The ABC's High School Teachers Really Need to Know

XL educator egos have no place in a classroom.  They undermine relationships, productivity, and learning.  They also make for bad colleagues and lifelong learners.  Instead, learn with your students and model the behaviors you want to produce.  

Watching others teach is the number one way to grow as an education professional.  Unfortunately. too many teachers and administrators fail to make it a priority.  If you don't observe others, you miss out on valuable perspective, ideas, and growth.  You also inevitably underserve your students.  

For educators, a few things in this world are certain - death, taxes, and the undeniable teacher truths mentioned in this week's episode.  Remember, as an educator, you are never alone.  Connect and collaborate with the amazing people in our field.  In addition to making you better at your job, it will also help you find support.  

School soap operas are a real thing, and effective teachers know how to minimize their involvement.  This episode will discuss some crucial strategies that will help you be happier AND more effective as an educator in today's world.  It's time to reduce the drama!

Students have changed, along with the rest of the world.  Effective teachers don't complain - they adjust.  We have to continue to work hard to reel students back into our lessons and process.  Even better, let's not lose them at all.  This episode will offer up some crucial strategies on how to do just that.  

Effective teachers realize that underperformance is easier than putting the effort in to find success - this is the magnet at the bottom.  This magnet affects your classroom in a big way.  Start developing a "+1 mentality" and help your students develop both motivation and academic stamina.  

In the heat of conflict between students or with you, it's important to ask yourself a critical question before speaking or acting.  This practice is a major component of effective classroom (and life) management.  In this episode, we will discuss that question and so much more.  

Many teachers struggle with classroom management, despite their efforts to create and enforce policies and procedures.  Effective teachers know that if you focus on the people more than structure, the classroom management will almost certainly follow.  

Changing jobs or roles can be challenging.  However, effective teachers know that sometimes we have to do one or both to better serve our students.  As we grow personally and professionally, we often have to choose change - that's what being a lifelong learner is all about.  

Effective teachers know that intelligence is not the same as experience.  Neither is superior, but differentiating the two is crucial to building and managing your process.  

Effective teachers run counter to the notion that some students are just "hardened criminals" with a history of underperformance and bad behavior.  We focus on being a supporter, challenger, and champion for all.  Whether self-created or not, many students become victims of hardened circumstances.  Effective teaches focus on helping them rise.  

Effective teachers know that group work can be a powerful tool, or completely undermine your learning objectives, depending on how you use it.  This episode discusses the only two scenarios group work should be used, and more importantly, how to gauge its use in achieving learning objectives.  

The future happens each and every day.  What we invest in our students (and ourselves) on a daily basis helps develop what tomorrow will look like.  Each day absolutely matters.  That shouldn't be a burden, but instead an opportunity.  Make the most of it!