Lessons from the Classroom

By Hal Urban

Presented by: Victoria Zelmanski, Jessica Snow, Kaitlyn Schultz, and David Durkee

Overall Reaction Good advice Important for our Future Can implement Urban’s tips into our classrooms

Synopsis of the Book

Urban gives 20 lessons to those reading his book, provides examples to show how this lesson has worked for him throughout his years of teaching, give specific instructions on how to use each piece advice, and of course explains what NOT to do.

20 Lessons includingo “Good teachers share one special quality” o “Good teachers start every class with something

positive”o “Good teachers use the power of visible reminders”

Each lesson given in the book is of great importance

The Book and our Class Objectives

This book provides some lessons that relate directly to our course objectives. For example:

Objective 11 – “To define motivation and discuss its importance in teaching and learning” relates to the first lesson Hal Urban provided us with which is “Good teachers share one special quality” such as passion and enthusiasm.

Objectives Continued… Lesson 6 – “Create a caring community” relates

directly to a few objectives because without a caring community, it would be very difficult to meet any of the objectives that deal with teachers enabling students to learn, work with others, etc. If a student does not feel safe, he/she will not be willing to share their thoughts and ideas.

Objectives Continued… Lesson 20 – “Get better every year.” Every

teacher should be a lifelong learner. Educators should always be willing to improve their lesson plans and teaching skills. To meet any of the course objectives, teachers would need to be willing to continue improving year after year.

Practices and Beliefs the Author Uses

Which Led to His Success Good teachers form partnership with parents

Success Continued… Good teachers start searching at the door

Success Continued… Good teachers create a caring community

Success Continued… Good teachers help their students discover the

power of choice

Success Continued… Good teachers laugh with their students

Success Continued… Good teachers catch kids doing things right As we said before, Good teachers get better

every year

Developing the Whole Child

This Book gives 20 Lesson on how to be a good teacher. In order for you to help develop the whole child you must first develop who you will be as a teacher.

Questions to Think about:

Are you willing to put in large amounts of time for students?

Are you willing to go the extra mile to make sure ALL of your students are successful?

Will you make the learning environment a place where all will enjoy and feel safe?

Questions Continued… If you said yes to all of these questions and

promise to do your very best as an educator, and are willing to do whatever it takes to make yourself and students successful, then you are ready to be a teacher/learner.

If you develop the whole child and not just their mid children will learn to do things they didn’t think they could possibly do.

Lasting Quotes “I think working on this book was more enjoyable

because each time I sat down at my computer I knew I was writing to the most important people in the world- teachers.”

Hal Urban

Lasting Quotes Continued…

Hal Urban left Two wishes for teachers: “There’s no word in the language that revere more

than “teacher”. My heart sings when a kid refers to me as his teacher, and it always has. I’ve honored myself and entire family of man by becoming s teacher”

Pat Conroy

I will talk about one of my experiences I had this semester working in the CDLL. One little boy came up to me with scribbles on a piece of paper. I asked him what it said and he responded “It says, I Love You my teacher”. I knew I was meant to be a teacher from then on.

Prince of Tides

Lasting Quotes Continued…

“Teachers are expected to reach unattainable goals with inadequate tool. The miracle is that at times they accomplish this impossible task.

Haim Ginott

Philosophy of Education

Schools Exist for TWO important reasons:o To help students increase in knowledgeo To help students increase in good character

Ways to increase Knowledge

No matter who you are or what your age may be, if you want to achieve permanent, sustaining success, the motivation that will drive you toward that goal must come from within.

Paul J. Meyer

Ways to increase Knowledge

Inspire students to motivate themselves by teaching the students about goal setting.o Assignment: Write 10 Lifetime goalso Define what goals are; distinguish between goals and

non-goals• Goals are specific (writing, deadline, plan), non-goals are

generalo Develop categories of goalso Tell the story of John Goddard and his goalso Share some of my own goals and storieso Teach the 15 principles of effective goal-setting o Assignment: Write 100 lifetime goals

Ways to increase good Character

Greeting at the door develops good social skills

Ways to increase good Character

Teach the Golden Rule

“What you accept, you teach.” “What you permit, you promote”

It doesn’t say, “Treat people the way they’re treating you.”

Show different versionso http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ci613QcC5E&feature

Apply to substitute (Guest) teachers

Ways to increase good Character

Convince students that Honesty is still the best policy:o Not “everyone is doing it.” Those who are just get more

publicity.o Dishonesty can absolutely ruin lives and relationshipso Honest people have more peaceful, rewarding, and

fulfilling lives.

Thank You