Building Relationships, a strategy or two (Afternoon Infusion...Assan and Kenyan strong with milk)

I will readily admit to anyone that I love (no, sorry LOVE) my job.  It excites and enthuses me almost as much as a cup of tea does!! It is for that reason I find myself in June planning for my September lessons. I want to make them better than this year, because I have learned so very much thanks to the wonderful educational professionals I surround myself with both at work, at home, and online.  Throughout some of my research this year, and thanks to Osiris Educational for their wonderful book, I have decided my initial lessons this year will be a prefix to building good, solid relationships with my classes.  Don't get me wrong it has been noted as one of my strengths this year, however I am changing role next year and I think relationships will be even more important.  So, herewith are some thoughts, ideas and ponderings over how I can ensure my class relationships are top notch!

Behaviour contract
I had done this in the past, but wanted to re-post as I think this is one of the most valuable relationship tools I use at the start of the year.
I start off not calling it a behaviour contract, in fact that is probably the wrong term entirely...Expectation Contract would suit better.  I ask students first of all their expectations of me as a teacher.  This goes on one side of the 'contract'.  We then discuss expectations of each other.  Class agree 'rules' and therefore are more inclined to follow them as they are self-initiated.  I feel as well that asking them to set me 'rules' first, (which I sign and agree to...if appropriate!) allows students to know from the offset that that is how I teach; hopefully in a fair way, open to student input.  After all...they are not MY lessons...they belong to the students!!

Interest Index Cards
(stolen from Osiris Educational, Engaging Learners. Fantastic book!)
I do always ensure I speak to my students about their interests.  This time I am going to issue my classes with index cards with a set of questions on.  I can keep these in an index card box, organised by class so that if, and inevitably when, I come across a student who is disruptive/negative/lacks motivation I can refer back to these cards from the beginning of the year to strike up meaningful and genuine conversation to hopefully let the student know I care.


I will be researching more on this topic...so I'm sure there will be more to follow!

Creative Teaching Idea #3..Website hacking (breakfast, strong, splish of milk)

Making learning relevant to learners is a great way to engage and motivate them. One way I have done this is through 'hacking' websites.  By 'hacking' what I really mean is temporarily changing the content of a website (any website) to suit your needs.  This is not illegal as the changes made are not permanent and only appear on your computer.  You will need to print screen the website after you have changed the content to then paste into your presentation to keep for future uses.

What is it?
Changing content of websites to suit your lesson.

How does it work?
Go to the page you want to hack and wait for it to be load fully. If you do it before, it will only edit what has already loaded. Delete the web address in the URL bar and copy and paste this code into the url bar:

javascript: document.body.contentEditable = 'true'; document.designMode = 'on'; void 0
Hit Enter. If it has worked you will now be able to alter the content of this website.

What can I use it for?
Starters, Plenaries, Student research...and a great deal more!!

Creative Teaching idea #2...(PG tips)

Loyalty Cards

You know those annoying little pieces of card that inevitably end up crumpled, dog-eared or forgotten about until you end up with a pile that Everest would be proud of? OK I am exaggerating, a touch. Forgive me. My computer has simply not been my friend tonight.

The psychology behind said loyalty cards is quite simply to motivate customers to return.  Very often customers may get a 'bonus' stamper when they first get a card..which makes the customer happy, but more to the point- makes them feel like they have achieved something already. There is tangible, visible evidence that they are nearly, very almost (well...23 coffees away) from getting a shot of something peculiar and strong (always strong) and fresh (oh yes we don't sell anything not-fresh here you know) for FREE! And as you may well know or have guessed, customers like the word FREE. It feels good.  So, they are motivated to come back again and use their card and hey presto, customer is happy and retailer is happy.

Apply this vague theory to teaching.  Loyalty cards are given out at the start of the lesson.  Instead of nonsensical squiggles which are stamped on top of however, there are tasks linked to your lesson.  There is a task on there which is easy, which can be achieved simply and quickly.  The student completes it, gets their card stamped et voila...the same sense of motivation is achieved. They are now wanting to reach that end point...the first stamp was so easy to get...they now believe they can achieve the rest of the tasks on said loyalty card to continue on their learning journey.

A simple little way to add a bit of creativity in rewarding students whilst motivating them at the same time.

I will not take credit for this idea, I found it in a book (will find out the name). I will also not take credit for any sarcasm within my post today.  I blame that entirely on my computer who has refused to do anything I have asked it to this evening, and on my cat who is in a strop with me because I would not talk to him.

Getting technology into your lesson...(Decaf, strong, in my favourite mug)

Following on from my research and the INSET I delivered there are a couple of ideas I would like to share with you to enhance creativity within the classroom.  I will share them as individual blogs for ease of finding.  Happy creativity!!

1.  QR codes.

What is it?
A code that looks like the above.

How does it work?
Scan with a smartphone et voila..up comes the picture/text/URL/voice message that was hidden in the code.
Use a QR code generator to convert your picture/text/URL/voice message into a code.
Use Croak it (also available as an app) to convert audio clips into a QR code.

How could I use it?
Bell work-leave a code on the door for students to do in preparation for your lesson.
Independent help sheets differentiated depending on the help required.
Treasure hunt.
Revision.

Creative Teaching isn't that creative at all... (Green, Hot)

Well, hello.  I am blogging at 8.15 on the last Saturday night of half term having spent the majority of my day planning.  Not a whole batch of planning, but for one specific lesson.  I have not spent this long planning a lesson since my training.  Now, the reason I have spent this long is because I was trying to make use of the research I have gathered over the last week on Creative Teaching in this lesson.  So this has involved ideas that I have tried before, but new ones too.  My findings? My lesson probably (hopefully) is full of creative strategies, but the very essence of what is there is no different to a normal lesson I would deliver.  It has just been prettified; instead of powerpoint I have used prezzi.  Instead of me talking, they scan QR codes to hear the dulcet tones of my voice. Instead of verbal plenaries, they will be tweeting me. (More on that later). But actually, the very essence, behind all of that creative sparkly wrapping is the same lesson I would have delivered anyway.  I know the students will be more engaged, it will be a novelty...which is in my view what is at the heart of creative teaching.  All of this 'novelty' does make me ponder...how long will it be until the 'normal' lesson becomes novelty again?

Cheers.