First Year Teachers who Defeat Discouragement

The National Education Association, “estimates that one-third of all new teachers leave after three years, and 46 percent are gone within five years.”  This is a startling number when one considers that number of teachers who will retire within the next ten years.  It’s time to have a serious discussion about the factors that cause teachers to be discouraged.  Let’s address some of the issues by spending more time on solutions and understanding how to make educating students a national priority.  Too often teachers feel stuck and defeated because they are not totally prepared for working in a real school environment. 

So here are some solutions.  During the first year school districts must surround new teachers with master teachers who can encourage them. Very often new teachers are thrown into schools without a full understanding of the culture of the school.  The key to a teachers success is letting them know that they are not alone.  It is great for a new teacher to have someone who they can have a conversation with throughout the week.  There should be a special time when the new teacher can ask questions without the fear of being judged.  It is also great to have a college professor that a new teacher can call on from time to time too. 

First year teachers need more tools, mentors and ongoing preparation to support reminders:

1.  Let them know that teaching gets better over time. Don't give up.

2.  A mentor who can help them to brainstorm and identify alternative responses to different classroom situations

3. Surround themselves with supportive staff

4. Spend time having a general conversation with students outside of the classroom to encourage enthusiasm for learning

5.  Read books and listen to MP3 recordings that help you to stay motivated to teach

6. Focus on your fitness to endure the stress

7. Work to incorporate different learning styles in your instruction.

Your enthusiasm as a teacher is one of the greatest ways to move your class toward success. They will only receive information when they know that you are making investments in their success. Keep searching for different interactive activities that you can implement each day. Your students will benefit from the different learning styles that you are incorporating into your instruction.  There is a lot that you can find out about yourself and your students by trying different teaching methods.

It is important to identify teachers who will support you.  The best teachers are the ones who tell you what you can do rather than what you cannot do. You should align yourself with teachers who value seeing new teachers grow into their position.  These are the teachers who know how to communicate with students.  They realize that each school can have its own culture.  Don’t place limits on opportunities to learn see your students in different community locations.  Go to a community event or to a sporting event to observe what raises their enthusiasm.  You can also help out in an after school program where you can provide additional support in a fun environment.

There are some great internet resources that can be an aid to your instruction.  You can join several teachers and education groups on the social network named Linkedin.  You can use other resources such as Youtube, Khan Academy and TedX. These websites offer educational videos on a variety of topics.  Some of the videos can serve as a great motivation to teach at a high level. You may also find ways to incorporate videos into your instruction. It is a great way to engage students.

Don’t forget to continue to work on your teaching skills.  The first year teaching is just a stepping stone to a career that can be filled with exciting experiences.  Every day you will have an opportunity to witness your students as they grow intellectually, emotionally and socially. Each K12 grade level offers different challenges and you must continue to research to maximize your students learning potential.  Ask you student questions that will get them to think about the future and how things will be different.  Get your students to regularly use their imagination. Stay focused on your goal to teach and you will have success.  There is a wonderful reward for the time that you invest in helping students to reach their full potential.  Dr. Stephen Jones is a professional development presenter and author of the Seven Secrets of How to Study at http://www.studyskills2u.com or email stephenjoness@rcn.com.

Radical Ways to Spark K12 Student's College Interest

The best way to prepare a student for college is starting at the beginning of their education.  Too many school systems wait until high school to start a college conversation. During the early years students are like sponges that are waiting to absorb knowledge.  The discussions about college must start early.  That is why I decided to create the Ultimate College Preparation Kit at http://www.studyskills2u.weebly.com/books.html.  Students who inspired to read and compute math in a fun way while they are in elementary school thrive as they move from elementary school to middle school and from middle school to high school.  Parents should be included in the college conversation.  Schools can help parents to understand what they can be doing in their homes for example no television in the students room.  The parent can set a limited television viewing time during the week.  Instead parents should encourage their child to read and read with them.  The school that is preparing students for college must have a parent partnership.

Students not only need to memorize words at their K12 schools they need to have conversations where words are used at a higher volume. This is beneficial especially during the early years when students are learning math and science terms and words.  Teachers and parents should talk about college regularly to raise the student’s expectation that they can attend college. A teacher spends the majority of time with the students during the day.  Every teacher who is teaching at an elementary school, middle school and high school should have the banner of the college they attended outside of their room.  You will be amazed how many student conversations can result from having a banner outside of your door.  The students may not even be in the teacher’s class the banner is creating a college going culture.  The catalyst for a student to attend college is the teacher’s inspiration. It is the fact that everyone that comes in contact with them talks about college.  Tell your students that they are special and that you are expecting great things from them.  Here are a few tips:

1.  Measure and calculate everything so that your student develops good math skills

2. Read for an hour and a half every day

3.  Respond to questions that your students ask to help them to develop a vocabulary

4.  Take your student on cultural trips on the weekend

5.  Find reasons to be on a college campus for a play, sporting event or presentation

6. Plan a college visit every K12 year

7.  Get a college mentor for your student’s class

8.  Use the common application to apply to college

9. Teach you students to manage their time early. It has great benefits

10.  There are over 6000 colleges there is one for your student

Helping children to believe in themselves is half of the battle in terms of encouraging them to attend college.  They may be the first person I their family to attend college and they feel overwhelmed.  You should reassure them of what they can accomplish.  Teachers can talk about people who are living today who've graduated from college too.  A lot of students need to see living examples of college graduates.  You can invite them to your classroom to talk about their career experiences.  You can work with your students to create questions that they can ask to your speaker.  Sometimes that quite student who never makes a noise will have a question.  You never know the profession that I child will pursue.  The television and other media should not be the only way that students are able to identify a career. Every student has great potential.  Find creative ways to involve them in the learning process and they will have a thirst for knowledge and college. Dr Stephen Jones is a college preparation expert, author, consultant and educator.  He recently released the Ultimate College Preparation Kit at http://www.studyskills2u.weebly.com/books.html . You can reach him at stephenjoness@rcn.com or 610-842-3843.

Keys to Maximizing Your Student's Motivation

One of the biggest challenges for any school is how to keep students motivated.  It's challenging to create a school environment where everyone wants to show up every day. There are some key things that you want to keep in mind. Students are not always clear on their goals. School should be a place where they can find their purpose. Students need an opportunity to express themselves and school is a great place to do it.  If all classes find a way to incorporate interactive projects and group efforts and friendly competition you will get better results. Allow students to offer suggestions. Here are more tips: 

1.  Offer tutoring throughout the day and encourage students to earn better grades

2.  Hire teachers who believe that the students are going to be success

3. Incorporate current events into all classes

4. Have a school wide community project

5.  Visit cultural locations with students in another city

6. Have a council of student leaders that represent each grade

7.  Give students an opportunity to teach a part of your lesson.

8.  Develop an exchange of idea program with another school

9. Get your local college's small business office to help your students with starting their own small businesses

10.  Create many ways for parents to participate in the school with conference calls and meetings at the school and in the community.

Don''t stay stuck in the way that you've done things with your students. They are waiting for you to be innovative and engaging. There is a lot that you can do differently and it won't cost money. Always ask your students questions. They want a good school environment too. Seek to uncover your leaders.  Some disruptive students are leaders who have not found the right way to express themselves.  Ask them to help organize the right thing and this student will change.  Every student needs a spark to ignite their enthusiasm for learning. Take time to listen to your students and you can uncover all that's necessary to raise your students motivation.  Dr. Stephen Jones is an professional development/workshop presenter http://bit.ly/MjQ16z and author of the Seven Secrets of How to Study at http://bit.ly/19Vg9ew.

Unique Time Management Ideas for Busy k12 Professionals

One of the greatest crisis for a k12 principal, vice-principal or teacher is time management. As a professional you are constantly planning but still feeling like there is insufficient time to get things done. Use the power of your words to remind yourself that all things are possible when you follow your plan. You must also be willing to reduce the time of your meetings. Give people more responsibility as a part of their professional development. Ask your staff to send you brief emails to keep you updated. Here are other things you can do:

1.  Make a list of things you can do to save time and follow it.

2.  Organize your office for 15 minutes twice a week

3. Get fit and you will have more energy to accomplish a task

4. Create shorter meetings with an agenda that you follow

5.  Have a things to do list that you check off when something is accomplished 

6.  Make family time a priority by knowing when to leave work

7.  Get connected with families in the community to establish a relationship with parents of children who attend your school

8.  Say no to things that distract you.

9.  Identify an accountability partner who can help you with time management 

10.  Send someone to represent you at events that you cannot attend. Ask them to take notes and email them to you.

If you have a plan, you can find ways get control of your time. Occasionally consider taking a Friday off to reduce your stress. Each Saturday or Sunday take a few minutes to work on your time management plan. You are in control of your destiny. You can have more time by organizing and believing that your plan will be successful. Dr Stephen Jones is a professional development presenter and author of the Seven Secrets of How to Study, the Parent's Ultimate Education Guide and the Ultimate Scholarship Guide at http://bit.ly/19Vg9ew. To review free copies of his books for your school in the US send your address to stephenjoness@rcn.com. You can contact Dr. Jones at 610-842-3843.

Vice Principals the Aspiring Leaders of Tomorrow

The leaders that we need for tomorrow are the vice-principals that we see in schools today.  There is a fertile group of administrators who are often one step away from the principal’s role.  The experiences that will lead to a successful role as a principal must be a daily task.   There are decisions about the administration of the school, teachers and the academic success of students. These all combine into a tangles web of decisions that require forethought and immediate responses.  Some vice- principals serve as the Dean of Students while others manage the academic affairs of their school. All leadership opportunities add up to experience s that help’s the vice-principal to grow into a future leadership role. There are ten things that you can do to develop your skills as a leader:

1.  Identify a mentor who has plenty of principal experience

2.  Pursue a master’s degree in management with an emphasis on leadership

3.  Attend leadership seminars whenever you attend a conference

4.  Take on a project that’s important to your school district and do a good job

5. Have a plan for your physical fitness

6. Meet and connect with people who attend district wide training sessions for principals

7.  Participate on a panel during a workshop discussing school management

8.  Write an article concerning your role in your K12 school and distribute it

9.  Create a plan of action concerning your timeline for becoming a principal.

10. Take a technology course to enhance your skills

You are on a journey that requires an open mind to everything that will lead to your success. Never allow yourself to be isolated. You will need people to help you to succeed.  While you are a vice principal you have a good amount of time getting people to know you.  You can often listen to concerns that the principal does not hear from staff and students. Effective communication starts with listening.  Listen to the concerns of your staff and parents.  Always seek to find a solution to problems and don’t let carry on for weeks and weeks.  You are the captain of your goal to become principal.

Dr Stephen Jones is education consultant, author of three books the Seven Secrets of How to Study, the Parent's Ultimate Education Guide and the Ultimate Scholarship Guide available at http://www.studyskills2u.com.

How to Seek a Dynamic Professional Development Workshop Presenter

One aspect creating a successful school is identifying the right professional development workshop presenter.   There are many different types of workshops presented all over the country. A workshop presenter who is motivational is one choice and a teacher is another. The professional develop for each school should be tailored to the needs of staff and teachers.  Here are a few tips for finding a workshop presenter:

1. Research the speaker

2. Go to a place to see the his/her presentations

3. Look for professional development presenters at your conferences

4. Call the presenters references

5.  Talk to a colleague about presenters they have used

6.  Look for presenters in your social networks like Linkedin and Facebook etc

7.  Research speakers bureau

8.  Contact your local Toastmasters or National Speakers Association organizations

9.  Watch the speaker on a YouTube, Vimeo or Vine videos

10.  Invite them to a meeting to discuss their presentation

Hiring a professional development workshop presenter can help to improve your students performance. The teachers who have benefited from the workshop presenter will use new strategies in their classrooms.  It may cause them to do research or to identify new books for their classroom.  Also administrators can learn how to cast a new vision for their school. Sometimes an entire school is stuck in doing things one way.  Bringing in a presenter can give everyone a new way of accomplishing the schools mission to educate students. Dr. Stephen Jones is a workshop presenter and education expert who has given presentations to hundreds of teachers, administrators, students and parents who you can contact at 610-842-3843 or stephenjoness@rcn.com. Visit his website to find out about his books at http://bit.ly/19Vg9ew.

Professional Development the Key to Leadership

The key to being and effective leadership in education is the determination to never give up. A good leader will know that when something goes wrong it is an opportunity to learn. It's actually a time to do something different then you've done in the past.  Her are somethings you can do to take your leadership to another level:

1. Read a leadership every three months

2. Read leadership ebooks

3. Attend an online seminar on leadership

4. Pursue a masters degree

5. Work on your listening skills 

6. Make a commitment to change

7. Download a MP3 recording from blogtalkradio

8. Attend a leadership and motivation conference

9.  Serve as a leader in a local education association

10.  Identify a mentor who is a leader and stick with him/her

It takes time to become an effective leader. You must accept all of the stages.  You will gain more wisdom

with each year that goes by. Stay steady and look for ways to keep yourself motivated by talking to others. You can make it. Dr. Stephen Jones conducts professional development workshops. You can contact him at 610-842-3843  or at stephenjoness@rcn.com.