Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/859531
advice, insights and hard-earned wisdom the Pros Manage class with class GLENN DUMAS: "I begin every class with the American Sign Language sign for 'I love you' as I ask, 'Does anyone need a little love today?' As students raise their hands, I tell each of them by name 'Coach D loves you!' before introducing the day 's lesson. It is amazing the number of students who are going through trials and tribulations who need someone, anyone, to tell them that they are loved." JIM GOBLE: "In a class of 34 students, learning names can sometimes take up to a month. However, I got into the habit of talking to each kid and saying their name out loud several times in the first week, and I tend to have names memorized in no time. "Often, my shy and introverted kids are my smartest kids. So I like to brag about them to the class and then ask them to speak up and demonstrate how they came about finding the answer to a problem. After this, they tend to volunteer and participate more in class discussions." MARY BERELSON: "Start the school day with some kind of check-in. In K and first grade, we do 'telling sharing,' a 10-minute around-the-circle active listening session where we connect with each other as compassionate humans. Sing songs — old ones, new ones, thematic ones. The ukulele is an easy-to-learn accompaniment instrument that is perfect for school. "Have a plan, but let inspiration interrupt. Let enthusiasm trump planning. Teachers must model that learning is awesome. We should be demonstrating that life and learning are fun and purposeful. It gives students reasons to want to grow up and continue their learning." LENA HUNT, Shasta Meadows Elementary, Enterprise Elementary Teachers Association: "I have a chart that provides activity choices for stu- dents when they complete their work early so they don't talk and distract others. This shows students there is always something to do." " Have a plan, but let inspiration interrupt. Let enthusiasm trump planning." — MARY BERELSON, TAHOE TRUCKEE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION By Sherry Posnick-Goodwin Photos by Scott Buschman 41 A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 017