Dear Difference Maker,
On Sept. 6th, Queen Latifah hosted a new two-hour documentary special on CBS that explored America's education system through the eyes of teachers. The program looks at the classrooms across the country, including a 4th grade classroom in Denver and a 7th grade math classroom in Kuna, Idaho.
I found it an excellent educational view of four teachers who were committed to getting a higher percentage of their students successful and scoring well.
I applaud Queen Latifah, the producers and the film crew on an excellent representation of what's happening today in our schools. If you ever see it being replayed again, its 2 hours well worth your time viewing.
In my extensive experience in education I found many caring teachers and many not so caring teachers as well. The point was made in the program that even the most loving teachers do not necessarily teach effectively.
However, I will say that the caring teachers are the most likely to search out ways to become effective in the areas they are not, as seen in this show.
What we've seen in the last few years is a HUGE endeavor to put the latest electronics into the hands of all of the students - as the new model of teaching.
Interesting note: One of the teachers in the TEACH documentary got all of her students iPads with an electronic teaching program thinking this would be the solution to her teaching problems.
Failing students still failed ... until this teacher was coached to incorporate what I call "team/peer" learning - a skill I teach educators in my Academic Success 101 Online Course available at. www.AcademicSuccess101.com
Point: She did not figure it out by herself. Someone needed to coach her to see how to still teach her students effectively.
I'm all for effective advancements but NOT at the EXPENSE of dealing with the real underling problems to learning: HUMAN CONNECTION that comes from Attitudinal communication that is energetically encouraging and engaging so students are ignited about learning as much as they can.
It's a skill set. It can be learned and attitudes about certain kids MUST be addressed and resolved if you are EVER going to improve your scores!
Unfortunately, in my educational experience I have found that the vast majority of educators who are ineffective use limiting, condescending Attitudinal communication that is dramatically debilitating to those kids who are neurologically WIRED differently than their teacher. This is a huge error that is still not being adequately addressed in our schools or in our society at large.
More money is being spent on the new electronics and the esthetics of the schools than is being spent toward the transformative social-emotional programs that literally WILL make an Academic difference that every body is clamoring to achieve.
According to researcher and author Brene' Brown, "SHAME is still the #1 classroom management tool being used."
Ineffective educators are ineffective not because they don't have all of the newest advancements in technology to keep up with - but because they don't have the SKILL SET needed to work with every imaginable student's needs in how and why they learn.
They say they don't have time to meet every students needs.
I can tell you honestly that's an excuse. 55-65% of my classroom student populations were at-risk and SED - social emotional disorders.
I had the same time constraints that they have and by years end 100% of my students were academically and personally successful in my classrooms as measured by Stanford Achievement Test results.
It's about a SKILL SET and until the leaders of our schools take a hold a new approach to CONNECTING effectively with every student - the emotional health of our kids will not improve and understand this - the problems are growing exponentially because those kids are having kids!
With school under way now, I am receiving calls from people almost daily, feeling a sense of urgency about helping their community's schools. I hear even more often from school administrators and teachers that, as much as they want this program, they have not been able to find the financial resources.
If you are at a place in your life where you are, or know someone who is, in a position to give back and help the schools in your community with the social emotional issues facing today's children, then NOW is the time to get on board with bringing my field tested program for Making A Difference with the Power of Acknowledgment UTrain® Program to your local schools.
I am asking for your help to bring the transforming impact of the "Who I am Makes a Difference" Acknowledgment Story into Your Community's classrooms THIS FALL, along with other momentum building stories / movies: The Teddy Stallard Story, The Simple Gesture and more...
The Make a Difference with the Power of Acknowledgment UTrain® Program is designed to inspire and equip educators with a revitalized educational philosophy and practical techniques that will give life to academic performance and requirements.
It is a program that can - at long last - resolve intense issues troubling today's youth; from bullying to self victimization to suicide prevention.
Acknowledgment gets to the heart of what's really going on - giving faculty, staff and kids the skill set they need to step more fully into their best selves.
Each Lesson in the program comes with discussions and activities to bridge the gap between social emotional issues and their often dramatic, life-altering effects.
MDPA UTrain® Program is specifically designed to:
==> create social connectedness
==> provide concrete support in times of need
==> teach social and emotional competence
How YOU Can Help Schools, Make A Sustainable Difference
If you'd really rather not get directly involved with schools but would very much like to give a donation then please know that we have a growing list of Persistently Low Performing Schools on our WAITING LIST to receive our Make A Difference with the Power of Acknowledgement UTrain® Program.
For a school of 500 students/faculty and staff would be $1,500 for the UTrain® Program which include 4 "I Make A Difference" Wristbands and 10 Stickers per individual at our current 85% fall savings.
For a school of 1000 students with faculty and staff the investment would be $2,680 for UTrain® Program plus 4 "I Make A Difference" Wristbands and 10 Stickers per individual at our current 85% fall savings.
You make the donation and I'll work directly with the school's leaders to get this program successfully under way.
I will personally see to it that you will also receive confirmation of the results achieved from the school(s) that received your Make A Difference Gift.
JOIN ME IN MY 2013 MOVEMENT and let's Make A Positive Difference NOW!
Please click here to participate:
Our very First school to receive the full program from donations is:
Pueblo City School District 60, Somerlid Elementary/Freed Middle
Their Kick-Off date was this Fall. Congratulations to Nadine Garcia'Montoya, Literacy Coach/Specialist for stepping up to make this happen for her school.
"Wow what a fast paced year this has already been! I have been meaning to inform you of our awesome "Make a Difference" kickoff which was held on Friday, September 13. We rolled it out with Kinder-1st, 2nd-3rd, 4th-5th and 6th, 7th and 8th assemblies. The students and staff loved the messages! It is so amazing to see blue wristbands throughout the building! Please call anytime so that I may share more with you! Sincerest thanks to you and your program!" -Nadine Garcia' Montoya
CLICK HERE to listen to what Nadine had to say about how straightforward and flexible Make a Difference with the Power of Acknowledgment UTrain® Program was to deliver, to get teachers K-8 on board with and the community it has created with the students.
Here are just a few of the schools who are NEXT IN LINE waiting and ready to commit to doing the entire program THIS FALL ...with your help:
Parkview Elementary, Wyoming, MI
Warren E. Bow Elementary / Middle School, Detroit, MI
St. Stephen Elementary School, St, Stephen, SC
Bosco Home, Jhajjar District Headquarters, Northern India
Applications are coming in every day. Thank you in advance for your help.
Reaching out ...
Mary Robinson Reynolds
Author & Founder, Heart Productions & Publishing
MakeADifference.com/Acknowledge
UTrain® Program for Business, Churches, Organizations and Schools
PS ... Persistently Low Performing Schools Apply HERE.
Heart Productions & Publishing, Greater Boston Area, 800-639-8191