An Anecdote from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School StaffAn artifact for Standard #8

Mr. Dan Alemar, In School Suspension (ISS) OfficerI am in charge of the In School Suspension Program. I normally see students if they are thrown out of class, usually for misbehavior. When Mr. Choi came to my room I first assumed that he was a student. When he started to speak I noticed that the students who were present sat up and paid attention. It’s something that many student teachers are not able to do when they first start their practicum. I was impressed.

One of the two students who were assigned to my room was in Mr. Choi’s class. Mr. Choi took the time to come and visit with the student, and present the lesson that he would have missed. He included another student in his presentation and they both sat and listened to him present about how to do statistical modeling.

Mr. Choi used examples that the kids understood easily. Rather than use the problem on the worksheet he had given out, he thought of a problem that was similar and showed them a way to think of solving it. Both students after listening were able to complete the worksheet easily and seemed to understand what Mr. Choi was presenting. Mr. Choi stayed in the room and watched the students try to solve the problem on the worksheet. When they experienced frustrations, Mr. Choi had them talk out the problem. The other problems on the worksheet were easily solved after that experience. I enjoyed watching the process he was using.

General Advice: I like a phrase that comes from the Ethical Culture Societies. Elicit the best from others and you will have improved yourself. I use this idea in my classroom everyday. Try to find the best part of another person and use that to make them better people and also improve you.

Mr. Dan Alemar overses the daily security of students and property at B-CC High School where 1700 students are enrolled.

General Tips1. Let the kids tell their story when they have done something that is against the

rules. (both sides)

2. Connect the dots for your students. Many students feel that whatever they are learning is irrelevant. Make sure and point to ways the skill you are teaching can be used in the real world.

3. Just a short story related to the last point: Two students were in my room. One had problems in trigonometry that she had to complete. She could not remember what the formula for sine was so she asked another student. The student immediately rattled off the formula. I asked her, you have now divided one angle by another and have a third number. What does the third number mean? The student said, “What do you mean?” I said, “Well you have told this other person to divide one number by another. The answer to the problem is a third number. Can you explain what this number represents?” She said, “No, it’s just the answer to the problem.” In my years in the school system, I have seen more of this kind of thinking lately. We are more concerned by getting the right answer, but losing the concept in the execution. I believe we need more of the understanding of the concept so it can be applied in later experiences.

4. Keep all you teach relevant to the students’ experience. In new research on the brain, it has been found that the dendrite is the part of the brain cell that receives information. As the student gets older the brain prunes off the dendrites that go unused. The axon is the storage place for this information. When things are relevant, those dendrites continue to be stimulated. It helps kids learn if they perceive it’s relevant. Today we have to seem to convince the students they are learning this for a good purpose.

5. Keep it simple. Teaching is the art of converting the complex into a series of simple tasks. When we put all of those tasks together they make learning more complete. If a student does not understand step one, don’t let him/her move along.

6. Beware of over-teaching. Once they have it, they have it. Move on.

7. Behavioral problems in the classroom are indicative of students failing to understand the teaching. The first comment I get from many kids who are sent to ISS is, “I don’t understand that lady!!” (This applies to men too.)