THESE TRICKS ARE FOR KIDS is a challenging, motivating, insightful, and practical approach to classroom management. Though TRICKS was written primarily for elementary music educators; parents, counselors, and classroom teachers at all levels will find it inspiring, intriguing, and beneficial. This entertaining “workshop in a book” uses the author’s own experiences and expertise to help teachers learn to go the distance and inspire students! It’s for fresh-out-of-college education graduates wishing to sit down with a been-there-done-that teacher and “pick her brain” before facing that first day of school. It’s for veteran teachers interested in TRICKS to de-stress their careers, improve discipline, increase teaching time, and make work more enjoyable. This book is an information-packed, entertaining, proven and practical way with every day language, about every day situations, in the every day classroom.
Debbie Gray, Blue Springs (Missouri) elementary teacher and clinician has been honored as Blue Springs Jaycees Outstanding Educator, Who’s Who in America (‘'05-'08), Who’s Who Among American Women (‘05 -'08), and Who’s Who Among American Teachers (’96, '02‘05). Debbie has been the building Teacher of the Year four times in her 29 year career and has been nominated by former students for Disney’s American Teacher Award (99, 00, 02). Under Debbie’s direction, her students have supplied the vocals in many radio and television commercials, including the nationally televised ad for Kansas City’s famed Country Club Plaza, Toastmaster’s Kiddle Griddle, Missouri Tourism’s WAKE UP TO MISSOURI and the animated ad for Blockbuster Video that aired on Nickelodeon as well as all major networks! Debbie’s singers can also be heard on the Sniggles, Squirrels, and Chickenpox CD by Miss Jackie. Debbie invites you to explore the subject of student motivation that is subtly intertwined with both discipline and classroom management in THESE TRICKS ARE FOR KIDS.
After a bachelors degree in music education, a Masters degree in teaching, post graduate work in behavioral studies, directing vocals for commercials and national recordings, designing choreography, and entertaining as a conference speaker and workshop clinician, Debbie realizes she is an antique. After all, she was on earth before Candyland, Disneyland, Holiday Inn, Days Inn, Yahtze, or Yo-Yo’s! But she also realizes that this age-plus-experience concept doesn’t mean she’s a know-it-all authority on teaching. She has, however, had some success with some effective TRICKS up her sleeve that can help you. If you can be patient as you peruse these pages, wade through the warped wit, rummage for randomness, and keep an open mind to try some new TRICKS, there are bound to be two, ten, twelve, or twenty tidbits to tune up your teaching techniques!
Although THESE TRICKS ARE FOR KIDS is mostly full of crazy fun and zany ideas for teachers and their students, Debbie is far too aware that teaching is a profession that can not be taken lightly. Tricks is brimming with comedy - stuff kids will love - but Debbie doesn’t neglect the sobering side of educating children. In one of her more reflective moments in the book, she writes:
Let me share a story with you about a student I had about fifteen years ago. As horrible as the circumstances were, in retrospect, no other single event has affected me, my philosophy, the way I teach, and why I am writing this book to you, more than:
MY DECEMBER WITH AARON
It was early in my teaching career – back when I thought I knew all there was to know about teaching, music, and children! Fifth-grade Aaron wanted to play the part of Santa in our musical and I must say, had potential to be a smashing success! That child could sing, dance, and deliver lines like a Pro! He was bright, happy, reliable, a remarkable student, and as cute as a button, too!
As the performance date crept closer and all the students polished their lines and practiced their solos, our old buddy Aaron, had fallen apart. Our “Superstar” could not get through a single sentence without dropping lines and missing entrances! He mumbled, shuffled his feet, talked to the floor when he did finally say something, and spoke so softly that he couldn’t be heard from two feet away. Each day I grew increasingly more impatient with him! I knew Aaron was capable, but for some reason, he was not learning his lines and he had the lead! Even after days and days of being extraordinarily nice and patient, working with him during lunch, before and after school, trying to help him memorize his speaking part and solos, he would not sit still or stay focused long enough to get anything accomplished! It was so frustrating.
I tried the old consequences and guilt-trip routine that was so popular back then: “Aaron, if you don’t learn those lines, I’m going to have to give someone else your part!” “I thought you wanted to be the lead character! Everyone is depending on you!” In spite of nagging him, he only got worse and it was too late to find a replacement! What on earth was I going to do? This talented ten-year-old little boy had me over a barrel! He was going to ruin the show for the rest of us, make