Post written by Rachel Syms, a native of Los Angeles who moved to Chicago to pursue a degree in journalism at Columbia College. She hopes to write for a magazine after graduation.
"How many of you, yourselves, were challenging, disruptive, or unmotivated back when you were in school?" That's the question Brian Mendler, adjunct professor at St. John Fisher College in New York, asked the room full of educators attending his 2013 ASCD Annual Conference session, "Motivate and Manage a Differentiated Classroom."
Mendler, author of The Taming of the Crew and coauthor of Strategies for Successful Classroom Management and Discipline with Dignity, admits that as a child he struggled with his disruptive behavior in the classroom and a severe learning disability that interfered with his reading capabilities. He says that he was able to get through school until the 4th grade, when faking it became a problem because of a difficult teacher he didn't get along with. Mendler says the teacher mocked him, called him lazy and unmotivated, and told him to try harder. After being labeled "emotionally disturbed" following a disagreement with the teacher, he was placed into self-contained special education for two years.
"It's so easy to do to kids what's never been done to us," he said to the audience as he walked up and down the center aisle, after asking if any of the attendees had been placed into self-contained special ed when they were younger. He spoke about the effects of name-calling and finger-pointing with students who have learnin
Throughout Summer: Reflect, Refresh, Recharge
Summer for educators is often a time to look back on the past year—and look forward to the coming one. What worked, what didn't, and what will you change? Educating the whole child and planning for comprehensive, sustainable school improvement requires us to be "whole educators" who take the time to recharge, reflect, and reinvigorate. Where should we put our effort? What aspects of a whole child approach to education is most critical to us right now?
Wherever your school or district sits along the continuum from implementation of a whole child approach to sustainability and changing the school culture, there are things we all can do to solidify and enhance a whole child approach to education in our settings. Join us throughout June and July as we highlight steps others have taken, successes that have been achieved, and lessons learned. Take this time to reflect on where you are, refresh your ideas, and recharge your batteries.
The Whole Child Podcast
Download the Whole Child Podcast next week for a discussion on how educators can reflect on the past school year, refresh their passion for teaching, and plan for next year.
The Whole Child Blog
Check out the Whole Child Blog for contributions from experts and practitioners in the field; whole child partners; and ASCD staff, who will share free resources, provide examples, and answer your questions. Be sure to leave your questions, ideas, and stories in the comments.
Social Networking
Connect (if you haven't already) with the Whole Child Initiative on Facebook and Twitter and be part of changing the conversation about the importance of a whole child approach to education with more than 18,000 people from around the globe.
Wherever your school or district sits along the continuum from implementation of a whole child approach to sustainability and changing the school culture, there are things we all can do to solidify and enhance a whole child approach to education in our settings. Join us throughout June and July as we highlight steps others have taken, successes that have been achieved, and lessons learned. Take this time to reflect on where you are, refresh your ideas, and recharge your batteries.
The Whole Child Podcast
Download the Whole Child Podcast next week for a discussion on how educators can reflect on the past school year, refresh their passion for teaching, and plan for next year.
The Whole Child Blog
Check out the Whole Child Blog for contributions from experts and practitioners in the field; whole child partners; and ASCD staff, who will share free resources, provide examples, and answer your questions. Be sure to leave your questions, ideas, and stories in the comments.
Social Networking
Connect (if you haven't already) with the Whole Child Initiative on Facebook and Twitter and be part of changing the conversation about the importance of a whole child approach to education with more than 18,000 people from around the globe.