Chapter 1-
How to ace your first audition in class
A Personal Story-
Throughout the years, we teach hundreds, maybe thousands of students, most of them we don't remember by name. However, some classes will be forever engraved in our memory. My Ometz class is one of them.
I put so much my strength, energy, creativity and will power into this class, creating sub units in order to bridge the gap between the level of English they had and the level of English they were supposed to have. I found myself searching for creative lessons about subjects which interested them, calling them after school hours to check why they didn’t show up for class, baking them cookies whenever they managed to pass a test and giving them small presents to have as souvenirs.
I remember they felt so close to me at one point, that they started to call me Doritush. Even though I knew, it was an expression of their affection. It didn’t make me like it. The next year, I asked them to call me Mrs. Elias. I felt there needed to be a clear line between me and my students. They didn’t like it and it didn't work.
One thing was crystal clear to me back then and there, I was going to introduce myself differently on September 1st from here on.
Key Principles
Note:
The detailed examples of each principle, exercises for the teacher and mini-lessons for the class are elaborated in the book.
know thy class
Knowing the background of the students (for example the socioeconomic status of the family) before entering the classroom gives me, as a teacher, an advantage. Early knowledge allows me to understand the child and his possible responses better and thus respond accordingly.
In the first few lessons, there is no doubt that the teacher's reaction to disruptive students is being “tested” by the class. There are times that it seems to us that the whole class is noisy, but if you watch the students carefully from the moment you enter the classroom, you will be able to notice the source very quickly.
Hidden Rules
know thyself
In our age, the teacher is not the only source of knowledge. Over the years, the role of the teacher has changed from merely conveying information to coaching and mentoring as well. As teachers we are required to create a positive, learning atmosphere of growth in the classroom. At the same time, I think we have a role as facilitators - to mediate knowledge for proper and effective learning, as coaches - to encourage, direct, and provide ways to deal with learning and emotional states such as frustration.
Enhance your body language
Vocal Branding: How Your Voice Shapes Your Communication Image
establishing authority
My experience has taught me that as a teacher I have three main tools: body language, tone of voice and my personality. As I enter the classroom, I create a first impression that are consisted of my clothing, body language and posture. Body language and tone of voice help me convey my messages clearly.
My personality will help me later to create the atmosphere I want to establish in the classroom. To be good teachers, I believe that we need to find the balance between the stick and the carrot, namely toughness on the one hand and tenderness on the other.
An example for an assertive, respectful conversation with a student.
establishing class rules
Body language and tone of voice help create a good first impression. One's
personality will helps him/her establish not only his authority but also a positive atmosphere in the classroom.
Establishing authority in the classroom depends quite a bit on the teacher's attitude to the students. On the one hand, he must be respectful and attentive and on the other hand, he must set clear boundaries and speak in a firm, strict tone when these boundaries are crossed.
How To Begin Whole Brain Teaching
introducing yourself
Introducing the teacher to his class is extremely important. This is the moment when the teacher introduces beliefs and values according to which the lesson will be conducted.
I like to present the values that are important to me through a story. I make sure to restate these values on numerous occasions throughout the year.
In my early years of teaching, I used to do many simulations in front of the mirror before September 1st. I was preparing my first entrance to the classroom as an actress who was preparing for her debut.