I like the way Linda is sitting.

Boy this is an interesting snippet. I know I frequently used this technique. This is the way we were taught. I think it was the only "discipline" idea the university gave me. I knew I was communicating with all the students who were not "sitting like Linda" but thought that was okay. I believed I was giving the message of what I expected and it worked in changing the behavior of others. As I think about it, it is not honest communication but rather manipulation. I like the "check yourself" statement much better. It allows the student to be in charge of their own behavior.

Check Yourself

I started using this idea with my grandson. "Check yourself Will, are you using your inside voice?" I was amazed. He actually stopped what he was doing and looked up into the sky and said, "No, Nana. I am using my outside voice." My son was amazed. He started using the "Check Yourself" comment too.

Look at Andrew's Picture

Interesting food for thought. Is there anyone who would like me to "show" your plan book at the next staff meeting?

Thank you for taking a risk

I'd like to say "Thank YOU for taking a risk". Is this the first time you have blogged? After reading the snippet from Teacher Talk on page 14 and 15, I thought we, as a staff, should take a risk. I set up this blog (first time I have done this), so we can have a PLC of a different kind. I did not want to add more meetings to our already full plate so I decided we would do the book talk through a blog.

Please read all of the snippets from our book talk up to page 15 and then post a comment of your thoughts on what you read. If you are talking about a specific snippet, please title it by selecting "New Post" from the tool bar. Otherwise you can add a comment to one of the comments already posted.

Please invite your para to read the snippets too and invite them to participate on this blog. I think they may, if you invite them.

Each week we will read specific pages and respond on this blog.

This technology has many positive implications for you as a classroom teacher. The second question I'd like for you to comment on is: How might you use blogging with your students?