Plenty of great Troy HS 'Paparazzi Style' Prom pictures. From the armored assault vehicle that showed up with students spilling out in style with CIA agents checking for bombs to classic shots of great kids, you will find plenty to see for kids capping off their K-12 careers party with a grand entrance. http://media.theoaklandpress.com/
Channel 7 Video Story on
http://www.wxyz.com/news/walled-lake-teacher-earns-michigan-teacher-of-the-year Nebojsa Stojkovic, a Walled Lake Central High School math teacher and track coach,
among five Top Teacher Search finalists selected through syndicated
morning show, “Live Kelly & Michael” with hosts Kelly Ripa and
Michael Strahan.
From Mike Turk of the Oakland Press- In what must be great news for these two teachers, Walled Lake Schools must be truly proud the light has shined on them this year.
Channel 7 Video Story on
http://www.wxyz.com/news/walled-lake-teacher-earns-michigan-teacher-of-the-year Nebojsa Stojkovic, a Walled Lake Central High School math teacher and track coach,
among five Top Teacher Search finalists selected through syndicated
morning show, “Live Kelly & Michael” with hosts Kelly Ripa and
Michael Strahan.
Walled Lake elementary educator named Michigan Teacher of the Year
Keith Elementary teacher Melody Arabo stands among her students
after being named Michigan's Teacher of the Year. (John Turk - THe
Oakland Press)
“Melody is a dynamic example of our Michigan
educators. Her child-centered approach to learning ensures she is
meeting the needs of all her students. We look forward to her continued
contributions to teaching and learning.”
— Mike Flanagan, State Schools Superintendent
•
Arabo shares best Common Core-aligned lessons and practices — along
with only 96 teachers across the country — to other teachers through the
National Education Association’s Master Teacher Project. Her ideas get
shared on www.betterlesson.com.
It took a few seconds for Walled Lake Schools’ Melody Arabo to stand Thursday after being named Michigan Teacher of the Year.
She knew she was nominated, but had no idea the assembly — called
at Keith Elementary, where she’s a third grade teacher — was all for
her. School administrators held the assembly under the guise of
celebrating the school’s history, as the event also marked Keith
Elementary’s 50th year.
Her husband knew.
“I’ve had to keep this secret almost two
weeks,” said Elliott Arabo, beaming after his wife was honored by State
Schools Superintendent Mike Flanagan. “Do you remember those teachers
that still stick out to you that made an impact on your life? (Melody
is) that teacher.”
The Michigan Department of Education uses the Teacher of the Year
award annually to honor exemplary educators. This year, the competition
was out of 1,000 teachers statewide.
With her new designation, Arabo will provide input on Michigan’s
education system at the State Board of Education’s monthly meetings,
she’ll meet Gov. Rick Snyder, and later this year, she’ll meet President
Barack Obama, said Flanagan.
A $1,000 check for Keith Elementary on the 12-year teaching
veteran’s behalf, along with a car — both provided by MEEMIC Insurance
Company — are part of the deal, too.
Melody, an active member of the community — she lives within
walking distance and her three children attend the school — was shocked
and humbled.
“Really, all I can say is thank you,” she said between breaths in
Keith Elementary’s gymnasium. “And I hope that I can live up to the
expectations that you have, because I feel like being a voice for
teachers is the most important thing I can do, other than working with
kids each day.”
Edie Schwartz, a Keith parent who said Arabo motivated her son to read, nominated Arabo.
“When he came to Keith, my son was really struggling with
reading. Mrs. Arabo not only helped him build confidence in reading but
he is now able to read. He loves Keith and he feels that way because
he’s in Mrs. Arabo’s classroom. She has a way of making learning fun for
the kids,” Schwartz said in her nomination letter.
“Their faces seem to light up when she is in the room.”
Arabo, 35, a graduate of Michigan State University, is the second educator in recent weeks to be honored. Nebojsa Stojkovic, a Walled Lake Central High School math teacher and track coach,
among five Top Teacher Search finalists selected through syndicated
morning show, “Live Kelly & Michael” with hosts Kelly Ripa and
Michael Strahan.
Kenneth Gutman, Walled Lake Schools Superintendent, said along
with Arabo, Walled Lake Schools is “very lucky to have such a great
support staff.
“Keith really is about every child, every day ... (and) Melody couldn’t deserve this honor more.”
If you have been in front of students for even five minutes, you have had the "I forgot my pencil" request. Most teachers try the life lesson or the humiliation tactic and inevitably had no success changing the students behavior. A current practicing teacher and Associate Professor at the University of Washington has a surprise response and the psychology behind his answer made me rethink the age old answer.
I
recently taught a university course in Seattle for graduate students seeking master’s
degrees in teaching. In one lesson, our focus was on creating a psychologically
safe learning environment for students. It was an issue of managing students
and supplies. I posed a question: If a student shows up to class without a
pencil, how should the teacher respond?
Small
groups collaborated for a few minutes. Ultimately, they came up with plans
involving taking something (a shoe?) from the student as collateral to remind
the student about the importance of having supplies, notifying parents and
even assigning classroom cleanup duty or lunch detention.
“What about you, Prof?” they asked.
“I
would give the kid a pencil,” I said.
“You
mean the first time?” someone asked.
“Every
time,” I said.
This
evidently had not occurred to them. There must be some punishment, subtle
humiliation or a response that makes the kid pay for the error, right? They
were concerned that my action would reinforce and reward poor behavior,
possibly even help develop bad habits.
What
they failed to see is that the teacher is not the cause of the problem. Likely,
the student has been doing this for years. The teacher can respond by
criticizing the child in front of the class, reminding him that pencils are
required at school, making her give up something as collateral or inflicting some
punishment as a power move.
Or
the instructor can simply provide the pencil and say, “There will always be a
pencil here for you. Don’t ever worry about asking me for a pencil. I have
hundreds of them.”
By
eliminating the anxiety that comes when students worry about being
called out
or humiliated in front of their peers, teachers reduce the chance that
students will skip class, give up, become defiant or develop mysterious
“illnesses” that cause
them to stay home. Obviously, these students struggle with
remembering supplies. This is likely the result of many factors in their
lives, none of which has anything to do with the teacher. Perhaps it
is ADHD or a medication side effect, stress or simple forgetfulness or
immaturity. (They are, after all, just kids, right?) What good does it
do to
rub it in their faces every day? And years later, what are they likely
to remember
about the class or the teacher?
“But
what about the student who takes advantage of you?” one of the graduate
students asked. “How do you know they aren’t doing it on purpose?”
Of
course there is the chance I will be taken advantage of. I welcome this chance.
I resolve to remain a patient advocate for the child even if he is testing me. When
I hand him the 50th pencil and remind him there is always one here, what will
be his likely impression? Has humiliation worked so far in his educational
experience? Has the status quo resolved the issue? Imagine the impact of endless advocacy. We
should all be extended such grace.
Also,
students who are constantly badgered for forgetting pencils start stealing
pencils to avoid being singled out and embarrassed. One could argue that shaming
leads to the stealing. A child will go to great lengths to avoid humiliation.
“How
do you get all those pencils?” my students asked.
I am a college graduate and a professional. I have no trouble accessing the
power structure of our community. How can I complain about finding pencils? In
light of what so many others struggle with daily, this problem is minor. Find a
way. Pay for them, borrow them, ask companies to donate them, hit up family
members for pencils as holiday gifts. Have a pencil drive. Do a car wash for
pencils. I don’t know, but figure it out. Life is a cycle of problem solving. You
can find the pencils.
Students
learn best in a psychologically safe, mistake-friendly environment. We all make
mistakes. How teachers respond has everything to do with whether or not their
students feel valued as human beings. We are responsible for creating a
psychologically safe classroom. In all possible situations, we should seek to
uphold the dignity of the student. Even when disciplinary action is necessary,
it should be handled in a dignified way.
“Mr.
D, can I have a pencil?"
“Of
course, anytime. Donohue is a middle school English and social
studies teacher in Monroe, Washington. He also teaches college courses
in English, public speaking and education.
Brandon High School Celebrated their prom at the Boulder Pointe CC located in Oxford. Paparazzi style photos of students is available at the link below and they are dandies. I understand they are available for purchase as well.To see the photo gallery, click the link below. VVV http://dfm-ssp.medianewsgroup.com/theoaklandpress/?p=11216&preview=true