Through discussions, debates, questions, and challenges, students learn

When kids interact and feel free to talk, they learn and commit learning to memory: Cheap Rosetta Stone Software Here are some ideas to help at-risk kids participate and succeed: l. The pair-share or study-buddy idea is a natural, permitting every kid in class to be talking or listening. Teachers can call on kids who are not cooperating to be their partners. Teachers can smile, approve, compliment, encourage, and show acceptance, while the rest of the class is paired. 2. Have class meetings to discuss problems and needs. The right topics and facilitation can get all kids talking and participating. That's the best involvement/participation I know, and it works well for everyone including those most at-risk. Plus, teachers can have side meetings with students of their choice. 3. Give the option of writing in lieu of speaking so uncertain learners don't have to expose their knowledge or lack thereof orally. 4. Small group discussions instead of full class discussions with coaching sessions to make sure at-risk kids get a chance and that they know you see them working and trying for which you can give acknowledgement and credit. 5. Get to know the kids beyond teaching them. The extent to which people know information about someone is the extent to which they befriend and feel comfortable around them. Give students a chance to know one another better. The class climate changes when good students find out the bottom kids are real people and have feelings that get hurt. 6. Examine your non-verbal language and reactions. Dr. Phil says 93% of communication on a one-to-one basis is non verbal. What is being communicated just by looking at them? Are you sure? 7. Visit my web site; At-RiskStudents; for a free 20 page download article that gives lots of insights and invites a sign-up for free Newsletter: The At-Risk Advocate. (Not to mention a toot of my horn, which I won't mention) And I always answer email questions: billpage@bellsouth.net; 8. An oldie but goodie: Model behavior toward bottom kids.6.) Tell us a little bit about your book.Aaawww, do I have to? Well, okay, if you insist. At-Risk Students: Feeling Their Pain, Understanding Their Plight, and Accepting Their Defensive Ploys, Second Edition, 2009, 258 page, soft cover, $24.95 including P and H. Many books offer gimmicks for reaching and teaching. Mine does too, but it also offers insights, understandings and compassion for kids' behaviors, feelings and teachers' responses. Rosetta Stone German V3 The book is designed to help teachers move from intellectual acceptance of at-risk kids needs to emotional understanding and empathy for their dilemma. Divided into 31 vignettes, it covers everything from individual differences in teachers to underlying causes of misbehavior. The book format is ideal for Faculty Focus Groups. It can change teacher discussions from, Let’s talk about our problems with these kids to Let's do something, now.Send to me, billpage@bellsouth.net for a description of all 31 chapters including the one that shows only 9% of kids' time is spent in school; the rest is spent elsewhere. 7.) What impact do you think this Race to the Top nonsense will have on education in America?I have a more descriptive word than nonsense, but some might consider it offensive, so I'll use yours. That question requires extra time just for an opening rant, obscenity shouting, desk pounding, foot stomping, and picket sign making. I have no concern for a race Rosetta Stone Software or the top because that's a district and state level game (with our money). The teaching-learning process is predicated on the journey, not the destination. All the terms being bantered about like rigor, standards, participation, challenge, extended hours, accountability, responsibility, etc is just more edu-babble. There are no such things as High Standards; there are only appropriate or inappropriate standards applied to individuals in specific situations.