It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher I possess tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated, and a child humanized or de-humanized.
I AM . . .
Inviting student cooperation.
Accepting and acknowledging student feelings.
Confering dignity upon students.
Expressing anger appropriately using "I-messages."
Using brevity in correcting misbehavior.
Using appreciative rather than evaluative praise.
--Haim Ginott
Last modified: October 6, 1997