"If the kids are alive at 3PM I've done my job."

I began teaching about the time the earth's crust was being formed - it seems an eternity ago! After observing a new teacher in the classroom last week it occured to me how many tips and tricks I've stowed up my sleeve, ready to be pulled out whenever needed. How can I assist "Mrs. L" with classroom management, lesson plans, reading strategies, diversity, scaffolding, Bloom's Revised Taxonomy, Gardner's Multiple Intelligences and differentiated instruction? Where do I even begin? I decided to begin with Harry Wong.

I first "met" Harry Wong when my sister Beth, also a teacher, gave me a copy of his book, The First Days of School: How To Be An Effective Teacher (Wong, 2002). Dr. Wong and his coauthor wife, Rosemary, quickly became my heros; later in a professional development class I watched part of the video series based on the book and got to see Harry in action. No wonder he is a much-sought-after motivational speaker! This guy is incredible! I logged on to Amazon and ordered Mrs. L a copy of the book.

Harry lists 4 stages of teaching:

1. Fantasy
2. Survival
3. Mastery
4. Impact

Mrs. L is in stage 2. She is just trying to get through each day. I recall a T-shirt my aforementioned sister once wore. It stated: If the kids are alive at 3PM I've done my job. I believe this new teacher might agree with this sentiment. I see my mentorship as a chance to help her move beyond Survival to Mastery.

I believe classroom management would be a good place to begin. After completing an assignment a student asked if Mrs. L wanted the papers turned in. She indicated yes, but students seemed at a loss on how to do this. Finally one student stood up and collected all the papers and put them on Mrs. L's desk. Next, Mrs. L asked the students to take out their books and follow along with an audio recording. Students scrambled for backpacks, looking under desks, going to the bookshelf, and babbling about not having a book. This gave me insight into the need for procedures for daily tasks - handing out and collecting work, pencil sharpening, organizing materials, having everything needed for the lesson ready at the beginning of class, etc. Finally, the audio recording began. It was played on Mrs. L's laptop computer using only the laptop's speakers. Students at various places in the room could not hear well due to distance from the laptop and a noisy air conditioner. This developed into students not engaged in active learning, and you know what that means - behavioral disruptions. Perhaps I should have paid extra for overnight shipping from Amazon.

From Survival to Mastery. From kids merely alive at 3PM to kids learning when the bell rings. From chaos to engagement. Harry Wong will serve Mrs. L well.

Wong, HK. (2002). The first days of school: How to be an effective teacher.  Mountain View, CA: Wong Publications.

Wong Publications website