Quote two sentences or phrases from this video. Why did you select these two particular quotes? What do they mean to you? How will they impact your teaching?
Quote two sentences or phrases from this video. Why did you select these two particular quotes? What do they mean to you? How will they impact your teaching?
"When you bring good energy to an area, negativity leaves". I chose this particular quote because it's a great reminder to not fall into others' and yourself negativity. It can be easy to do. This can impact teaching by having good energy in the classroom and to leave negativity outside of it. It's a great quote to think about when we are feeling ourselves lean towards negativity.
"As soon as we put a label on kids, we lower our expectations." As an educator each student has different needs. It's important to know that we need to challenge each student in a way that they can be challenged. Each student is not going to be challenged in the same way. This can impact teaching as we need to hold each of our students accountable to what they are capable of and that is different for each student.
Quote two sentences or phrases from this video. Why did you select these two particular quotes? What do they mean to you? How will they impact your teaching?
"Who you are is how you treat people" 'Teaching does not have to be stiff" Both of these quotes will change the way I teach. The first one is because I would like to not only live that way myself with my attitude and the way I am in the classroom, but I would also really like them to understand this for when they go out into the real world. The second one because sometimes I feel so robotic when I teach, I would like to remind myself that it does not always have to be one certain way. We can have fun with the kids and still get things done. We might have to change the ways we teach for different groups of students and that is ok.
1. “You need to teach to the gifted kids” - I do agree with this. I’ve been seeing my higher level students feel so bored in class. They don’t feel challenged. However, what happens when those lower level students are not rising to the challenge and maintain (no matter what intervention you stage) that the work is too hard? This is actually something I’ve battled for a long time. I came to my current job after being the Honors/ AP instructor. So I had to majorly come down in expectation from where I was teaching. It was difficult to adjust right away. Now— it’s almost like forgetting what it was like to work at that level.
2. “We’ve made wussies of kids.” — I argue this isn’t true. Kids are the same. They are, however, dealing with more than ever in a world spinning faster than ever. They are growing up with more immediate information than ever. And frankly, I have students with really rough home lives sometimes who are not “wussing out” — but they have learned a pattern of behavior that has allowed them to let other people bail them out. So I think the language is incorrect here. I also think that he needs to step back and take some time to think on the level of time and availability that teachers have to develop lessons. If you only teach fifth grade math or one other subject, then what he is discussing isn’t out of the ordinary. But for an English teach who has six preps? They might be drowning.
Also his energy can be somewhat infectious, but we need multiple types of people in the teaching field because his personality isn’t going to reach all students in the middle school/ high school range. He feels very elementary based. I agree with being passionate. But he is so over the top that many students would outright reject him.
As far as impacting my teaching? I think it always comes back to me evaluating how to show my passion for the topics to the students and connect the “why this matters in the context of your future” so they don’t leave going —“why did THAT happen?”
Quote two sentences or phrases from this video. Why did you select these two particular quotes? What do they mean to you? How will they impact your teaching?
"We are not preparing these kids for the real world" / "We are setting these kids up for failure"
I feel this ^ a lot, and it feels highly relatable to teaching high school in 2025. The combination of grade inflation, coddling, learned helplessness, tech addiction, lawnmower parents, inconsistent or absent parent support, complete lack of consequences and follow through creates a perfect storm for students to not care about school or their future. I teach high school, and although they are still children/minors - they are mere years/months away from reaching their adult-access to the world, and many of them are wildly unprepared for the reality of life. The habits and expectations of a successful new adult making their way in the world, or on a college campus is far from the half-baked high school graduates we are cranking out on the assembly line of education. As long as you are enrolled, we don't care what work you actually completed - you get a diploma, and you get a diploma, everyone gets a diploma! (to conjure another Oprah reference). What do these quotes mean to me/and how will it impact my teaching? Teachers have limited resources and outreach regarding school policies. If admin asks teachers to push kids through with a passing grade (with policies normalized like "No zeros" and "no deadlines") without mastering material, to keep graduation rates high, it feels more and more like it doesn't even matter what we do to keep high standards and expectations, the bar is already on the ground.
THIS!!! 100% I just want him to SCREAM this from the rooftop of my school! This is exactly how I think and what I believe. It is so frustrating to be a teacher who has expectations for their students just to have other staff say that it can't be that way because the kids aren't capable. I then watch those kids stare at me for answers. I even listened to a Sped teacher telling people that she encourages her Sped parents to go after the teacher and demand their kids are treated different because that is their right. I couldn't believe it. We are supposed to be a team. I am so sick of spoon feeding kids, passing them along, grades that don't matter. I so hope my next school will be different, because my current school will NEVER change! The quotes that stuck with me were: "As soon as we put a label on a kid, we lower our expectations." "The more you expect, the more you are going to get" I am a pusher, that is the teacher that I am. Don't tell me you can't do it, you haven't tried. I will help you and guide you.... but you can do it. You just have to try. I'm not being mean to the kids, I have expectations!
I found a couple quotes that are close to the same: “Kids will be what you treat them to be.” “The more you expect, the more you’re going to get.”
To me, these both mean that if students are treated as fragile, incapable, or easily broken, they will often live down to that expectation; if they are treated as capable, resilient, and responsible, they rise to it. Expectations and treatment create identity and performance. I often tell kids that this next thing will be hard & you will be put into the struggle zone (I teach Vygotsky & ZPD early in the year to everyone so students know that struggle isn’t weakness, it’s a sign of growth). My next sentence is, You can do this. If you fail on the first try, you know I’ll help you try again until you master it! Character can’t be handed to us. We have to earn it by struggling and coming out the other side better than we went into that particular battle.
"Don't make excuses, find solutions." This quote stuck out to me because I think as educators it is easy for us to feel, and say we can't do something because of time, resources, money, or administration. Educators are some of the smartest, and creative people and when we can slow down and brainstorm there are solutions available to us that maybe we wouldn't see otherwise.
"Your definition will be written by your interactions with others." How we treat people and the things we choose to do (or not do) for someone can define who we are as an educator and a person. People remember the way you treated them and how you made them feel forever.
Quote two sentences or phrases from this video. Why did you select these two particular quotes? What do they mean to you? How will they impact your teaching?
Wow - what an energy filled presentation!! He is constantly on the move - no wonder his classroom is hugely successful. "Don't make excuses, find solutions". i actually love this line - i will often say "don't tell me what you can't do - let's talk about what you can do". i feel like this will force you (and students/athletes) into discovering what is possible & how to work toward that success. Kids need the encouragement to be brave enough to make themselves a bit uncomfortable in their learning - this is where they will find growth. "when you bring good energy to a place, negativity leave" - i also love this quote. I do feel this is a vital part of successful classrooms. Teachers who bring a high level of energy daily just get a better response from their students. Student learning most definitely is reflective of the teacher. i also loved the octogenarian teacher who went down the slide and said "i wished i would have done this my entire career" - what a statement!!
Quote two sentences or phrases from this video. Why did you select these two particular quotes? What do they mean to you? How will they impact your teaching?
'Teach to the top.' This is inspiring. It makes me think about how it is so much easier to just teach to the middle and figure that it makes the most sense. I love how he put it that if you teach everyone like they are gifted they will all gain so much more! I need to remember this and apply it daily in my classroom!
I also liked how he said we are teaching them in a socialist environment and expecting success in a capitalist society. He went on about trophies and cookies and how not everyone has earned them. I agree with this. I love how a sticker that is earned can change everything for a kid! They know that if they actually earned it and fought for it, if they receive it, the battle has been worth it. We need to show more of our kids that the battle is worth it!
"You have to have passion" Ron Clark said this multiple times over and over. He was so inspiring and passionate! Watching him speak is so energizing and I can just feel how he is with kids and in his classroom. Also, watching him have this energy and love for teaching makes me reflect and realize that this is always how I start the year out, but as time goes on it always seems to fade away. Seeing him reminds me how impactful and important it is to keep that energy alive for the entire school year, not only for me but my students.
"Everyday I teach I am going to slide. Go for it, change society and make an impact" I love this slide analogy. As a teacher our goal is to make an impact on students' lives and to tell them to overcome challenges and go for it. We as teachers need to model that and continuously push students to strive for the challenges, to overcome the struggles and not make excuses.
"Not everyone needs a trophy." I truly believe this. The point is to try harder and give it your all. I can't make kids learn. At some point they have to want to do it, and if they are trying harder in the process, that's kinda the point!
"The more you expect, the more you're going to get." I also believe this! I have seen this play out in my own classroom. I expect my JH kids to spell grade level words correctly. Now, some of my 6th graders from 2 years ago that struggled to get a passing grade on the spelling test, are spelling better as 8th graders. They did not get there by lowering expectations.
Quote two sentences or phrases from this video. Why did you select these two particular quotes? What do they mean to you? How will they impact your teaching?
"Who you are is how you treat people, you definition would be written by your interaction with others." I selected this quote, because I honestly believe it. I think one of the most important concepts that I can teach my students is how to treat others with respect. It is important to be kind, caring, and also assertive (but in a positive way). Teaching elementary physical education allows me to focus on how to handle ourselves in competitive and sometimes frustrating situations. When things don't go our way, how do we respond? How do we treat others? It reassures me that teaching respect and kindness is extremely important and a life-long skill.
"Life is a blessing, and if you don't live life to the fullest you are denying that blessing, and sometimes you gotta go for it." This quote stuck out to me, because I do feel that I catch myself being repetitive and honestly kinda of boring sometimes. I am the only one that can change my attitude and bring the energy for my students. I need to make it fun and exciting and show my students that we are living a life worth living. I currently have a 5th grade class that just seems so mad and angry about everything. I really need to pour my energy and effort into making this the best last 4 months of their elementary career that I can. I want to help them see that life and even school can be fun and exciting!
"As soon as we put a label on a kid, we lower our expectations." Why do we need to label? It speaks the the limits put on some children to make it easy to explain why the boring ways of teaching are not working instead of changing the ways of teaching. "The more you expect, the more you're going to get." I realized while watching the video that I have lowered my expectation because it is trying and frustrating to not see results instantly when new strategies are applied. I need to continue to push students to geater expectations.
Quote two sentences or phrases from this video. Why did you select these two particular quotes? What do they mean to you? How will they impact your teaching?
"...as soon as we put a label on kids, we lower expectations." and "why are we lying to these kids? In the real world, as long as you try isn't cutting it." The first quote hit home after a staff meeting we had this week. One of our students was recently placed on an IEP and we were informed he hasn't been taking his ADHD meds since October. It was proposed that we let him make up the assignments he didn't pass first quarter, versus retaking the whole class. It was frustrating because we have never done this for other students who are not on an IEP or diagnosed ADHD. We are doing it now? Why? Now that we have a label for his lack of progress, we're supposed to just hold him to a lower standard than everyone else? Absolutely not. We work with him, give him the tools to succeed and pass this quarter so he is able to successfully complete his failed previous quarter. This kind of goes in hand with my second quote. Just telling these students they tried is enough, will not get them anywhere. In my high school science class I am constantly trying to tell the students about life outside of the building. We live in a community that has a lot of families that are well off. I think we don't do enough to prepare them for the expectations outside of school. So often when we hold them to a high standard, it's not "easy" and can often get backlash from the parents. Expectations are everywhere and if we aren't able to accept that, and expect our parents to solve our problems, life will be an uphill battle for some.
Two quotes that stood out to me were, “Who you are is how you treat people,” and “When you bring good energy to an area, negativity leaves.” I selected these two quotes because they highlight the importance of character and attitude in teaching. They remind me that my impact on students goes far beyond instruction—it is reflected in how I speak to them, respond to challenges, and create a positive classroom environment.
To me, these quotes mean that teaching is not just about strategies or curriculum, but about the energy and respect I bring into the room each day. In Early Childhood Special Education especially, students are highly responsive to tone, patience, and positivity. These ideas will impact my teaching by encouraging me to be intentional about modeling kindness, maintaining a calm and supportive presence, and ensuring that every child feels valued and safe in my classroom.
Quote two sentences or phrases from this video. Why did you select these two particular quotes? What do they mean to you? How will they impact your teaching?
"If you can't get it, I want to make sure you got it." This quote is simple yet effective and portrays how compassionate he was with his students. Instead of giving up on those students, taking the time to sit with them and help them until they understand the material shows those students how much you care about them and want them to succeed. I chose this first quote because it also correlates with counseling as when a student has a situation they are dealing with, I will sit with them and continue to provide them resources and support until they feel better.
"If you want people to believe in what you're doing, you have to have passion." This second is something that I think is true for all jobs. I chose this second quote because it can be easy to feel defeated in our jobs, especially after hard, long days. However, if you remember the reason why you went into this field and find those motivating and uplifting reasons and memories, it's important to hold onto that as it can drive our passion even further.
"Find the brightest kids in the class and hold everyone to that level." I agree with this statement 100%. I was a special education teacher and when I started a new group the students in the class would tell the new group what the expectations in the room were. They came to learn quickly that the rules were fair and for everyone so that they could reach their academic potential. I am sad when students come to me and say they can't learn. Every student has the potential to learn and accomplish goals. If you show them different ways in which to accomplish their goals, they will gain self-confidence and self-esteem.
"Put passion in your teaching, have energy, and slide for your students." This is sometimes hard to do every day when you come into the classroom, but exhibiting a positive attitude makes a ton of difference. If I come to school every day and teach students in a positive way I feel I am setting an example of how to act in the work setting. I feel better about myself and my students and it makes for a great day. I have to be the example. Students learn by observation. We work hard and we play hard.
Quote two sentences or phrases from this video. Why did you select these two particular quotes? What do they mean to you? How will they impact your teaching?
" When you bring good energy to an area negativity leaves." I 100% agree with this statement. I do believe the "area" can mean more than just a physical space or point. It can be a mindset, an attitude, an expectation. In my classroom, when I have kids that are negative or consistently down on anything and everything, I remind them that their mindset or attitude colors the way they view EVERYTHING. Hopefully this can influence them to think just a little bit about how they view the world, because your perspective is your reality.
"As soon as we put a label on kids, we lower expectations." This is such a spot on statement it's crazy. I see this on a daily basis. More and more kids are coming in with labels that allow for the lowering of expectations. One of my favorite teachers, and the reason I went into education was my 8th grade science teacher. Her expectations were high! Extremely high, and due to that fact, I excelled because I knew that someone believed I could reach those expectations. This is getting more and more difficult in the culture of schools in this day and age.
It was difficult for me to select just two quotes from Ron Clark’s TED Talk because multiple stood out to me. There were four that specifically resonated with me and that I feel reflect important lessons for education and counseling. The first of those I chose was “Don’t make excuses, find solutions” because it emphasizes the importance of persistence and problem solving. This reminds me to focus on actionable strategies when supporting students, whether it’s helping them overcome academic challenges, navigate personal struggles, or plan for life after high school. It encourages a mindset of resilience, modeling for students that obstacles are opportunities to learn rather than reasons to give up and preparing them for the future after high school. The second quote I selected is “As soon as we put a label on kids, we lower expectations.” This stands out to me because of the critical role that equity and high expectations hold. I believe that labels can limit what students believe they can achieve. I work hard to see each student as an individual with unique strengths and potential. As a School Counselor, this means advocating for students, helping them set goals, and creating opportunities where they can succeed without being constrained by preconceived notions. The third quote that I felt was important was “We are not preparing these kids for the real world” and “We are setting these kids up for failure”. These two statements serve as reminders to connect education and counseling to real life skills that will help prepare our students to handle challenges beyond the classroom. Lastly, the quote “Who you are is how you treat people” reminds me to approach every interaction I have with my students with respect, empathy, and authenticity, because building relationships is foundational to helping students to thrive. In combination, these quotes among others from Ron Clark serve as messages that impact my role as a School Counselor and reminders about fostering resilience, building relationships and preparing students for the world beyond high school.
1) "Who you are is how you treat people." I think this might be one of the most important things as a teacher. Treating students with respect, keeping our cool when a student misbehaves is vital. When we treat students like we would want our kids treated, we can build a relationship from which learning can take place. Kindness can help us with classroom management and form connections with students and make them want to learn.
2) "Don't make excuses, find solutions." It is easy to make excuses about how kids are too soft, we don't have enough money in our budget or parents don't support us. Mr. Clark is a very inspiring speaker. It is true that students today face problems that we did not and that we face challenges that educators before us maybe didn't face. This video and book study is inspiring teachers to overcome these challenges and find solutions. This will be one of my resolutions for the rest of my career. I hope to avoid making excuses or complaining about parents, students, administration etc. I want to focus on how I can overcome the challenges that I face getting students to meet the standards.
I think many people have become lazy, and find an excuse, rather than just finding a solution. I think it is important to solve everything you are unsure of. Especially as teachers- our children are watching us , and mimic what we do. We should be showing our students to solve their problems too (academically or not). Problem solving is a huge skill needed for life, and we should be practicing it, as much as our students should be practicing it.
Quote #2: "We've made wussies of kids"
I agree with this GREATLY. We need to push our kids, not coddle them (there is a fine line). I think gentle parenting/gentle teaching has really affected the current generation and it's showing. I am trying to backtrack this with my students. They are capable of great things and should strive to do them!
“Who you are is how you treat people. Your definition will be written by your interaction with others.” This is a great reminder that even in the toughest moments, I need to be mindful of how I am conducting myself and speaking to others. My students won’t remember ever lesson that I taught, but they will leave remembering how they felt in my class and around me.
“As soon as we put a label on kids we lower our expectations - [I think] putting a label on kids means we need to reach them differently it doesn’t mean we should lower expectations.” I have been guilty of expecting less from students who have been labeled one thing or another in education. I can think specifically back to a former student who very clearly had a physical disadvantage compared to her peers. I went into the semester nervous about how I was going to help make her more comfortable in my physical education classroom and differentiate my lessons to her succeed. She exceeded my predetermined expectations that I had set for her before ever getting to know her. That serves as a great reminder to not listen to the labels that are attached to my students but rather to get to know them first so that I can have a better understanding of how to best meet their needs.
"In America we aren't funding gifted programs." My own kids have completed their education already. I found that for them to be challenged in school they needed to be involved in extra things. All of my kids played 3 instruments, sang in choir, dance classes, were involved in many sports and many other activities to make their education more well rounded. Most of these activities only happened because we used our own money for them to be involved. How awesome would it be to have more of these things available during school so kids of all levels could have a more well rounded education. "As soon as we put a label on kids we lower our expectations." I see this statement come into fruition day in and day out. Kids have not only been labeled by the school, but by their families and friends. Once a person is labeled it is so hard to shake that label. It bothers me as teacher that there isn't much expected from some students. It's like the parents and the powers that be have just given up on them. Being a music teacher I try daily to some how engaged each student to connect and learn using music. A lot of days I fail but the days it connects with the students are glorious!!
Two phrases from the video that really stood out to me as both a high school history teacher and a coach were, “the more you expect, the more you’re going to get,” and “you’ve got to have passion.”
The idea that expectations drive results is something I’ve seen play out in both the classroom and in athletics. When I raise the bar for students in history, even when the material is challenging, they tend to rise to it more often than not. The same is true in coaching—if the standard is set high and consistently reinforced, athletes usually respond with more focus and effort than they initially think they’re capable of giving.
The second quote, “you’ve got to have passion,” connects to the daily energy required in both roles. Teaching history can easily become routine if I’m not intentional about how I present it, but when I bring energy and interest to the subject, students are more engaged and willing to participate. Coaching is similar in that athletes can quickly pick up on whether the leader is fully invested or just going through the motions.
Together, these quotes reinforce something I try to be mindful of every day: the tone I set matters. High expectations without passion can feel cold, and passion without standards lacks direction. But when both are present, it creates an environment where students and athletes are pushed and supported at the same time.
There were so many nuggets in this TedTalk. The first one that stood out to me was - if we put a label on a kid, we lower the expectations. I think this is true not only in the classroom, but also in the workforce. I am in a leadership position in my current role and several of my team members have come from different leaders. Maybe on other teams they had challenges, but that doesn't mean they need to have challenges on the team with me. Giving them a fresh start and setting the expectations over is sometimes what is needed for people to be successful. They can rise to the occasion when the are allowed to.
Where is our passion? You have to share the passion with those who are around you. In order for the kids in the classroom to be engaged and follow, they need to see that passion. It is same in the workplace, they need to see the passion so they can feel what they are doing is valuable and matter. You set the tone and energy for the classroom and your environment.
Quote two sentences or phrases from this video. Why did you select these two particular quotes? What do they mean to you? How will they impact your teaching?
ReplyDelete"When you bring good energy to an area, negativity leaves". I chose this particular quote because it's a great reminder to not fall into others' and yourself negativity. It can be easy to do. This can impact teaching by having good energy in the classroom and to leave negativity outside of it. It's a great quote to think about when we are feeling ourselves lean towards negativity.
"As soon as we put a label on kids, we lower our expectations." As an educator each student has different needs. It's important to know that we need to challenge each student in a way that they can be challenged. Each student is not going to be challenged in the same way. This can impact teaching as we need to hold each of our students accountable to what they are capable of and that is different for each student.
Quote two sentences or phrases from this video. Why did you select these two particular quotes? What do they mean to you? How will they impact your teaching?
ReplyDelete"Who you are is how you treat people"
'Teaching does not have to be stiff"
Both of these quotes will change the way I teach. The first one is because I would like to not only live that way myself with my attitude and the way I am in the classroom, but I would also really like them to understand this for when they go out into the real world. The second one because sometimes I feel so robotic when I teach, I would like to remind myself that it does not always have to be one certain way. We can have fun with the kids and still get things done. We might have to change the ways we teach for different groups of students and that is ok.
1. “You need to teach to the gifted kids” - I do agree with this. I’ve been seeing my higher level students feel so bored in class. They don’t feel challenged. However, what happens when those lower level students are not rising to the challenge and maintain (no matter what intervention you stage) that the work is too hard? This is actually something I’ve battled for a long time. I came to my current job after being the Honors/ AP instructor. So I had to majorly come down in expectation from where I was teaching. It was difficult to adjust right away. Now— it’s almost like forgetting what it was like to work at that level.
ReplyDelete2. “We’ve made wussies of kids.” — I argue this isn’t true. Kids are the same. They are, however, dealing with more than ever in a world spinning faster than ever. They are growing up with more immediate information than ever. And frankly, I have students with really rough home lives sometimes who are not “wussing out” — but they have learned a pattern of behavior that has allowed them to let other people bail them out. So I think the language is incorrect here. I also think that he needs to step back and take some time to think on the level of time and availability that teachers have to develop lessons. If you only teach fifth grade math or one other subject, then what he is discussing isn’t out of the ordinary. But for an English teach who has six preps? They might be drowning.
Also his energy can be somewhat infectious, but we need multiple types of people in the teaching field because his personality isn’t going to reach all students in the middle school/ high school range. He feels very elementary based. I agree with being passionate. But he is so over the top that many students would outright reject him.
As far as impacting my teaching? I think it always comes back to me evaluating how to show my passion for the topics to the students and connect the “why this matters in the context of your future” so they don’t leave going —“why did THAT happen?”
Quote two sentences or phrases from this video. Why did you select these two particular quotes? What do they mean to you? How will they impact your teaching?
ReplyDelete"We are not preparing these kids for the real world" / "We are setting these kids up for failure"
I feel this ^ a lot, and it feels highly relatable to teaching high school in 2025. The combination of grade inflation, coddling, learned helplessness, tech addiction, lawnmower parents, inconsistent or absent parent support, complete lack of consequences and follow through creates a perfect storm for students to not care about school or their future. I teach high school, and although they are still children/minors - they are mere years/months away from reaching their adult-access to the world, and many of them are wildly unprepared for the reality of life. The habits and expectations of a successful new adult making their way in the world, or on a college campus is far from the half-baked high school graduates we are cranking out on the assembly line of education. As long as you are enrolled, we don't care what work you actually completed - you get a diploma, and you get a diploma, everyone gets a diploma! (to conjure another Oprah reference). What do these quotes mean to me/and how will it impact my teaching? Teachers have limited resources and outreach regarding school policies. If admin asks teachers to push kids through with a passing grade (with policies normalized like "No zeros" and "no deadlines") without mastering material, to keep graduation rates high, it feels more and more like it doesn't even matter what we do to keep high standards and expectations, the bar is already on the ground.
THIS!!! 100% I just want him to SCREAM this from the rooftop of my school! This is exactly how I think and what I believe. It is so frustrating to be a teacher who has expectations for their students just to have other staff say that it can't be that way because the kids aren't capable. I then watch those kids stare at me for answers. I even listened to a Sped teacher telling people that she encourages her Sped parents to go after the teacher and demand their kids are treated different because that is their right. I couldn't believe it. We are supposed to be a team. I am so sick of spoon feeding kids, passing them along, grades that don't matter. I so hope my next school will be different, because my current school will NEVER change!
ReplyDeleteThe quotes that stuck with me were:
"As soon as we put a label on a kid, we lower our expectations."
"The more you expect, the more you are going to get"
I am a pusher, that is the teacher that I am. Don't tell me you can't do it, you haven't tried. I will help you and guide you.... but you can do it. You just have to try. I'm not being mean to the kids, I have expectations!
I found a couple quotes that are close to the same:
ReplyDelete“Kids will be what you treat them to be.”
“The more you expect, the more you’re going to get.”
To me, these both mean that if students are treated as fragile, incapable, or easily broken, they will often live down to that expectation; if they are treated as capable, resilient, and responsible, they rise to it. Expectations and treatment create identity and performance.
I often tell kids that this next thing will be hard & you will be put into the struggle zone (I teach Vygotsky & ZPD early in the year to everyone so students know that struggle isn’t weakness, it’s a sign of growth). My next sentence is, You can do this. If you fail on the first try, you know I’ll help you try again until you master it!
Character can’t be handed to us. We have to earn it by struggling and coming out the other side better than we went into that particular battle.
"Don't make excuses, find solutions." This quote stuck out to me because I think as educators it is easy for us to feel, and say we can't do something because of time, resources, money, or administration. Educators are some of the smartest, and creative people and when we can slow down and brainstorm there are solutions available to us that maybe we wouldn't see otherwise.
ReplyDelete"Your definition will be written by your interactions with others." How we treat people and the things we choose to do (or not do) for someone can define who we are as an educator and a person. People remember the way you treated them and how you made them feel forever.
Quote two sentences or phrases from this video. Why did you select these two particular quotes? What do they mean to you? How will they impact your teaching?
ReplyDeleteWow - what an energy filled presentation!! He is constantly on the move - no wonder his classroom is hugely successful.
"Don't make excuses, find solutions". i actually love this line - i will often say "don't tell me what you can't do - let's talk about what you can do". i feel like this will force you (and students/athletes) into discovering what is possible & how to work toward that success. Kids need the encouragement to be brave enough to make themselves a bit uncomfortable in their learning - this is where they will find growth.
"when you bring good energy to a place, negativity leave" - i also love this quote. I do feel this is a vital part of successful classrooms. Teachers who bring a high level of energy daily just get a better response from their students. Student learning most definitely is reflective of the teacher.
i also loved the octogenarian teacher who went down the slide and said "i wished i would have done this my entire career" - what a statement!!
Quote two sentences or phrases from this video. Why did you select these two particular quotes? What do they mean to you? How will they impact your teaching?
ReplyDelete'Teach to the top.' This is inspiring. It makes me think about how it is so much easier to just teach to the middle and figure that it makes the most sense. I love how he put it that if you teach everyone like they are gifted they will all gain so much more! I need to remember this and apply it daily in my classroom!
I also liked how he said we are teaching them in a socialist environment and expecting success in a capitalist society. He went on about trophies and cookies and how not everyone has earned them. I agree with this. I love how a sticker that is earned can change everything for a kid! They know that if they actually earned it and fought for it, if they receive it, the battle has been worth it. We need to show more of our kids that the battle is worth it!
"You have to have passion" Ron Clark said this multiple times over and over. He was so inspiring and passionate! Watching him speak is so energizing and I can just feel how he is with kids and in his classroom. Also, watching him have this energy and love for teaching makes me reflect and realize that this is always how I start the year out, but as time goes on it always seems to fade away. Seeing him reminds me how impactful and important it is to keep that energy alive for the entire school year, not only for me but my students.
ReplyDelete"Everyday I teach I am going to slide. Go for it, change society and make an impact" I love this slide analogy. As a teacher our goal is to make an impact on students' lives and to tell them to overcome challenges and go for it. We as teachers need to model that and continuously push students to strive for the challenges, to overcome the struggles and not make excuses.
"Not everyone needs a trophy."
ReplyDeleteI truly believe this. The point is to try harder and give it your all. I can't make kids learn. At some point they have to want to do it, and if they are trying harder in the process, that's kinda the point!
"The more you expect, the more you're going to get."
I also believe this! I have seen this play out in my own classroom. I expect my JH kids to spell grade level words correctly. Now, some of my 6th graders from 2 years ago that struggled to get a passing grade on the spelling test, are spelling better as 8th graders. They did not get there by lowering expectations.
Quote two sentences or phrases from this video. Why did you select these two particular quotes? What do they mean to you? How will they impact your teaching?
ReplyDelete"Who you are is how you treat people, you definition would be written by your interaction with others." I selected this quote, because I honestly believe it. I think one of the most important concepts that I can teach my students is how to treat others with respect. It is important to be kind, caring, and also assertive (but in a positive way). Teaching elementary physical education allows me to focus on how to handle ourselves in competitive and sometimes frustrating situations. When things don't go our way, how do we respond? How do we treat others? It reassures me that teaching respect and kindness is extremely important and a life-long skill.
"Life is a blessing, and if you don't live life to the fullest you are denying that blessing, and sometimes you gotta go for it." This quote stuck out to me, because I do feel that I catch myself being repetitive and honestly kinda of boring sometimes. I am the only one that can change my attitude and bring the energy for my students. I need to make it fun and exciting and show my students that we are living a life worth living. I currently have a 5th grade class that just seems so mad and angry about everything. I really need to pour my energy and effort into making this the best last 4 months of their elementary career that I can. I want to help them see that life and even school can be fun and exciting!
"As soon as we put a label on a kid, we lower our expectations." Why do we need to label? It speaks the the limits put on some children to make it easy to explain why the boring ways of teaching are not working instead of changing the ways of teaching.
ReplyDelete"The more you expect, the more you're going to get." I realized while watching the video that I have lowered my expectation because it is trying and frustrating to not see results instantly when new strategies are applied. I need to continue to push students to geater expectations.
Quote two sentences or phrases from this video. Why did you select these two particular quotes? What do they mean to you? How will they impact your teaching?
ReplyDelete"...as soon as we put a label on kids, we lower expectations." and "why are we lying to these kids? In the real world, as long as you try isn't cutting it."
The first quote hit home after a staff meeting we had this week. One of our students was recently placed on an IEP and we were informed he hasn't been taking his ADHD meds since October. It was proposed that we let him make up the assignments he didn't pass first quarter, versus retaking the whole class. It was frustrating because we have never done this for other students who are not on an IEP or diagnosed ADHD. We are doing it now? Why? Now that we have a label for his lack of progress, we're supposed to just hold him to a lower standard than everyone else? Absolutely not. We work with him, give him the tools to succeed and pass this quarter so he is able to successfully complete his failed previous quarter. This kind of goes in hand with my second quote. Just telling these students they tried is enough, will not get them anywhere. In my high school science class I am constantly trying to tell the students about life outside of the building. We live in a community that has a lot of families that are well off. I think we don't do enough to prepare them for the expectations outside of school. So often when we hold them to a high standard, it's not "easy" and can often get backlash from the parents. Expectations are everywhere and if we aren't able to accept that, and expect our parents to solve our problems, life will be an uphill battle for some.
Two quotes that stood out to me were, “Who you are is how you treat people,” and “When you bring good energy to an area, negativity leaves.” I selected these two quotes because they highlight the importance of character and attitude in teaching. They remind me that my impact on students goes far beyond instruction—it is reflected in how I speak to them, respond to challenges, and create a positive classroom environment.
ReplyDeleteTo me, these quotes mean that teaching is not just about strategies or curriculum, but about the energy and respect I bring into the room each day. In Early Childhood Special Education especially, students are highly responsive to tone, patience, and positivity. These ideas will impact my teaching by encouraging me to be intentional about modeling kindness, maintaining a calm and supportive presence, and ensuring that every child feels valued and safe in my classroom.
Quote two sentences or phrases from this video. Why did you select these two particular quotes? What do they mean to you? How will they impact your teaching?
ReplyDelete"If you can't get it, I want to make sure you got it." This quote is simple yet effective and portrays how compassionate he was with his students. Instead of giving up on those students, taking the time to sit with them and help them until they understand the material shows those students how much you care about them and want them to succeed. I chose this first quote because it also correlates with counseling as when a student has a situation they are dealing with, I will sit with them and continue to provide them resources and support until they feel better.
"If you want people to believe in what you're doing, you have to have passion." This second is something that I think is true for all jobs. I chose this second quote because it can be easy to feel defeated in our jobs, especially after hard, long days. However, if you remember the reason why you went into this field and find those motivating and uplifting reasons and memories, it's important to hold onto that as it can drive our passion even further.
"Find the brightest kids in the class and hold everyone to that level."
ReplyDeleteI agree with this statement 100%. I was a special education teacher and when I started a new group the students in the class would tell the new group what the expectations in the room were. They came to learn quickly that the rules were fair and for everyone so that they could reach their academic potential. I am sad when students come to me and say they can't learn. Every student has the potential to learn and accomplish goals. If you show them different ways in which to accomplish their goals, they will gain self-confidence and self-esteem.
"Put passion in your teaching, have energy, and slide for your students." This is sometimes hard to do every day when you come into the classroom, but exhibiting a positive attitude makes a ton of difference. If I come to school every day and teach students in a positive way I feel I am setting an example of how to act in the work setting. I feel better about myself and my students and it makes for a great day. I have to be the example. Students learn by observation. We work hard and we play hard.
Quote two sentences or phrases from this video. Why did you select these two particular quotes? What do they mean to you? How will they impact your teaching?
ReplyDelete" When you bring good energy to an area negativity leaves." I 100% agree with this statement. I do believe the "area" can mean more than just a physical space or point. It can be a mindset, an attitude, an expectation. In my classroom, when I have kids that are negative or consistently down on anything and everything, I remind them that their mindset or attitude colors the way they view EVERYTHING. Hopefully this can influence them to think just a little bit about how they view the world, because your perspective is your reality.
"As soon as we put a label on kids, we lower expectations." This is such a spot on statement it's crazy. I see this on a daily basis. More and more kids are coming in with labels that allow for the lowering of expectations. One of my favorite teachers, and the reason I went into education was my 8th grade science teacher. Her expectations were high! Extremely high, and due to that fact, I excelled because I knew that someone believed I could reach those expectations. This is getting more and more difficult in the culture of schools in this day and age.
It was difficult for me to select just two quotes from Ron Clark’s TED Talk because multiple stood out to me. There were four that specifically resonated with me and that I feel reflect important lessons for education and counseling. The first of those I chose was “Don’t make excuses, find solutions” because it emphasizes the importance of persistence and problem solving. This reminds me to focus on actionable strategies when supporting students, whether it’s helping them overcome academic challenges, navigate personal struggles, or plan for life after high school. It encourages a mindset of resilience, modeling for students that obstacles are opportunities to learn rather than reasons to give up and preparing them for the future after high school. The second quote I selected is “As soon as we put a label on kids, we lower expectations.” This stands out to me because of the critical role that equity and high expectations hold. I believe that labels can limit what students believe they can achieve. I work hard to see each student as an individual with unique strengths and potential. As a School Counselor, this means advocating for students, helping them set goals, and creating opportunities where they can succeed without being constrained by preconceived notions. The third quote that I felt was important was “We are not preparing these kids for the real world” and “We are setting these kids up for failure”. These two statements serve as reminders to connect education and counseling to real life skills that will help prepare our students to handle challenges beyond the classroom. Lastly, the quote “Who you are is how you treat people” reminds me to approach every interaction I have with my students with respect, empathy, and authenticity, because building relationships is foundational to helping students to thrive. In combination, these quotes among others from Ron Clark serve as messages that impact my role as a School Counselor and reminders about fostering resilience, building relationships and preparing students for the world beyond high school.
ReplyDelete1) "Who you are is how you treat people." I think this might be one of the most important things as a teacher. Treating students with respect, keeping our cool when a student misbehaves is vital. When we treat students like we would want our kids treated, we can build a relationship from which learning can take place. Kindness can help us with classroom management and form connections with students and make them want to learn.
ReplyDelete2) "Don't make excuses, find solutions." It is easy to make excuses about how kids are too soft, we don't have enough money in our budget or parents don't support us. Mr. Clark is a very inspiring speaker. It is true that students today face problems that we did not and that we face challenges that educators before us maybe didn't face. This video and book study is inspiring teachers to overcome these challenges and find solutions. This will be one of my resolutions for the rest of my career. I hope to avoid making excuses or complaining about parents, students, administration etc. I want to focus on how I can overcome the challenges that I face getting students to meet the standards.
Quote #1: Don't make excuses , find solutions.
ReplyDeleteI think many people have become lazy, and find an excuse, rather than just finding a solution. I think it is important to solve everything you are unsure of. Especially as teachers- our children are watching us , and mimic what we do. We should be showing our students to solve their problems too (academically or not). Problem solving is a huge skill needed for life, and we should be practicing it, as much as our students should be practicing it.
Quote #2: "We've made wussies of kids"
I agree with this GREATLY. We need to push our kids, not coddle them (there is a fine line). I think gentle parenting/gentle teaching has really affected the current generation and it's showing. I am trying to backtrack this with my students. They are capable of great things and should strive to do them!
“Who you are is how you treat people. Your definition will be written by your interaction with others.” This is a great reminder that even in the toughest moments, I need to be mindful of how I am conducting myself and speaking to others. My students won’t remember ever lesson that I taught, but they will leave remembering how they felt in my class and around me.
ReplyDelete“As soon as we put a label on kids we lower our expectations - [I think] putting a label on kids means we need to reach them differently it doesn’t mean we should lower expectations.” I have been guilty of expecting less from students who have been labeled one thing or another in education. I can think specifically back to a former student who very clearly had a physical disadvantage compared to her peers. I went into the semester nervous about how I was going to help make her more comfortable in my physical education classroom and differentiate my lessons to her succeed. She exceeded my predetermined expectations that I had set for her before ever getting to know her. That serves as a great reminder to not listen to the labels that are attached to my students but rather to get to know them first so that I can have a better understanding of how to best meet their needs.
"In America we aren't funding gifted programs." My own kids have completed their education already. I found that for them to be challenged in school they needed to be involved in extra things. All of my kids played 3 instruments, sang in choir, dance classes, were involved in many sports and many other activities to make their education more well rounded. Most of these activities only happened because we used our own money for them to be involved. How awesome would it be to have more of these things available during school so kids of all levels could have a more well rounded education.
ReplyDelete"As soon as we put a label on kids we lower our expectations." I see this statement come into fruition day in and day out. Kids have not only been labeled by the school, but by their families and friends. Once a person is labeled it is so hard to shake that label. It bothers me as teacher that there isn't much expected from some students. It's like the parents and the powers that be have just given up on them. Being a music teacher I try daily to some how engaged each student to connect and learn using music. A lot of days I fail but the days it connects with the students are glorious!!
Two phrases from the video that really stood out to me as both a high school history teacher and a coach were, “the more you expect, the more you’re going to get,” and “you’ve got to have passion.”
ReplyDeleteThe idea that expectations drive results is something I’ve seen play out in both the classroom and in athletics. When I raise the bar for students in history, even when the material is challenging, they tend to rise to it more often than not. The same is true in coaching—if the standard is set high and consistently reinforced, athletes usually respond with more focus and effort than they initially think they’re capable of giving.
The second quote, “you’ve got to have passion,” connects to the daily energy required in both roles. Teaching history can easily become routine if I’m not intentional about how I present it, but when I bring energy and interest to the subject, students are more engaged and willing to participate. Coaching is similar in that athletes can quickly pick up on whether the leader is fully invested or just going through the motions.
Together, these quotes reinforce something I try to be mindful of every day: the tone I set matters. High expectations without passion can feel cold, and passion without standards lacks direction. But when both are present, it creates an environment where students and athletes are pushed and supported at the same time.
There were so many nuggets in this TedTalk. The first one that stood out to me was - if we put a label on a kid, we lower the expectations. I think this is true not only in the classroom, but also in the workforce. I am in a leadership position in my current role and several of my team members have come from different leaders. Maybe on other teams they had challenges, but that doesn't mean they need to have challenges on the team with me. Giving them a fresh start and setting the expectations over is sometimes what is needed for people to be successful. They can rise to the occasion when the are allowed to.
ReplyDeleteWhere is our passion? You have to share the passion with those who are around you. In order for the kids in the classroom to be engaged and follow, they need to see that passion. It is same in the workplace, they need to see the passion so they can feel what they are doing is valuable and matter. You set the tone and energy for the classroom and your environment.