If I Could...I would

"I wish I'd realized sooner the impact my words had on my students. It took me a while to realize how important were the comments I put on papers (and the little happy faces and the stickers) to children and their parents."

"I learned to insist on eye contact from the minute they walked in the door. It works! I have looked at them and listened actively to them, and now I know them."

"Instead of raising my voice to get the students' attention, I use hand signals and ask students to copy them. Students are so busy trying to duplicate my hand movements that they forget to talk."

"The most important thing is to be consistent, to offer students routines and discipline. When kids have a regular structure and can count on teachers to be consistent, this provides them with a feeling of security."

"I try to relate to students as persons, to ask them if they're feeling better when they bring in an absentee note, or I use simple messages to let them know that I think they are more than just little question-and-answer machines to me."

"I wish I hadn't felt so obligated to stick with my lesson plans all the time. Sometimes kids really were interested in knowing about something, but I'd put their curiosity on the back burner because it didn't fit the plan. I lost out on some great teaching opportunities."

"I've learned how important 'wait time' is. Giving kids time to think after I ask them a question helps them practice how to think."

"I like to keep in mind the simple advice: Be true to yourself! I don't try to be something I'm not."

"I don't think enough can be said about the positive benefits of using peer tutoring. Don't be afraid to share some authority and responsibility for classroom learning."

"I use 'time-outs.'  I have set up a time-out area where any child can go for a moment to calm down. This gives the child time to settle down and regain control."