Ask Miss Night « Miss Night's Marbles

Ask Miss Night

Ok, I have no idea how this is going to go, but let’s try it!

Do you have a question you would like me to answer? I’m thinking specifically about classroom related things, but I’ve been a nanny, a preschool director, a teen leadership director, and a summer camp director, too, so anything in the generally kid-related realm is ok. I think most of my readers are teachers, but parents are welcome to submit questions, too. If you’re feeling even braver, we could throw it out to the lovely readers and see what OTHER teacher-types have to say.

Oh, and I won’t share your name, your e-mail address, or your location unless you ask me to. I will, however, link to your website or blog, so don’t include it if you don’t want me to share it. I can make up a pseudonym for you, or you can make up your own, if you prefer.

The idea here is for your question (and my response) to be posted here, as a blog post. That means there may be comments. Most of the comments will be lovely and helpful, because it seems most of my readers are like that. Some of them MAY be critical. I promise to jump to your defence, and promptly remove anything that is mean-spirited. But really: let’s all play nicely, okay?

So, fill out the form and let’s give this baby a whirl!

Name(required)

Email(required)

Website or blog (I will link to you!)

This question is for:

Tell me a little about your school context: urban/suburban/rural? Private/charter/public? Class size? Other pertinent details? If you're not a classroom teacher, share whatever background is relevant.(required)

Ok, on to your question! What can we do to help you today?(required)

If this is relevant, please share any strategies you have already tried, but haven't worked for you.

If your question is posted, what shall I call you?(required)

I give permission for my question to be posted on the Miss Night's Marbles site. I understand that submitting a question does not guarantee it will be posted. If my question is selected for publication, I give permission for it to be edited for length and content.

5 Responses to “Ask Miss Night”

“Behaviour management”: not systems, but relationships « Miss Night's Marbles says:

10 September, 2012 at 5:41 pm

[...] I don’t have “systems.” I have relationships. As I re-read these now, it is that simple. I cannot think of a single system or routine in my classroom that is applied universally to every child at all times in all situations. What works for one does not work for another and makes things even worse for a third. I have had situations with specific children where the best way to communicate about behaviour was to have a private “chart” that went home every day. This is not my favourite strategy, but it was the best one for THAT child and THAT family in THAT situation. For other kids, it has been best to cue them in advance of any potentially challenging event. For still others, we have role-played and practiced the right words and actions. I know there are naysayers out there, who will find this all too nebulous, too airy-fairy and hippie-dippie to be manageable. I don’t have an answer for those people. For me, these 8 truths simply work. I don’t know if they will work for you, too. I would, however, challenge you to try just one of them. Re-define problematic behaviour. Find and change a pattern. Focus on your relationship with a challenging child. And then, please, come back here and let me know how it went. Need more detail? Unsure of how to apply this to a specific child or situation? Submit your question to Ask Miss Night! [...]

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Carolyn Wilhelm says:

27 August, 2012 at 7:22 pm

This is such an interesting format! Thanks so much, I think this will become popular. Your answer is so detailed and helpful.

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- Miss Night says:
  
  27 August, 2012 at 7:24 pm
  
  Thanks, Carolyn! I’m hoping it will catch on. I’m really enjoying it, especially all the comments and conversation.
  
  Reply
Ask Miss Night: How to ensure “student led” program for all 23 students? « Miss Night's Marbles says:

25 August, 2012 at 8:51 pm

[...] new friend JB, who submitted my very first Ask Miss Night question, just hours after I first added the page. JB, you will never know what a confidence booster that was. The very least I can do in return is [...]

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Ask Miss Night: Now Open for Business! « Miss Night's Marbles says:

23 August, 2012 at 9:04 pm

[...] Not much of a post tonight, – just a request that you check out my new page: Ask Miss Night! [...]

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