Help Me, Help You

It is an epidemic that all teachers encounter..it is the idea of students not being about to help themselves.  More over, students only want the answer to a problem and to be "done," rather than understand the skills and strategies that go into a certain lesson.l

Every year, I see more and more students that do not know how to communicate correctly.  This is not the student that has a communication disability, but rather, simply does not know how to communicate correctly.

Here are some helpful strategies for teachers and students to use:

1. Students should understand when it is the correct time to communicate and use their words.
2. Consequences for students that do not communicate correctly.
3. Students need to understand that there are ways to communicate, such as head nodding or yes and no answers.
4. When students communicate correctly, students should be given positive feedback whenever possible.  Build the students up as much as you can.

In my classroom this year, I have one student that has a severe studder.  For him, we have created communication cards that he is able to use, rather that get frustrated and give up, and not want to communicate.