Final13 09-10-real talk with Rafe Esquith
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Title: ‘Real Talk’ on Teaching With Rafe Esquith Date & Time: Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013, 4 to 5 p.m. ET Long Description There's no use sugar-coating it: Whether you are a novice or seasoned veteran, teaching can be both demanding and discouraging. Disruptive students, stubborn parents, unsupportive administrators, seemingly senseless instructional mandates, demoralizing media coverage—all are part of the job. Even so, world-renowned educator and author Rafe Esquith believes that teachers can thrive in their classrooms and in their lives. In this webinar, Esquith—author of Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire and the new book Real Talk for Real Teachers—will discuss how you can create an atmosphere of consistency and energetic purpose in your classrooms that generates excitement about learning and encourages student independence. Drawing on his own experiences, he’ll also offer advice on how teachers at any career stage can remain emotionally strong in the face of discouragement and frustration and continue to build relationships with students—which he says constitute “the most important data of all.”
Transcript of Final13 09-10-real talk with Rafe Esquith
Anthony ReboraManaging editor, Education Week Teacher
www.edweek.org/tm www.teachersourcebook.org
Featured GuestsRafe Esquith has been teaching at Hobart Elementary School in Los Angeles for 28 years and is the author of the new book Real Talk for Real Teachers: Advice for Teachers From Rookies to Veterans: ‘No Retreat, No Surrender!’ Esquith is the only teacher to have been awarded the president’s National Medal of Arts.
His other honors and awards include the Compassion in Action Award from the Dalai Lama, the American Teacher Award, Oprah Winfrey’s Use Your Life Award, the Kennedy Center’s Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award, and People magazine’s Heroes Among Us Award. A widely known speaker, Esquith presented at the prestigious TED conference in 2012. His previous books include Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire and Lighting Their Fires.
An on-demand archive of this webinar is going to be available at www.edweek.org/go/PDarchives
within 24hrs.
As a participant of this webinar, you have earned a certificate of completion from Education Week PD Webinars. Participants will receive their certificate via email within a week. If you do not receive a certificate, please send an email to [email protected] for assistance.
‘Real Talk’ on Teaching with Rafe Esquith
I. We are the role model
Teachers must be the people we want kids to be
Your class will follow your example – slowly, but surely
Do not let disappointments or discouragement affect your attitude with your class
IN RAFE’S CLASSROOM:
I want kids to be nice and work hard, so I must be the nicest and hardest working person they know
II. Help students internalizegood behavior
Give students opportunities to take charge of their own behavior
Avoid bullying language: Be firm, but fair and logical
Help students learn from mistakes
Try not to talk too much
III. This is a long journey
Teachers: Slow down! (In spite of our fast-food society)
A district-assigned curriculum? Usually impossible
Be alert for flashing yellow lights: Pace yourself
Laugh with your students and laugh with yourself.
This job should be fun.
IV. Practice tough love
Students should know the consequences of unacceptable behavior
Don’t be afraid to leave some children behind on occasion
Ensure disciplined students know there’s a way out
Avoid showing emotion when discipliningNo student should believe he has power over your
emotions – or your class
V. Keeping It Real
Most kids misbehave because they are bored or feel disconnected
Making connections: A great way to manage a classroom
IN RAFE’S CLASSROOM:
Students know WHY they are doing something, instead of just WHAT they are doing
All activities in Room 56 are relevant and directly connected to the children’s lives
VI. Go After the Middle
Teachers spend too much time with brilliant or incorrigible students
The Middle: The incredible kids who no one noticesTheir development can be the tipping point in a
successful classroom
Never underestimate the power of simply paying attention and offering
honest praise.
VII. Music, Music, Music
In a world where kids cannot seem to focus anymore, music is the great focuser.
VIII. Trying New Things andTaking Chances
Add one thing to your instructional program every year
To freshen your practice, watch as many great teachers as you can
IX. Collaborate with Other Great
Role Models
As you grow as a teacher, ask for help.
Slowly, but surely, you will find people who can help your class in ways you cannot.
IN RAFE’S CLASSROOM:
The kids see me go to wonderful experts for help.
In asking for help and respecting experts, I model for them the exact behavior I hope they will internalize as students.
X. Bring Yourself to the Classroom
Be yourself!Too many teachers are so crushed by the System,
they forget to be themselves
Pick something you love to do and incorporate it into your classroom
IN RAFE’S CLASSROOM:
Baseball, rock ‘n’ roll, and Shakespeare help me maintain my stamina and joy for teaching
