“GOOD MANARES PRECEDE GOOD GRADES”

1. “GOOD MANARESPRECEDE GOOD GRADES” Transformational change in my class Application for 2012 participant workshop Sharon Ben Dalia

2. My name is Sharon and I teach Geography in “Shazar” Junior High school in Bat Yam (TLV Metropolis, Israel). I am a TFI student and it is my first year as a teacher.

3. 10 doors and one small globe When I started teaching I got 10 classes of 7th to 8th grades. No technological equipment in class, only me and my earth balloon. I was shocked. 400 pupils to meet! So many names to remember… It was obvious to me – I’m going to fail. Indeed, in the beginning I did many mistakes, especially with 8th grade. • I thought that maybe I’ll scream… but It made my position even worse. • I promised them that they will be punished for their behavior – but it made them more curious to find out how. • I called their parents, yet they hated me more for that.

4. 10 doors and one small globe 8/3 8/5 8/1 8/2 8/4 7/2 7/3 7/4 7/5 7/6 I didn’t know how to get to them, thus I wanted to change them, yet I didn’t know how… After a couple of weeks I decided to change myself instead of changing them. Then, I found 10 doors to 10 fascinating worlds. I would like to share what happens behind these doors. We’ll have a glance at 7/4 and 8/2 and a deeper view of 8/5.

5. The 7th grade 7/2 7/3 7/4 7/5 7/6 The inspiration for the first lesson as a teacher came to me during the summer camp of TFI (Teach For Israel). One of the participants, Nicole, made a great English lesson. She said that she is “Kazabubu” from “Zalabuba” and invited us to ask questions regarding her origin.

6. The 7ths grades I changed “Zalabuba ” location to a real place – Mauritius – and made a funny accent. I pretended to be “Tamil” from Mauritius . The children laughed at my accent and my spelling mistakes, meanwhile I wrote their questions on the board. Then, after 20 minutes, I wrote the topic : “Questions we ask in Geography”. Questions we ask in Geography How to get there? What are the customs there? Where is it? Mauritius What language do you speak? Who live there? How is the weather? What is the time there?

7. The 7ths grades Got you !! As the topic was written I suddenly talked “Normally” in Hebrew and told them that I was born in Israel exactly like them. They were shocked… I didn’t know at the time that this lesson would affect the all semester with 7th grade. I got their attention. All 7th grade classes loved this “show”. Many thanks to Nicole from TFI for the inspiration.

8. The 7ths grades • Manners • Geography Soon I learned that Geography is not the only thing they need to learn. Many students had trouble with saying “thanks” or “please”; or just listen. For the first time I told my students about TFI, and I specified my goals by the order written on the board. I declared that I’ll appreciate a kind person before his knowledge, As our Hebrew proverb says: “Good manners precede the Torah”.

9. The 7ths grades _______’s parents Today I realized that ___________________ _____________________________________ ___________________ Sharon, Geography teacher For case I will find good manners, or goodness in general, I have this letter. One of my student, Osher, told me (and the class) that his mother cried because she was so happy to read that “your child always smiling, always so kind and polite. It is so fun to talk with him”. She bought him a present.

10. A glance at 7th(4) 7/4 7th(4) is a sport class. Even though they loved “The show” in the first lesson, it was hard to keep them interested in Geography for long. Most of them can’t sit relaxed the entire lesson. It was hard get their attention but I finally did it with my earth balloon. I changed the method from writing to playing with the ball. Today all of them want to participate, they want to play. After few lessons they told me they love geography. Today it is one of my best classes in this grade. I have a strong connection with them.

11. 8th Grade: Another story 8/3 8/5 8/1 8/2 8/4 As mentioned before, I did many mistakes. Most of them with 8th grade. It is their second year in this school – so they knew that I am new…. Oh dear Lord, they used it. Obviously I couldn't find the courage to act as Tamil from Mauritius with them… I was still busy with surviving. I felt like I was sent by TFI to hell ! In the beginning I just I wanted to change all of these tiny monsters’ attitude !

12. 8th grade – another story 8/3 8/5 8/1 8/2 8/4 But as I mentioned before, After a healthy refreshing holiday of “Sukot” I decided to change my attitude instead of theirs. Go with them instead of confronting them. Then I found 5 doors to 5 worlds. We’ll take A glance at science class 8/2 and a deeper view at 8/5 –The “Roller coaster class”.

13. 8th grade – another story 8/3 8/5 8/1 8/2 8/4 “Positive attitude” was the first key that I learned to use. They are children and they need love. When I realized that I was free to get to know them better. This personal connection appeared to be irreplaceable. To make them more involved and make my work more transparent, every lesson I choose one student to document students’ involvement (next slide)

14. Documentation form Every lesson one of my students fill this documents. They love doing it.

15. A glance at science class 8/2 Oh my goodness. What a special room is “science class”. Not only that they have good grades, they keep me on academic level,as they ask questions and eager to learn. Having them so smarts I prepared other challenges, like studying Geography in English instead of Hebrew, learning by games, pictures or topical issues.

16. A glance at science class 8/2 I asked them to review lessons in this semester, and now I have many encouraging letters, and one fluttering, yet improved, portrait. Two smart boys looked and painted, yet were very involved during the lesson. My left arm in the picture is raised up as if I speak in Hyde park. Well, I won’t lie. It’s heaven. I love them and they love me, and we have our private jokes. I keep them interested and they make me laugh. Every meeting is precious to us. We are having a great time in Geography lessons.

17. The story of the roller coaster class 8/5 My first lesson at 8/5 “ Help! Oh my god, help! Someone! TFI, where are you ?! In the name of Lord, I’m not teaching them! They hate me, they want to hurt me ! They are focusing on pushing my limits ! They are eating, drinking, talking, shouting, yelling, coursing, standing and running… anything but studying … Help!“

18. The story of the roller coaster class 8/5 My first meeting with this class was traumatic. It was during the “Mistakes period”. They were noisy, no one listened to another. Suddenly there was a moment that my voice was heard. Then again one girl interrupted me. I assertively resisted. Apparently , she is a leader and I broke her “respect”. soon I found my self rejected by them. Everyone returned to a screaming position. The same girl turned music on her phone! My chances were zero. It is a nightmare, No no… It’s a Roller coaster !

19. The story of the roller coaster class 8/3 8/5 8/1 8/2 8/4 The positive method worked with all classes of 8th grade accept 8/5. I felt that by the time I connect with many of the students. Classes became nicer place to visit, monsters flew away and children took their place. Yet 8/5 resist on rejecting me. I realized they act this way with most teachers, including their two educators. They express their non satisfaction loudly and often.

20. The story of the roller coaster class 8/5 One day I entered this door and found an organized protest against school. Apparently they were not pleased by their educator’s decision to prevent 5 students from joining the annual trip unless their parents join them. They hung dozens of signs all over the walls, declaring their unwillingness to study unless the educators change their mind.

21. The story of the roller coaster class • I told them that we will not study Geography today (not that I had any chance) because I want to hear what they feel. They were shouting again but I told them that the only condition I have is that they will listen to each other this time.It was the first time that a real conversation was made • The first spark has been lighted… 8/5

22. The story of the roller coaster class 8/5 I chose 8th5… A week after the “protest” I was asked by the school principal to replace one of two teachers who took maternity vacation. I had two options : to educate the science class, or the “Roller coaster” class. I was confused. I knew that educating the science class would be much easier, and anyway they love me, but an inner voice told me to take 8/5… It was a coincidence that at the same week TFI invited a special lecturer that works with young prisoners – to our the weekly seminar. All I needed to hear was one sentence that she said about her choices: “I know that they need me more than the others” Then I decided : I’m taking the “Roller coaster” class..

23. The story of the roller coaster class 8/5 Red : Negative influence. 7 main students + 11 Green : Positive influence. 5 main students + 7 Firstly, I invited each student to a “small talk” in order to get to know them better. Then I mapped the students by their strengths and weaknesses. I needed to see the picture. It was based not on my opinion but on the reflection of their behavior in the school update website*. It was clear that the negative influence is bigger than the positive. Criteria, similar to documentation form in slide 14 : was missing, was late, participated, excelled, interfered.

24. The story of the roller coaster class My wish to increase their awareness to their behavior, and help them learn more about themselves, brought to “Joe-Harry” Model in Psychology, as a game in the class : First stage: Write 3 things about yourself. Second stage : Write 3 things about your friends Third stage : Arrange the information in a table as followed: • Know by self and known by others. • known by self, unknown by others. • unknown by self, known by others. • unknown by self, unknown by others. The Jo-Harry Model ---)

25. The story of the roller coaster class 8/5 Students learned new things about themselves according to their friends’ opinions. It was very interesting to watch these young people learn about themselves through feedbacks. The bonding between us got stronger and stronger. The more I knew more things about them the more they knew about me. That leads me to the conclusion that : Personal attachment is irreplaceable in education

26. The story of the roller coaster class 8/5 However, my students were still making troubles to other teachers. My colleague and I came to the idea to implement the “tokens program” which based on rewarding good attitude. The idea is simple : • Red sticker for a bad lesson • Yellow sticker for a ordinary lesson • Green sticker for a good lesson. The criteria are : 1. arriving on time. 2. respectful conversations, 3. being positively active during the class.

27. The story of the roller coaster class 8/5 The awards : • 5 greens a week means – Leisure activity instead of a lesson. • 10 greens a week means – Picnic outside school • 15 greens a week means – Movie and popcorn. They did it ! They got 10 greens last week. Students saw that it’s important to us and that we are consistent. We talked about it everyday and reminded them of the rewarding. Other teachers in the school saw the positive effect of this plan and implemented the program in their classes.

28. 8th+5 – The story of the roller coaster class 8/5 Also, students take teacher’s position once a week during the educational class, and lead a discussion or activity in the class. They chose topics of Alcohol, racism, exclusion of women, modesty and other social issues. My role was to reflect their behavior and give them a sense of how it feels to ask for attention. I believe it is also a part of their progress. After only 3 weeks teachers told me that there is a significant improvement of their attitude toward teachers and students. They became a group.

29. The story of the roller coaster class 8/5 The door to this class opened a challenging journey. A door to people’s lives, fears, wishes, ambitions… And the journey still goes on…. Many thanks for “HOTAM” (TFI) for making this old dream come true !