Yesterday we continued with the workshop based on the book, “How to Talk So Kids Can Learn” by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish, for teachers at a local highschool in Cleveland. The topic was “Seven Skills To Invite Kids To Cooperate In The Classroom”
In the first week of the workshop we had discussed how to deal with their student’s negative feelings. At the start of this week’s workshop I invited the teachers to discuss what happened when they used their new skills.
One teacher said that not only did he use empathy with his students, but he empathized with his friend who had just lost his job. His friend was still mad at the world after the phone call, but appreciated his friend’s empathetic concern.
Many of the teachers still felt it was difficult to empathize with a whole group of students. However they did decide that using their skills was more successful if when they addressed the class, they empathized preemptively:
“Okay guys, some of you might feel overwhelmed by this assignment. After I give it out please see me individually if you have problems.”
“You might feel rushed by this, the problem is we need to be at our assembly in 5 minutes!”
We then moved on to the next topic. The teachers had been told to read the second chapter of “How To Talk So Kids Will Learn” before they came to the class. We discussed:
- Why we need to use new techniques to engage cooperation with this generation of students
- The frustration of working with children and how to express that without hurting anyone’s feelings.
- Choices that are given as an ultimatum are not really choices. They won’t work. The choices need to be more positive.
An ultimatum would be:
“You can stop talking to your friend or move your seat!”
A choice would be:
“You can sit together quietly or separate yourselves to either sides of the room.” Tagging on, “what will work for you?” is also helpful.
We are going to continue this workshop next week. The topic: “Praise That Doesn’t Demean, Criticism That Doesn’t Wound.”
Stay tuned for more info on Teaching Teachers!