1. Presented by MHS Administration July 24, 2012
12 Powerful Words
Presented by MHS Administration
July 24, 2012

2. You became a teacher because you wanted someone to need you. Guess what? You got your wish! ~Larry Bell

3. At-Promise Kids
Many students in the bottom-quartile come from homes that cause them to be labeled “at-risk”.
How we label someone determines how we approach them.
All students have promise.
It is OUR job as educators to bring out that promise.
“On your worst day on the job, you are still somebody’s hero.” ~Larry Bell

4. Techniques to Transcend Cultural Barriers
Tell kids you care. Explain that you have high expectations because you believe in them.
If a child gets in trouble, ask to see him or her later. Give calm down time. Later, have a “start over visit”.
Consider your tone. Is it the same with every child?
Connect with EVERY child.
Surprise and engage students.
Assess understanding daily.
Authentic praise.
Consider that all students learn and communicate differently.
“Every teacher can reach and teach every child.” ~Larry Bell

5. Prepare Kids for Standardized Tests
Prepare kids for long tests
Practice timed tests
Give higher order thinking questions
Know your student’s test data
Teach the language of the test (12 Power Words)
Give some homework/quiz questions in test format
Explain to kids what test day will be like
Discuss test anxiety
Tell students you believe in each one of them
At beginning of the year, tell kids that “No student will fail!”
Be a 100%er

6. 12 Powerful Words
Directly teach these words (Don’t assume they are understood.)
Put them in words that students can understand
Use them on tests & quizzes
Talk to students about what the question is asking
Word of the day
Share with parents
Post in the classroom
Show the 12 Power Words regularly
“If we keep on doing what we’ve always done we’re going to keep on getting what we’ve always gotten.” ~Dr. John Maxwell

7. What do we mean by powerful words?
Words that stump students when they take standardized tests.
Words that intimidate or confuse students causing them to answer a question incorrectly when they know the answer.

8. AllWrite RoundRobin
Each person will need a piece of paper and something to write with
You will get 5 seconds of think time
When you hear the start you will have 3 minutes each person will say what they think is a possible answer and write it down on their own paper. No duplications

9. Question Remember 5 second think time
Write down what you think is a powerful word that stumps students on standardized tests.

10. Team Wrap up
Get a poster paper and write down the words that members of your team think are powerful words and write a student friendly definition next to each word. (5 minutes)
Post your paper on the wall
Share out

11. 12 Powerful Words Trace 7. Support Analyze 8. Explain
Infer Summarize
Evaluate Compare
Formulate Contrast
Describe Predict

12. Four Simple Keys
Every day
Six minutes
Every child
Data Driven

13. How can you do this?
Introduce the 12 Power Words and use them with students on a daily basis
Ask students to use the words in their written responses to homework
Have students make up their own questions utilizing the words

14. Impact on students
Help them to better understand what each question means
To become familiar with words that require higher order thinking skills
To relieve test anxiety
To achieve better on tests

15. 12 Powerful Words Jingle

16. Ignite Your Passion
Make Montwood a 100% Success School

17. “Nothing great is ever achieved without enthusiasm.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
We educators must show every day what we want our students to feel. Somebody needs you.

18. Resource
Larry Bell, Multicultural America, Inc 4300 Ridgewood Center Drive Woodbridge, VA