One of the most overlooked needs of today’s students is time
management, essential in adulthood as well as childhood. Unfortunately,
students have a hard time learning to manage their own time because of the way
their schooling is scheduled, especially for special-needs students. If the
student requires intervention both during and after school, then scheduling can
be even more confusing.
In the chapter “Looking In The Mirror,” the authors discuss
the mistake a lot of educators make in teaching the way they were taught. We
tend to teach kids the way our teachers taught us all those years ago, and it’s
no longer guaranteed to work. Things like “lining up” and “sitting quietly
during attendance” can waste time, so these things are often shortened. In
today’s schools, kids raised on cable TV, video games, and the internet may
never have been taught patience, so this may be a problem too.
Throughout the book, there is discussion on whether or not
to “sweat the small stuff.” Should students be sent to the principal’s office
if there’s a fight? Should they be written up for minor infractions? How do we
differentiate between petty misbehavior, or what the Supreme Court refers to as
“clear and present danger?” The last chapter suggests setting up a goal for teaching
appropriate behavior, the same way you set up a goal or pacing guide for
learning. In the first month of school, the teacher monitors the behavior,
models the behavior, and coaches the students on how to follow the routine. As
the year progresses, rules can be lightened. Breaking of certain rules can
eventually be overlooked.
It’s About Time is a great addition to the library of books
about teaching kids, a great addition to Harry Wong’s First Day of School,
among others. It shows you how to set up a schedule that can keep the students
on task and make classroom management easier for everyone.
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