I liked the idea of deducting 20% each day an assignment is late. Although I would probably deduct only 10% I feel this is fair to all in the class. Those who complete an assignment on time get the credit yet those who hand it in late still get some points but get the penalty for handing it in late. It also shows that the instructor gives everyone a chance to succeed yet it's up to the student to do their part in contributing to their education. I will definitely start implementing this idea.

Something I had to learn in my early years as a teacher was that I needed to not focus on the trouble that students were causing me but to focus on the trouble they were encountering in their lives, both in and out of the classroom. Yes, it's painful when students make our lives more difficult, but we are there to serve their academic and personal growth needs, not the other way around. So a little mental shift helped me get my attitude right and help my students more effectively.

Dr. Daniel Amen wrote a book by the title listed in the subject line. He says that we have ANTS. That is Automatic Negative Thoughts and we choose to accept or reject them. If we reject it diminishes our stress, if we accept...well you know the answer.

When students are writing essays they often come with limited or minimal organizational skills. Some of the predictive analytical software has the ability to find common strands and keywords that are appropriate to a topic. Though the words are different, they have similar menaings. I sometimes I have students use different colored highlighters to identify keywords or concepts in their writing that are similar to one another. This allows me to determine their critical thinking skills and how they relate to various bits and pieces of their writing. It helps the student realize if they have wondered off course since outlining has become a lost art.

In a team focused professional learning community it is often difficult to plan in the longer view when others are planning shorter, or not at all.It makes it difficult when members fail to interact with partners when they fail to communicate. Impromptu, or meetings that are poorly planned and yield little to no results, can destroy the plans for the day and if enough of them occur in a short time frame this might apply to the week.

Class management is important because the instructor will be able to engage the various learning styles.

Meetings are important, but last minute meetings can disrupt time management. There are times when there must be a last minute meeting, but make sure that all meetings are productive to the individuals who attend. I have found that most meetings are unproductive even if they are scheduled. Most of the information can be placed in an email or sent through an interoffice memo. People must remember that wasting your time is your business, but wasting other people's time is disrespectful.

When stress starts to get a grip you need to be able to notice the signs and take a mental break. As a practioner of numerous martial arts we are taught to notice situations and deal with them. When you notice stress you don't even have to stop what your doing to take a mental break. Breathing is a good start, having a trigger to start a quick relaxation period. The relaxation period doesn't have to last that long, just long enough to take the tension away.

I feel stress is something a person uses as a crutch. Sure most people feel stressful at times but who is really putting on the stress. You just do the best you can and let the chips fall. Maybe you don't belong in the position your in, you made the choice so either live with it or change what ever is bothering you. You may have to forget about getting that new car, pool, bigger house you think you need, but you have the option.

I thought computers were suppose to make our lives easier because we could do more faster and more effient! How did that work out? We just do more with our time. As a type A person I find I'm always tweaking every aspect of my life. I just can't leave well enough alone. I know they say if it's not broken leave it alone but I just can't. Gotta open the envelope to see whats inside.

Having meetings are usually a waste of time. They are only advantages to a few yet all are suppose to attend when their time would be put to better use.

I teach a class that meets four days a week for 4 hours. Because it is such a big portion of the week, students are bound to miss a few days. I want students to be able to turn in late work, but on the other hand, I do feel that it rewards laziness. I struggle with how to handle this. Right now, I allow late work (minus 10% each day it’s late). Does anyone else do differently?

I think we can all agree this might be something we have said at 1 time or another.Learning how to handle the daily challenges we all face, can help us cope with life itself."I can only do so much, worry about so much or don't want to deal with it now", are sayings we us just to put things off. Is this really what we want to do? I guess the saying "procrastinate now" come to mind. Think about it, deal with what we can see, touch, manage and change in small steps. Changing the world one life at a time is so much easier than trying to solve all of humanities problems in 1 fell stroke!

How do you deal with the student who has an excuse for everything? From being late to class, missing class, turning in assignments late--I have a student who finds a dramatic excuse for any and everything. I can't prove her excuses are lies, but how can I effectively deal with it?

Emphasize acquisition of knowledge and skill over mere course credit achievement.

I have a little group that keeps a side conversation going and its normally not about the material. I am trying to treat all as adults. What can I do?

Sometimes we lose our balanced focus of the student as a whole. They must have some prior knowledge to which to add this new content information. Should we get to know the student first, and their interests, before expecting them to engage the content?

it is assumed that all of us deal with stress in one form or another. I suppose this is somewhat true. never the less. I always believe that stressing out or not stressing out is a choice we make relative to the circumstance at the time. sometimes doing nothing other than rethinking the situation is adaquate to relieve the so called stress. one persons stress is anothers joy. the key is to not allow anyone or anything steal your joy. not even yourself. think and stay positive and dedicated, know that you are doing the best you can be and accept the stress relief associated with this way of thinking.

stress can be caused by perception, look at the positive and not the negative. do your job at the time, stay focused and dedicated, stay on track. disregard circumstance that make your mind wander. deal with situations as they develop on a one to one basis whether they be travel to and from work, office and manangement conflicts or students who need assistance. then put them behind you whether it be faculty or students always stay calm and think things through. dont make snap judgements. time management can be very helpful.

I currently have two students in my class that have two small children at home. I teach evenings and until they get to me they are so tired that I don't know how to motivate them. One is doing well the other keeps missing class, no sitter. How much can I do?