Habits of highly ineffective educators. .

Sometimes being reminded of what not to do is an effective way of getting educators on track. Enter Chicago-based Wavelength, which creates theatrical performances, videos and workshops using humor to elucidate issues in public education. After watching the Seven Habits of Highly Ineffective Educators presentation, a group from two schools in Newburgh (N.Y.) Enlarged City School District came up with reflective questions for teachers and administrators. Some highlights:

Habit: When in doubt, ream someone out

Questions: Putting yourself in the other person's place, can you think of a circumstance that explains the person's behavior? What are some productive ways of resolving conflict?

Habit: So, you think you can do it all yourself

Question: Who has a greater likelihood of thinking about all the factors involved in education: you alone or a group in which you're a part?

Habit: Teach as though all kids learn the same way

Questions: Do you know your own preferred learning style? What implications do learning styles have for the way we assess students?

Habit: Don't tolerate-discriminate

Questions: What would happen if "discriminate" were replaced by "appreciate?" What term best describes your school or district: melting pot or mosaic--and what is the difference?

Habit: But we've always done it this way

Questions: When we were in school, lecture and worksheets dominated our day, but how much of our days are still devoted to this mode? What other kinds of classroom instruction exist?

Habit: Remember--there's nothing funny about education

Questions: How skillful are we at interpreting the humor children use? How can we "build" humor into the classroom to help children cope with stress?

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