"The Seven Simple Secrets for Teachers class has provided me something that I have been looking for but have not been able to find for many years, how to get out of survival mode and become an effective teacher. Now I have a roadmap to help me become an effective teacher, learn and apply the seven secrets: planning, classroom management, instruction, attitude, professionalism, effective discipline, motivation and inspiration."
-- M.W. from Iowa
"Part of my role is to listen to (my colleagues) kvetching and find methods to address their displeasure while also trying to help them become better teachers. My strategy thus far has been to emphasize much of what this course highlights in terms of teachers’ impact on students: teachers will influence their pupils, for good or bad, and we must dictate which it will be. As the youngest member of my department by over a decade, it has fallen to me to be the defender of technology and advancement, and my peers have begun utilizing online resources like iCivics, Kahot, and PBS History, and have moved away from PowerPoint presentations as the staple method of content delivery. -- This course (and the time I spent in reflection after the course was through) reminded me of a goal I set for myself last year at my former mentor's retirement party: find a new mentor. I have a career ahead of me, and I need to keep progressing in my profession. This progression has certainly stagnated...and I need to keep improving. A mentor will help me do exactly that."
-- A.H. from Oregon
"Classroom management is something that I and almost every teacher has struggled with. When I first started teaching I thought it was important to have lots of rules - created by students under my guidance. I taught in a private school and there were few, if any, student discipline problems. After a few years I moved to our city school district and found out no matter how many rules I had, I had a lot of students who chose not to follow them - and I was getting very frustrated. I finally talked with teachers who had hardly any problems and I realized that they had great relationships with their students and had few rules. I didn't know then, but what I was looking for was the difference between rules and procedures. It seems so simple but it really works. I took several classes and attended workshops on positive discipline, love and logic in the classroom, and read lots of books. I wish I had taken this course!!! I realize how important relationships are, but this course really makes me rethink even some of the things I do today in my classroom. "
-- C.P. from Ohio