Motivated To Teach The At- Risk: When to react and when not to react

Daily Attitude  Every morning in Africa at sunrise the gazelle wakes up knowing he must run faster than the fastest lion or he will not survive.  The lion wakes up knowing he must be faster than the slowest gazelle or he will not survive.  It does not matter if you are a lion or a gazelle, when the sun comes up, you better hit the ground running.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff  It’s all small stuff  Seek first to understand rather to be understood  Seek the “why” behind the behavior.

I’M The Adult  Power struggles are just that.  Structure is key  Keep personal business just what it is PERSONAL!!!

Motivation Is Key  Always speak to your students.  Reinforce positive behavior.  Requirements should be compatible with ability.  Enjoy what you are doing.

Be Flexible/Creative “Have a common willingness to diverge from tradition.”

Create a Secure Arena for Learning “Too often we challenge their manhood instead of their minds.”

Expand Cultural Understanding  Expanding our cultural understanding of our young men will enable us to gain greater awareness of the “why” behind behavioral characteristics and how certain behaviors are interwoven in our culture.  Cultural knowledge is a factor in building the teacher- student bond that is essential to a learning alliance.

THE KEY: Do Not Intimidate  Don’t issue idle threats  Challenge their abilities  Avoid power struggles

REMEMBER!!! “If we keep doing the same things we will continue to get the same results.”

Questions???? Contact Information: Orner Walker