitating the environment and structure so individuals/groups can be successful and achieve with thinking skills to overcome problems, not just regurgitate answers.

39. Safe

Definition: secure from liability to harm, danger, or risk, free from hurt, injury, danger, or risk, involving little or no risk of mishap, error, etc., dependable or trustworthy

Key Thoughts for Application: intact, protected, secure, okay, free from danger, guarded, inviolable, maintained, preserved, safeguarded, shielded, unharmed, unhurt, watched   

Students leave their home and come to school to learn and feel safe. Educators at school need to have utmost in their mind the feelings of the students inside and outside of the classroom. Their physical and emotional well-being is bombarded in their daily life more and more each day. If they are always feeling uneasy or at risk they will be tentative in their efforts and the participation will be stilted. This will result in less learning and more failure in the classroom. Their entire focus for students should be on learning, not on how safe they are and feel. That job falls upon all of the educators/adults at schools to be in charge of making the environment safe and ready for their arrival each day.

40. Intelligent

Definition: having good understanding or a high mental capacity; quick to comprehend, displaying or characterized by quickness of understanding, sound thought, or good judgment, having the faculty of reasoning and understanding; possessing intelligence

Key Thoughts for Application: astute, brainy, bright, creative, imaginative, inventive, knowledgeable, original, perceptive, rational, resourceful, smart, well-informed, wise, acute, apt, clever, comprehending, ingenious, knowing, profound, sharp, understanding, witty, brilliant, capable, effective, effectual, expert, masterful 

School is Learning. Learning is application of Knowledge. That Knowledge shows Intelligence. If we want to have intelligent children to come out of our schools we need intelligent educators. They must be well-trained in concepts and knowledge. They must possess the capacity to know how to handle situations and know what to do to maximize the arrival of students each day to our schools. It should also be more than “Book smarts.” It is knowing when to change, adjust and adapt. We need to be life-long learners who have demonstrated intelligent efforts to make others and ourselves successful.

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