Homilton, Ohio

HAMITTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICTAugust 25,2009

LESSONSFROM THE

CLASSROOM

20 THINGSGOOD TEACHERS DO

Dr. Hal Urban790 Barbour Drive

Redwood Citv. CA 94062

Phone: (650) 366-0882 Fax (650) 366-9882E-mail : halurban@halurban.com

Website: www.halurban.com

LESSONS FROM THE CLASSROOM20 Things Good Teachers Do

By Hal Urban

Introduction: Why we need Character Education (l-2)One simple reason for writing this bookFirst things first: the copyright laws

1 - Good teachers share one special quality

2 - Good teachers have two important goals

3 - Good teachers form a partnership with parents

4 - Good teachers start teaching at the door

5 - Good teachers teach manners and the Golden Rule (3)

6 - Good teachers create a caring community in their classrooms

7 - Good teachers avoid words that poison the atmosphere

8 - Good teachers use words that nourish the atmosphere (4-5-6)

9 - Good teachers start every class with something positive

10 - Good teachers, along with their students, have a mission (7-8)

1 1 - Good teachers use the power of visible reminders

12 - Good teachers help their students to own and honor the rules (9-10)

13 - Good teachers have high standards and high expectations

14 - Good teachers help their students understand the power of choice

15 - Good teachers tell good stories

16 - Good teachers use the power of quotations

17 - Good teachers laugh with their students

18 - Good teachers help their students set lifetime goals

19 - Good teachers catch their students doing things right (11)

20 - Good teachers get better every year

WHO/WHAT IS INFLUENCING OUR KIDS?

SCHOOL - MEDIA -HOMtr - PEERS - FAITH

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LIFE'S GREATEST LESSONS20 Things That Matter

(Originally title d 20 Things I Want Mg Kids ?o Knowl

byHal Urban

Four reasons for writing this book:

1) Because we're never too young or too old to learn l i fe's greatest lessons.

2) Because they don't teach "how l i fe works" or "what is essential" in school.

3) Because most kids need help in discovering how good they can be.

4) Because old-fashioned truth never goes out of style .. . even with a new generation.

The 2O Things:

1 - Success is more than making money

2 - Life is hard ... and not always fair

3 - Life is also fun ... and incredibly funny

4 - We live by choice, not by chance

5 - Attitude is a choice - the most important one you'll ever make

6 - Habits are the key to all success

7 - Being thankful is a habit - the best one youlr ever have

B - Good people build their lives on a foundation of respect

9 - Honesty is still the best policy

1O - Kind words cost little, but accomplish much

11 - Reai motivation comes from within

12 - Goals are dreams with deadlines

. 13 - There's no substitute for hard work

14 - You have to give up something to get something

15 - Successful people don't find time; they make time

16 - No one else can raise your self-esteem

17 - The body needs nutrition and exercise; so do the mind and spirit18 - I t 's OK to fai l ; everyone else has

19 - Life is simpler when we know what,s essential

20 - Essential # 1 is being a good person

Published by Simon & Schuster, Jonuory ZOO3

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO GOOD MANNERS? O

"Manners are of more importance than laws."- Edmund Burke, British statesman, 1700's

"without good m_anners human society becomes intolerable and impossible."- George Bernard Shaw, Irish playwright, 1800's

"If manners were an animal, it would be an endangered species."- Henry C. Rogers, American public relations expert,1984

How things were different not too many years ago:

- Students rarely came late to class. When they did, they apologized. Today many often come late. Onlyrarely does one apologize.

- Students didn't get up, walk across the room, throw something in the wastebasket, then walk backacross the room while the teacher was talking. Today it is done often, and nothing is thought about it.

- Students didn't litter in the classroom or write on desks. Today many students do both.

- Students didn't talk back to teachers in a defiant manner. Today it is done often.

- Students didn't swear in classrooms or the hallways. Today some students can't talk without swearing.

- When students needed something from the teacher, they would say, "May I please have...", usually in apleasant tone. Today many students say, "I need ..." , often in a demanding tone.

- Students used to say "please" and "thank you." Today, only a few students use those words.

- Students used to listen when the teacher was talking. Today, many students feel they have the right toignore the teacher and have a private conversation with their friends.

- Students used to listen when other students were asking a question, answering a question or expressingan opinion. Today, many students don't want to listen to their classmates.

- Students, in general, were more considerate of others people's feelings. Today, many students couldcare less about other people's feelings They're more "into themselves."

Some questions to consider:

I ) Why have manners and civility declined so much in the U.S. in the past 20 years?2) Is a society better when people treat each other with respect?3) Is a classroom better when both students and teacher show mutual respect?a) Why does Henry Rogers say, "Good manners are one of the most important keys to success in life"?5) What is the "Golden Rule"? If it's so simple, why do more people today have difficulty practicing it?6) Do most students practice the manners in the classroom that they were taught by their parents?

POSITIVE WORDS,POWERFUT RESUTTS

Simple Ways to Honor, Affirm, and Celebrate Life

byHal Urban

Gontents

Part One - The origins and influence of words1 - Words make us human2 - Words can change lives3 - Words can hurl and offend4 - Words come from the heart5 - Words are choices

Part Two - The win-win rewards of positive words6 - Joyful words celebrate life7 - Attirming words inspire others ... and ourselves8 - Loving words heal and strengthen relationships9 - Gracious words show respect and gratitude10 - Funny words make us laugh

Part Three - Four places where positive words can work wonders11 - Affectionate words build strong families12 - Gentle words teach kindness in our schools13 - Supportive words boost morale and results at work14 - Encouraging words enhance pedormance and fun in sports

Part Four - Two f inal thoughts on using words wisely15 - Kind words in writing become lasting treasures16 - Positive words add joy to life ... but only in the living

Part Five - Summary and conctusionAlways have something good to say

Published by Simon & Schuster - May, 2OO4

THE POWtrR OF'WORDS

8 Experts On Good Communication

I can live for two months on one good compliment.- Mark Twain

I resolve to speak ... all the good I know ofeverybody. - Benjamin Franklin

The deepest urge in human nature is the desire tofeel important. - John Dewey

Everybody likes a compliment.- Abraham Lincoln

The most basic principle of human nature is thecraving to feel appreciated. - William James

Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.- Dale Carnegie

Treat other people the way you would like them totreat you.

- Jesus

Kind words can be short and easy to speak,but their echoes are truly endless.

- Mother Teresa

Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,but only what is helpful for building others up accord-ing to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Eohesians 4:29

Random Quotes On The Porver Of Words

We increase whatever we praise. The wholecreation responds to praise, and is glad.

- Charles Fillmore

Words go into the body. So they cause us to bewell and hopeful and happy and high-energyand wondrous and funny and cheerful. Or theycan cause us to be depressed. They get into thebody and cause us to be sullen and sour anddepressed and, finally, sick.

Maya Angelou

Few things in the world are more powerful than apositive push. A smile. A word of optimismand hope. A 'you can do it'when things aretough. - Richard M. DeVos

Kind words do not cost much ... Yet theyaccomplish much.

- Blaise Pascal

Let no one ever come to you without leavingbetter and happier.

- Mother Teresa

Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

NameOue on: Per

Afrrmation Assrgnment(verta0

"Words go into the body. They can cause us to be we// and hopefu/ and happy and hrgh-

energy and wondrous and funny and cheerful." - Maya Angelou

Asstgnment: Use your words to make someone else feel one of the things Maya Angeloumentions above. Give three people a verbal atfrrmation - one that is personaL notphysica/ (hain clothes, looks, etc.). fulake someone feel good.

Person: RelationshipWhat you said:

Response:

Person: RelationshipWhat you said:

Response:

Person: RelatronshipWhat you said:

Response:

The Difference A Teacher Can Make

I have come to a frighteningconclusion that f am the decisiveelernent in the classroom. ft's *y

personal approach thut creutels theclimute. ft's my daily mood that

makes the westheF. As s tescher, Iposse,s^s a tremendous power to mske

a child's IW miserable or joyous. Ican be a tool of torture or &n

instrument of inspirution. f canhamiliate or humor, hurt or heal. Inell situations, it is m!. response that

decides whether a crisis will beescalated or deescalated and a child

humsnized or dehumanized.- Haim Ginott

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The teacher's mission

Every teacher in the worff,, w1ether worhtn7 with a

yre-Ltnf,ergarten cht(f, or a p6.D. canf,.{.date, 6ast6e same mission - to 6ring out the 6est in the student.

- Professor Erwtn $. t{aff

My mission as a teacher - A promise to my students

My ultimate responsibility as a teacher is to bring out the best in my sfudents,

to help them perform at their highest levels in both academics and character.

I'll treat you with the utrnost of respect - the same way I expect you to treat me

and your classmates.

I'll do everything in my power to create the best possible classroom atrnosphere,

one in which I can teach and you can learn.

I'll come to each ciass prepared with a meaningful lesson plan.

I'll be consistent in maintaining high academic standards while supporting my

very strong belief that there's no substitute for hard work.

Whenever possible, I'11 try to connect school to the larger world outside. I'll

teach "life lessons" along with the academic lessons in each course.

I'll make myself available to help you in both academics and personal matters.

I will always give you my best.

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Nomes

IF WE MADE THE RULES

Students woufd not be ollowed to ...

1)

2 )

3 )

4)

5 )

Students would be encouroged to...

1)

2 )

3 )

4)

5)

Class Rules - Do's and Don'ts in Mr. Urban's class(written by the students and the teacherx)

You are allowed and encouraged to do thefollowing in this class:

. Follow the Golden Rule

. Be respectrul of teacher and classmates

. Come to class "thirst ing for knowledge"

. Take good notes

. Do your homework

. Participate

. Have a positive attitude

. Have an "Oh, boy!" attitude

. See learning as an OPPORTUNITY

. Listen' Come to class prepared - binder, pen, etc.. Help each other learn. Bring good food on your birthday. Accept responsibility for yourself. Honor the rules we've written. Be on time. Have good attendance.. $ir, "please" and ,,thank you". Say nice things about classmates - give compliments. Find things to celebrate/share good news. Be thanldul. Make people laugh without being dirty. Express your opinion. Ask questions. Expand your horizons. Make others feel welcome. Do extra credit on homework. Smile; Have good manners. Act and be treated like young aduls. Keep the class clean. Don't worry; Be happy. Work hard/give your best. Make suggestions. Ask if you need help. Keep an organized binder. Cheer when you get handouts. Let Mr. Urban know if you're having problernsx

@You are not allowed to do the following in thisc lass:

. Discount/ignore other students

. Discount/ignore the teacher

. Get up and walk around without permission

. Interrupt

. Annoy others

. Talk serious smack to others, Swear/use bad language. Put down others. Stay in your little clique all the time. Sexually harrass anyone. Put make-up on in class. Spi t. Leave a mess behind/litter. Have side conversations (no discounts). Be rude. Block aisles with backpacks. Put gum under the desks. Throw things. Invade other people's privacy. Have a bad/negative attitude. Come late. Act like a "hard ass". Vandalize. Make fun of/laugh at others. Dominate conversations. Act like a know-it-all. Interrupt teaching. Complain/moan out load (poisons the atmosphere). Make dumb outbursts. Run with scissors. Eat or drink (except water in plastic bottte). Cheat/lie/steal. Make irritating noises (knuckles, pens, gum). Give up on yourself. Gossip/spread rumors' Say " I need . . . ". Make racist remarks. Sit and do nothing (stay on task)x. Sleep or put your head down on the deskx

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\f/STUDENT:

sUDJECTCommenfs;

Woodside Hiqh SchoolSocial SfuJies Dept

Ha/ Urban-Dafe: