12 Powerful Words Presented by MHS Administration July

12 Powerful Words Presented by MHS Administration July 24, 2012

You became a teacher because you wanted someone to need you. Guess what? You got your wish! ~Larry Bell

At-Promise Kids • Many students in the bottom-quartile come from homes that cause them to be labeled “at-risk”. • How we label someone determines how we approach them. • All students have promise. • It is OUR job as educators to bring out that promise. “On your worst day on the job, you are still somebody’s hero. ” ~Larry Bell

Techniques to Transcend Cultural Barriers • Tell kids you care. Explain that you have high expectations because you believe in them. • If a child gets in trouble, ask to see him or her later. Give calm down time. Later, have a “start over visit”. • Consider your tone. Is it the same with every child? • Connect with EVERY child. • Surprise and engage students. • Assess understanding daily. “Every teacher • Authentic praise. can reach and • Consider that all students learn and communicate differently. teach every child. ” ~Larry Bell

Prepare Kids for Standardized Tests • • • Prepare kids for long tests Practice timed tests Give higher order thinking questions Know your student’s test data Teach the language of the test (12 Power Words) Give some homework/quiz questions in test format Explain to kids what test day will be like Discuss test anxiety Tell students you believe in each one of them At beginning of the year, tell kids that “No student will fail!” • Be a 100%er

12 Powerful Words • Directly teach these words (Don’t assume they are understood. ) • Put them in words that students can understand • Use them on tests & quizzes • Talk to students about what the question is asking • Word of the day • Share with parents • Post in the classroom • Show the 12 Power Words regularly “If we keep on doing what we’ve always done we’re going to keep on getting what we’ve always gotten. ” ~Dr. John Maxwell

What do we mean by powerful words? • Words that stump students when they take standardized tests. • Words that intimidate or confuse students causing them to answer a question incorrectly when they know the answer.

All. Write Round. Robin • Each person will need a piece of paper and something to write with • You will get 5 seconds of think time • When you hear the start you will have 3 minutes each person will say what they think is a possible answer and write it down on their own paper. No duplications

Question • Remember 5 second think time • Write down what you think is a powerful word that stumps students on standardized tests.

Team Wrap up • Get a poster paper and write down the words that members of your team think are powerful words and write a student friendly definition next to each word. (5 minutes) • Post your paper on the wall • Share out

12 Powerful Words 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Trace Analyze Infer Evaluate Formulate Describe 7. Support 8. Explain 9. Summarize 10. Compare 11. Contrast 12. Predict

Four Simple Keys • • Every day Six minutes Every child Data Driven

How can you do this? • Introduce the 12 Power Words and use them with students on a daily basis • Ask students to use the words in their written responses to homework • Have students make up their own questions utilizing the words

Impact on students • Help them to better understand what each question means • To become familiar with words that require higher order thinking skills • To relieve test anxiety • To achieve better on tests

12 Powerful Words Jingle http: //www. youtube. com/embed/Ddsa. Lduy. Chw

Ignite Your Passion Make Montwood a 100% Success School

“Nothing great is ever achieved without enthusiasm. ” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson We educators must show every day what we want our students to feel. Somebody needs you.

Resource Larry Bell, Multicultural America, Inc 4300 Ridgewood Center Drive Woodbridge, VA 22192 www. larry-bell. com