Adra Young's Blog, page 3

Tips for teachers on maintaining successful homework turnouts.

Hello everyone.  Educators the month of September is basically over.  By this time most of us have identified the students who rarely turn in homework, or who simply refuse to turn it in at all.  Several years ago, my homework turnouts were terrible. As a result, I started to take this dilemma personal. That was until I put in place a plan of action.

1. Call home. Call home after the student misses one assignment. This allows the student to see that you mean business when it comes to submitting homework. Don’t allow the time for missing assignments to accumulate. Most parents appreciate the effort made on the teachers end.

2. Give homework simply as a measure of your students daily understanding. Teachers try not to give homework as busy work. Remember, it should serve as reinforcement for what was taught in the class. Giving multiple assignments just to keep a student busy results to poor submission turn outs. Provide what’s simply needed to observe growth.

3. Motivate your students. I know most say that positive reinforcement does not prepare students for a real world mindset however, I’m an advocate. Provide affordable items from the dollar store such as smiley stickers or pencils from time to time. Positive reinforcement works for older students as well.

4. Get creative. Currently I have what’s called a “Homework Champions List” posted outside the top of my classroom door. Yes…the list serves a dual purpose. It allows youngsters the privilege of self bragging rights. While on the other hand, students currently not on my list are making strides to get their names on it.

Tips for educators on Maintaining Stress Levels the Beginning of the School Year

Hello everyone. Today’s blog is for a very special group on individuals. Yes everyone, I’m referring to the educators. Nationally most teachers are back to work. Educators residing in the south have been instructing students for now almost an entire month. Here in Michigan, teachers are preparing to receive their youngsters after the Labor Day weekend. The work load in the beginning of the school year for an educator can be overwhelming. Employed within this profession myself, I’ve listed some tips on how to start the school year off with less stress.

1. Start getting your class-room together early. Nowadays, the time frame provided for teachers to both prepare and have their rooms together the first day of school has been cut drastically. If the custodial staff employed at your school’s location works during the summer, request permission to get in your class-rooms at-least one week earlier prior to the school year starting. Starting early allows ample time for teachers to clean, decorate boards, and organize.

2. Plan your lessons in advance. Planning your lessons with the intent in mind to stay ahead greatly assist with maintaining stress. In addition it helps the teacher to better analyze the educational goals they desire to reach within a prompt and professional manner.

3. Implement class-room management on day one. What I know about students in regards to learning is that guidelines, and structure are a “must” within the learning environment. It’s very important that teachers lay out mandated expectations the very first day of school and remain consistent throughout the school year. Remember, how one starts the year is usually the way one ends the year.

4. Submit professional paperwork on time for school transfers. If you intend on transferring or teaching at a different location the start of the school year, submit the required paper work with your employed district board of education thirty days in advance. Trust me when I say there’s nothing like not knowing what facility you will be teaching at the first day of school. If feasible, communicate with your current school administrator to ensure that you have been cleared to instruct at another location.

I hope what I’ve provided helps. I wish everyone a safe holiday weekend and all educators a stress free school year.

Dr. Maya Angelou Motivates Educators of Detroit Public Schools This Morning.

Hello everyone. It’s your favorite tweens and teens author wishing everyone a happy Friday Eve. Every year prior to heading back to the classroom, Detroit Public Schools offers professional development for it’s teachers. This morning hundreds of educators gathered at the Detroit Renaissance center for a real treat. Motivational speakers have come far and wide to speak with us yet, none could ever in my opinion compare to the honorable Doctor Maya Angelou.

Her pitch was so smooth that it could calm a sea. Her words and the delivery of her speech were both eloquent and informative. She captivated us so that you could not hear a single peep from the audience. Because of her presence as well as her presentation, I will never forget this day. Yes people, history was made this morning in Detroit.

Tips on Establishing Communication Bonds Between Parents and Teens

Hello everyone. As we all know it’s very easy  for communication to either stop or totally dissolve with teens and tweens. The fault or reason for this occurrence  falls upon no one. It can easily happen to any parent.  The “tween” and “teen”  stage can be difficult and challenging for both parents and youngsters. Below are a list of things to either get the court on the ball rolling or, get it back to where it use to be.

1. Ask about their day. Ask your youngster on the daily basis how their day has gone. This gives both the teen or tween the opportunity to express themselves.

2. Show affection. All teens and tweens are not affectionate however, everyone needs a hug from time to time.

3. Learn to read body language. Parents, I can not address how imperative it is to pay attention to the disposition of your youngster. Their responses to your questions during the time you converse could be good yet, their body language may possibly indicate just the opposite. Closely observe them to make sure that their body language and responses are in sync.

4. Do memorable things together. Ride bikes, and go feed the ducks together. In the long run, these are the kinds of experiences that will be remembered by your child.

The Signs or Indicators of a Bullied Youngster

Hello everyone.  It’s your favorite tween/teen author and educator here today to share with you some pointers on identifying  a  youngster being bullied.  Parents back to school time is just around the corner and here are some definite signs to look for.

Pretending to be ill.  Yes youngsters will try to run this one on us from time to time however, kids who are being bullied fake ill to avoid going to school to keep from being harassed by their in-school predators.
A change in attitude. If your youngster is normally a happy-go-lucky individual who’s made a drastic switched to being a mean kid no one wants to be around or bothered with, this is also a another sign. The reason behind your youngsters attitude change most likely has to do with the fact that they are being bullied and they have no idea of how to address it with you.
Signs of withdrawal. Your child who use to want to be around everyone who loved being involved in extra curricular activities has totally shut down and now lacks the desire to do anything.  This is the result of a youngster ashamed of the fact that they have become a victim of prey and sense of hopelessness has set in. I forewarn all parents who take notice of this occurring with their youngster to monitor them at a very close range. Signs of withdrawal can lead to depression.

Parents back to school time should be an exciting fun time for all kids, however, if for some reason your child starts to display any of the indicators listed above, please talk to them and present the situation to your youngsters school administrator.

The importance of reading to kids and making it fun!

August is one of my favorite times of the year in Detroit.  Each year General Motors sponsors a spectacular event called the Reading on the Riverfront Series. Local authors from the area get a opportunity to read their childhood favorites to the kids in attendance. Having had the opportunity to participate in this event for three consecutive years in a row, I always read my all time favorite Green Eggs and Ham.  I love getting the kids excited and involved. It’s fun to have the kids echoing back, “I do not eat green eggs and ham.   I do not like them Sam-I-Am.”  Allowing kids to echo back parts of a story makes it both fun and, at the same time exercises long-term memory skills. Parents I recommend you try doing it sometimes. It’s fun and a learning activity all in one.

The Visual Learner.

This particular day at school, levels of frustration started to set in.  My students were not retaining what adjectives were.  I tried everything I could possibly for them to get it.  My tactics were unsuccessful.  A sense of hopelessness was starting to kick in.  All of a sudden, a light bulb went off in my head. I told everyone to line up to get ready to go outside.  I placed them in groups of four, and explain to them that we were going to play a grammar game. The object of the game was to identify as many items possible within a 10 minute time frame. Together as teams they would provide descriptions of the items they listed on paper and report back to me. My students followed directions, and grasped the concept,  I was relieved to discover that kids often need to see images in order to actually comprehend what’s being asked of them.  Now that I think about it, I was a visual hands-on learner myself. Who would’ve thought that something as simple as taking my student’s outside would help me achieve my learning goal. 

The Sixth Grade Dance.

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Teaching sixth grade for the last six years, I really look forward to supervising the sixth grade dance with other dedicated teachers and staff.  Usually I walk around making sure that appropriate dancing is taking place.  Sometimes I even dance with my students during the times the DJ plays hussell or line dance songs.  This year, the kiddies made me proud.  No inappropriate dancing took place and they looked absolutely adorable slow dancing together.  

Kids learn best when they work together.

There was a time in my teaching career that I felt that students learned best in a quite setting.  Times have changed and studies show that students placed in groups together to complete a class room activity  actually learn more.  Grouping students together allows both the opportunity for students to feed off of one another’s thoughts while at the same time improve social and communication skills.  I am looking forward to implementing this method a lot more this fall in my class room.  It does work.  That is with appropriate supervision and planning.

The end of the school year promotion ceremony.