My Secret Weapons

Tools of the Trade…

When I begin with a new student I introduce a list of guidelines…after getting to know them a bit.  These guidelines are intended to provide a safe learning environment, and to create a means for communication, which encourages honesty and authenticity.  A students emotions can often interfere with learning, and exacerbate any attention issues, learning disabilities, or anxiety, which already exist. 

GUIDELINES

Important Concepts (ideas) to Remember

1. Mistakes are expected.

Mistakes are necessary to learn – We all make them.
If you think I made a mistake, please let me know.

2. Questions – Always ask, if something is not clear, or does not make sense. I may simply need to explain something in a different way, or to give you more examples to make something clear.  I cannot know what you are thinking, unless you tell me.

3. Effort & Patience – Be Fearless. Never be afraid to try.  It takes time to learn new things.  No matter how many mistakes you make, as long as you keep trying…you will succeed.  Sometimes you might not be “sure,” or may need to ask for some help, but that is why I am here.  If you give up, you will never be able to celebrate your success.  The harder something is to learn, the bigger the celebration. 

Can you think of anything you did not think you could do,
but worked hard to successfully achieve?

4. Practice makes perfect. Sometimes the things, which are hardest for us, become the things that we love the most, because we had to work so hard to achieve them.

5. Breaks – Tell me if you need a break, or if you are feeling sleepy.

6. Preferences – Tell me which activities you liked, and which you did not enjoy as much. Then…I can bring things, which will be more enjoyable for you.

Do you have any guidelines for me?

The following checklist would be modified to reflect the student’s age and grade level.  This particular list is geared primarily toward early elementary students.

Which of the following do you enjoy?

Activities

Workbooks
Sand
Puzzles
Balloons
Puppets
Shapes
Money
Clock – Time
Dice
Monopoly
Magnetic Board
Hidden Pictures
Connect the Dots
Color by Number Math

Depending on the student’s age, hobbies, IEP, parental feedback, a variety of topics may be touched upon, so that I can get a sense as to what might get the individual’s juices flowing, and what types of books may interest the student.

Topics – favorites, etc.

Books
Instruments
Dinosaurs
Colors
Books
Toys
Subjects
Friends
Hobbies
Sports
Television Shows
Games
Food
Season

Any questions?…   red-hand

Learn About The Intentional Teacher (NYC).

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