CONNECTING WITH STUDENTSBY ALLEN N. MENDLER (2001)

Sp/Ed 478/578 Educational Interventions: Emotional/Behavioral Disorders Instructor: Professor Ann Goldade

Assignment completed by Mary-Ann Rolf, June 10, 2009

Necessary Attitudes & Feelings

Feel compassion & concern (p. 12)Learn from the students (p. 13-14)Search to find deeper issues (p. 14-16)Maintain optimism and persistence (p. 16-17)Build on student strengths (p. 17)Value relationship with student (p. 19)Make classroom safe (p. 20)

Personal Connection

Collect personal index cards (p. 21) Smile & greet students (p. 22-23) Post pictures of friends & family (p.

24) Ask opinions of quiet students (p. 25) Offer notes of appreciation (p. 28) Establish predictable rules & routines

(p. 35) Notice absence-phone, e-mail, note

(p. 43) Have fun together (p. 44)

Academic Connection

Ask open-ended questions (p. 47) Offer adequate wait time-10 seconds (p.

48) Show students they can overcome

obstacles (p. 49) Specify daily learning objectives (p. 52) Connect the content with current issues

of meaning (p. 53) Use e-mail to communicate with students

and parents (p. 56)

Developing Social Connection

Ask for summary to promote listening (p. 67)

Encourage students to help with each other’s problems (p. 69)

Give students problem-solving tools (p. 69)

Let students make some of the rules (p. 70)

Break bread together (p. 77) Deal with disrespectful behavior

even when it involves students not in my class (p. 79)