Donn Harrison doesn’t think of himself as exceptional. He’s a kindergarten teacher at Parkview Elementary School in Cameron, Missouri, where he also volunteers as a firefighter and ambulance driver/ EMT. He says he is just a regular guy who loves his family and his community.
But, millions of Americans think he is much more than that. They voted in droves, helping him win Live! with Kelly and Michael’sTop Teacher of 2015 contest. Donn won new laptop computers for his school, a new car, $20,000 and a Caribbean vacation.
What makes Donn such an amazing teacher and member of his community? California Casualty recently had the privilege of talking with Donn to learn more.
First, Donn said he is humbled by the attention and the prize. “My wife nominated me thinking I might get a mention and a thank you note,” he said. “Then, I got word I was one of 12 finalists. What an honor; it blew my mind to think that I was thought of as one of the 12 best teachers in America!”
Donn was astonished as people left remarks on his Facebook page that they had voted for him and passed the information on to their family members, fellow firefighters, EMTs and others to vote for him too. In fact, he now has more than 10,000 followers.
Donn is a little embarrassed about the notoriety, but he’s thrilled that he can highlight Cameron, Missouri, a small rural town where he said people still help each other and make sure to say hello. He often gets stopped at the store or bank by former students who want to share the latest news about their family, introduce him to their newest baby or thank him for the skills that landed them a new job.
As for teaching, Donn came from humble roots. He and his brother were raised by a single parent mother, who was a teacher. Getting through school wasn’t easy for Donn. “I struggled and had to work hard.” He said he attended summer school so he could continue to the next grade. Somehow the guidance from his mother stuck with him and he decided he wanted to be a teacher himself.
Remembering his educational hardship is what makes him such a great instructor. Donn said he is there for every student, especially the ones that have to work harder to succeed. “I’ve been there, I understand,” he said. “I work hard to make the classroom accommodating for those students so everybody wins. If you care and show interest, kids will do anything for you.”
Donn said if he could offer advice to other teachers and schools it would be this: “Put kids first. Make class work for all kids, especially those with issues,” he said.
Donn’s goal is to remove the stigma associated with being a “special needs” student. Realizing that all children learn differently, he said anyone can reach kids and get more out of them if you work with them. In fact, by integrating a special education co-teacher into the classroom, Donn finds almost every kindergartner that starts the year with an individual education plan is off them by the end of the year.
Oh, a couple last things; Donn is enjoying his new car, and after paying taxes for that and the vacation he and his family will take, he will donate any excess money back to his community. He also wants educators to know that he has been insured with California Casualty for a number of years now, and enjoys the Auto and Home Insurance benefit provided by the NEA. Donn said while the price was one of the initial things that attracted him, the customer service, the human contact and the fact that California Casualty gives back to teachers with programs like the $7,500 School Lounge Makeovers and the $2,500 Academic Award keep him spreading the word to others about the value of the NEA® Auto & Home Insurance Program.
California Casualty is proud to partner with exceptional teachers like Donn. It’s why we work so hard to protect educators who make our communities better by preparing the minds of future generations to come.
We are also thrilled that Donn will be writing about his experiences as an educator and sharing them on our blog. Be looking for more articles soon.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters and nurses. Get a quote at 1.800.800.9410 or www.calcas.com.
Technology will always be a double-edged sword, regardless of what it does or where it’s used. This is perhaps no more evident than in the classroom.
While new technologies give students access to more information than any previous generation has ever had, the advance also entails negative effects. As a teacher, it’s important for you to understand the advantages and disadvantages of technology in the classroom and how to maximize the former while diminishing the latter.
Pros of Technology in the Classroom
The benefits of technology in the classroom are numerous. Take a look at some of the top advantages:
Independent learning. According to Sam Eldakak, a researcher and author who has spent a great deal of time analyzing the issue of technology in the classroom, “Students who collect data from the Internet can be self-directed and independent.” In other words, the web gives students an opportunity to make discoveries and pursue learning in ways that were once impossible without the assistance of a librarian or informed professor.
More engagement. The Internet provides students with engaging content that isn’t rivaled by boring textbooks. For example, a student who’s asked to write a research paper on Bengal tigers can watch a YouTube video of the animals in their natural habitat, listen to an interview with a zoologist, and pull up colorful infographics with compelling statistics …as opposed to reading a chapter in a book and relying on a couple of black and white images.
Better teaching opportunities. For teachers, technology can greatly enhance the way you manage the classroom and present new material. You too have access to videos, online resources, and various new technologies. Using these to make lectures more interesting, you can actually do students a favor and encourage them to learn.
Drawbacks of technology in the classroom
Despite plenty of positives of technology in the classroom, there are also a handful of potential negatives. Here’s a look at a few of those:
More distractions. According to Faria Sana, a McMaster University researcher, allowing tablets, laptops, and mobile devices in the classroom can be detrimental to learning. “It can change your grade from a B+ to a B-,” she explains. Her argument is that while technology enhances the potential for learning, it’s often used inappropriately in the hands of irresponsible students. As a result, it serves as a distracting force, rather than an empowering one.
Encourages laziness. Some within the educational system believe technology has encouraged laziness in students by giving them everything they need at their fingertips. Instead of having to actually learn, students can grab the information they need and merely regurgitate it without being required to digest and shape it, let alone think for themselves.
Makes cheating easier. Small devices can be hidden virtually anywhere and used to find answers to tests or homework questions. It’s also possible for students to take a picture of a test and send it to their friends. While dishonest students will probably always find a way to cheat, technology makes it so much easier, and therefore possibly more widespread.
How to handle technology in the classroom
As a teacher or school administrator, it’s up to you to determine how technology will be handled in the classroom. Although you can’t control everything, there are certain aspects you can influence to achieve a more positive and effective learning environment. By maximizing the advantages and limiting the disadvantages, you can ensure your students are better poised for success.
California Casualty: auto insurance for teachers
At California Casualty, we have a great deal of respect and appreciation for the teachers in our communities. We firmly believe in the power of education and admire the dedication and commitment our educators bequeath us on a daily basis.
In addition, we believe all teachers should have reliable, dependable, and fair auto insurance. That’s why we offer some of the best policies in the industry. For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us today!
Classroom management is one of the central facets of teaching … and often the most difficult. This is especially true for high school teachers, because teenage students tend to be more rebellious and uncooperative.
By understanding the challenges you face and learning to strengthen your classroom management skills, you can promote a healthier learning environment that enables your students to thrive.
Understand your problem
Do you know what the issue is? Why does your classroom get out of hand, and is there something students are taking advantage of?
These are questions you have to ask at the outset. Before you can tackle classroom management, you must take a critical look at yourself and determine the root of the problem.
For example, some teachers struggle with insecurity and aren’t confident enough to command a classroom. This is a major issue and must be dealt with as soon as possible.
Other instructors are people pleasers who don’t ever wish to offend or upset their students. In still other cases, teachers are too confrontational for their own good.
It’s up to you to identify what the issue is. While your students may be part of the problem, it almost always comes back to you in some way or other. If youaddress your issues first, you’ll be readyto implement strategic initiatives to combat poor classroom behavior.
Tips for better classroom management
If you’ve come to terms with your strengths and weaknesses, you’re ready to home in on specific tips and techniques for offsetting challenges and using your assets to manage classroom behavior more effectively.
Here are a few to get you started:
Take charge from day one. As every teacher knows, it’s much easier to start strict and potentially loosen your grip later than the other way around. At the beginning of each semester — and ideally every day — you should begin by taking charge of the classroom and commanding respect. You do this by drawing students in, curbing side conversations, and directing the focus toward the subject matter.
Provide positive reinforcement. While an unruly classroom can strain your patience, it’s important to give credit where it is due. When a student does something well, provides a valuable insight, or follows the rules, praise him or her for cooperation. Students need to know that good behavior will be rewarded as much as bad behavior won’t be tolerated.
Focus on engaging content. The truth is that most classroom behavior issues can be overcome by creating engaging content and hands-on lessons. Contrary to popular belief, most students are interested in learning; you simply need to draw them in with something that’s sufficiently exciting and intriguing. Break up lectures with visuals and challenges to keep the focus on the content.
Humanize yourself. Have you ever thought that maybe your classroom is unruly and out of control because they don’t have any reason to respect you? This can be a sobering thought, but it can be true. Have you taken the time to let your students know who you really are, or are you just another fact machine at the front of the classroom? Identify yourself by telling students who you are, where you’re from, what your interests are, and why you enjoy teaching. Students are much more likely to respect someone they understand.
Handle issues swiftly. When problems arise, it’s up to you to handle them swiftly and effectively. Don’t let behavior issues go on for too long, or bad feelings will develop between you and your students. Address problems and actively pursue resolutions in a timely manner.
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As an educator, you deserve the very best protection and peace of mind you can get. At California Casualty, we offer this in the form of reliable auto insurance. For additional information on how our policies can keep you confident and protected on the road, please contact us today!
Whether at the elementary or post-graduate level, teachers everywhere often struggle with facilitating classroom discussion. You may have one or two students who are completely engaged, but too often you catch yourself wishing everyone would share their thoughts for a better overall learning environment.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to encourage meaningful discussion.
Understand the issue
Classroom discussion can be a touchy issue. Some teachers claim they can’t get their classrooms to stop talking and have to work hard to curb side conversations and redirect attention to the subject matter at hand.
Other instructors can’t get their students to talk at all, which becomes frustrating over time and can adversely affect the overall learning environment.
For teachers who have difficulty facilitating conversation in the classroom, it’s vital to get to the root of the problem. In most cases, the source is fear, lack of interest, or an insufficient base of knowledge.
When fear is the issue, students are afraid they’ll be laughed at for their opinion, or embarrassed for stating something incorrectly. This may have more to do with the shyness of the particular student, but you can rectify this by leading a frank conversation about how to respect others’ opinions.
Lack of interest can be combated by making the content more engaging, incorporating more visuals, and avoiding mindless repetition. This is usually the easiest obstacle to overcome, but it can be frustrating for teachers who don’t want to go to the trouble of changing their approach or curriculum.
Finally, a lack of knowledge can lead to a quiet classroom. In other words, the students simply don’t know enough about the topic to offer any valuable insight. This is either a sign that they aren’t doing homework, but it might also suggest the content is too challenging.
Five tips for fostering classroom discussion
Depending on the dynamic of your classroom and the underlying issues, any or all of the following strategies can help you foster better classroom discussion:
Employ silence. One of the oldest tricks in the book, but one often overlooked, is to use silence to your advantage. Instead of filling the space with your views and opinions, offer questions and wait for a response. Look confident, use eye contact, and encourage participation. If nobody takes the opportunity to talk, ask a question about the question.
Respect sensitivity. Depending on which subjects or courses you teach, it’s possible that you may encounter sensitive subject matter from time to time. In these instances, it’s critical that you respect all viewpoints and commit to learning, as opposed to descending into argument.
Never criticize individuals. As a teacher, you should always follow the mantra “criticize ideas, never individuals.” No matter how ridiculous an opinion sounds, you can’t take it personally. When you’re a teacher, any bit of criticism can evoke fear in students and kill your ability to facilitate conversation and classroom discussion in the future.
Encourage group discussions. If students won’t discuss ideas in a large classroom setting, you may find it more productive to break students up into smaller groups and encourage them to conduct a discussion among themselves. This allows them to speak without the direct oversight of an instructor, and almost always enhances classroom discussion when students return from their groups.
Break the ice. Instead of jumping into the curriculum as soon as class starts, consider beginning each class with three to five minutes of casual conversation. Ask about other classes, current events, or other lighthearted topics. This can prime the class for more formal discussion and increases everyone’s overall level of comfort.
Auto insurance for teachers
At California Casualty, we’re in the business of providing teachers everywhere with the peace of mind and protection they deserve. We do this by offering dependable and affordable auto insurance that includes special benefits tailored to your needs.
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San Mateo, CA, March 2, 2015 – Educators and dignitaries gathered February 16 to honor five 2015 California Teachers of the Year. The gala recognized the dedicated, exceptional teachers for their passion in helping all their students achieve both in and outside of the classroom. One, Maggie Mabery, seventh and eighth grade science instructor at Manhattan Beach Middle School, was nominated as California’s National Teacher of the Year candidate.
As the Presenting Sponsor of the California Department of Education’s School Recognition Program, California Casualty was proud to take part in the event. California Casualty’s Assistant Vice President Lisa Almeida was privileged to introduce State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson. The gala was so moving that a California Casualty Field Manager who attended was inspired to contact all the special teachers that had made an impact in her life to say thank you.
California Casualty’s sponsorship also makes possible these other California School Recognition Programs:
California Gold Ribbon Schools – honoring exemplary public schools which demonstrate significant gains in narrowing the achievement gap
Classified School Employee of the Year – highlighting those who symbolize the profession’s commitment to education
California Green Ribbon School Awards – recognizing schools that accomplish great things in the areas of sustainability and health
California Blue Ribbon Schools – celebrating schools that promote and support the improvement of education
The partnership with the California Department of Education is a testament to how schools, businesses and communities can come together to promote the remarkable successes of schools and educators across the Golden State. California Casualty Field representatives will help present the awards and attend the special recognition ceremonies, enhancing the company’s commitment to California educators.
“Since we partnered with the CTA in 1951, California Casualty has been vested in helping California educators in their passion of making a difference for their students,” said California Casualty Vice President Mike McCormick. “It’s an honor to help recognize the everyday heroes who educate our children and make our communities better.”
