Lauren Mark’s Updates

fostering teamwork

At the risk of speaking too soon, my first day teaching 2nd grade was haven of an experience. I just started at a new private school, and the children who arrived on the first day were all considerate, well-trained, and eager to learn - in short, unbelievable....

I've taught at 6 different public and private K-12 institutions in Taiwan, at multiple branches of 1, and nowhere have I ever experienced such model students.  Granted, the students who I've been told are ADHD, have bullying tendencies or attitude problems were conveniently absent today...

I'm very keen to keep this atmosphere of collaboration in the classroom once the challenging students join the class, and have set up a "marketplace system" where I intend to divide the class into teams, where they can amass points from taking on particular responsibilities.  

Does anyone have any good advice for not only keeping students in line who pick on weaker students, but for helping to internally change their attitude to helping others, instead of just doing whatever pleases them?