Benefits of Applied Control Theory
During my 24 years of teaching I have attended dozens of workshops, professional development seminars, and read numerous books concerning many areas of education. In June of this year (2009) I attended ACT (Applied Control Theory) I. Without question it is the best training I have ever attended. The reasons are numerous, but most importantly to teachers is that it shows you specifically what you can do from day one to make your classroom the best it can be. You will be given specific methods to help with difficult situations that arise, and more importantly, how to prevent difficult situations from ever occurring.
One of the great things about the training is how active it is for the participants. It is not a series of presentations by “experts” where you are just a passive listener. Many activities are incorporated to demonstrate how Applied Control Theory works in the real world. The participants get numerous opportunities to practice the specific methods and to discuss how the theory can be applied to their own situations.
I am writing this approximately one month after attending ACT I. Fortunately, New View Publications is here in Evansville conducting training for teachers and other professionals from this area. I am participating as a casual observer during this training as a refresher before school starts. I hope to attend ACT II in January and Act III next summer.
I must admit after a tough school year I was exhausted and not very enthusiastic about the upcoming school year. After the training in June I found myself looking forward to the new school year, confident in the fact I now have scientifically proven methods to help make our school a “connected school”, which means it is the best it can be.
Thanks, Sam!!! Look forward to hearing from more of you!
Go Pacers!!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
Guest Blogger.....Sam Melchior
Hello! I met Sam during Summer Experience at McGary, and I asked him to share his thoughts after attending ACT training this summer in North Carolina.
Sam Melchior here. It has been 2 weeks since attending applied control theory(ACT) training and I have had time to reflect. Control theory is not new to me as we applied it to some degree at Christa McAuliffe years ago when I first started there. What this training does, however, is give you a controlled environment to practice specific aspects of control theory and have immediate discussion and feedback as to its effectiveness. The 4 days were very intense which allows the information to become engrained in your thinking. I have already used some techniques with a couple of family matters and it works. As more staff become trained I think we will see discipline referrals decrease significantly. One of the reasons is that the first step is relationship building, which done well, naturally leads to mutual respect and caring. if that is far as it goes we can usually get the most our students can offer. My goal is to take the next 2 phases and gain a certification. My recommendation is that all staff strongly consider completing at least ACT 1.
Sam Melchior
Go Pacers! :)
Sam Melchior here. It has been 2 weeks since attending applied control theory(ACT) training and I have had time to reflect. Control theory is not new to me as we applied it to some degree at Christa McAuliffe years ago when I first started there. What this training does, however, is give you a controlled environment to practice specific aspects of control theory and have immediate discussion and feedback as to its effectiveness. The 4 days were very intense which allows the information to become engrained in your thinking. I have already used some techniques with a couple of family matters and it works. As more staff become trained I think we will see discipline referrals decrease significantly. One of the reasons is that the first step is relationship building, which done well, naturally leads to mutual respect and caring. if that is far as it goes we can usually get the most our students can offer. My goal is to take the next 2 phases and gain a certification. My recommendation is that all staff strongly consider completing at least ACT 1.
Sam Melchior
Go Pacers! :)
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Live ACT Blog
Hello!!!
Mark Southern from the ACT/PCT group emailed me to let us know that we might be interested in the posts on the Live ACT blog. You can check it out at: http://www.iaact.com/blog/.
Go Pacers!!
Mark Southern from the ACT/PCT group emailed me to let us know that we might be interested in the posts on the Live ACT blog. You can check it out at: http://www.iaact.com/blog/.
Go Pacers!!
Friday, February 20, 2009
From Marlene.....
During the faculty meeting this week, I asked everyone to think about making INTENTIONAL connections in their classrooms, so I did the same. I had made the comment that most (probably at least 80%) of my honors students feed in here from Hebron and maybe a few (15%) from Stockwell. Then I always have a couple who come from another elementary school. I make informal connections all the time as do we all, so I never really thought about how my students were connecting with each other. They seemed to get along and I have them sitting in cooperative groups, so I they must be connecting, right?
So today, I wrote some of the questions I shared on Wed. (What part of the hamburger would you be? Who is the smartest person you know? What is your favorite tv show?, etc) on notecards and gave a notecard to each group. They had about 2 minutes to answer (everyone had to answer) and discuss. Then I asked them to switch groups and to not move with the same people in the previous group. Answer a different question, move again…you get the picture. This took about 10 min.
They seemed to really enjoy the activity and had a lot of fun. Who would have thought that one of my sweet little girls considered herself the onion on the hamburger or that one student had always thought that another student who happened by chance to be in her group was the smartest person she knew. She said she had thought of him as the smartest person ever since kindergarten! (Of course, I thought I would be the smartest person they knew…ha ha). So after the activity, I asked the students if they knew WHY we just did that activity. Ha ….interesting answers. (1) We’d been working so hard on research and the SS test, that we just needed a break from working. (2) We are getting ready to do book clubs and I needed to see who worked well with others. (3) We just finished our SS unit and I didn’t want to start a new chapter on a Friday, so we did this to have something to do instead of SS. Loved hearing what they thought, but then one of my students who came from one of the non-feeder elementary schools said “so we could get to know one another a little better.” WOW!!!! The others who felt connected saw it as an activity as just something to do…….the one(s) not connected saw it as an opportunity to connect. This reinforces my choice to continue with INTENTIONAL connection activities. What about you? What happened to you this week?? PLEASE SHARE!!!!!
marlene
So today, I wrote some of the questions I shared on Wed. (What part of the hamburger would you be? Who is the smartest person you know? What is your favorite tv show?, etc) on notecards and gave a notecard to each group. They had about 2 minutes to answer (everyone had to answer) and discuss. Then I asked them to switch groups and to not move with the same people in the previous group. Answer a different question, move again…you get the picture. This took about 10 min.
They seemed to really enjoy the activity and had a lot of fun. Who would have thought that one of my sweet little girls considered herself the onion on the hamburger or that one student had always thought that another student who happened by chance to be in her group was the smartest person she knew. She said she had thought of him as the smartest person ever since kindergarten! (Of course, I thought I would be the smartest person they knew…ha ha). So after the activity, I asked the students if they knew WHY we just did that activity. Ha ….interesting answers. (1) We’d been working so hard on research and the SS test, that we just needed a break from working. (2) We are getting ready to do book clubs and I needed to see who worked well with others. (3) We just finished our SS unit and I didn’t want to start a new chapter on a Friday, so we did this to have something to do instead of SS. Loved hearing what they thought, but then one of my students who came from one of the non-feeder elementary schools said “so we could get to know one another a little better.” WOW!!!! The others who felt connected saw it as an activity as just something to do…….the one(s) not connected saw it as an opportunity to connect. This reinforces my choice to continue with INTENTIONAL connection activities. What about you? What happened to you this week?? PLEASE SHARE!!!!!
marlene
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Plaza visit from Perry & Jane!
What an exciting day! Perry and Jane came to Plaza today. Perry met with the sixth grade team during their team plan, and then both of them came to an after-school session. Perry did an introduction and overview of Applied (or Perceptual) Control Theory, including a role-playing session with our fabulous FACS teacher, Kim!!
It was like going to revival for me! LOL! (I'm from a small town; anybody else remember those?!?!) It was great for me to hear some of it again as a refresher. I was also really excited to see the enthusiasm from our staff. I want to encourage anyone who can to plan to attend one of the trainings during the first week of June or the last week of July. Each is four days, and you need to be able to commit to all four days.
I would love to hear everyone else's reactions from today...............so fill up the comments!!
Go Pacers!! :)
It was like going to revival for me! LOL! (I'm from a small town; anybody else remember those?!?!) It was great for me to hear some of it again as a refresher. I was also really excited to see the enthusiasm from our staff. I want to encourage anyone who can to plan to attend one of the trainings during the first week of June or the last week of July. Each is four days, and you need to be able to commit to all four days.
I would love to hear everyone else's reactions from today...............so fill up the comments!!
Go Pacers!! :)
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Guest blogger!!! Kim Johnson, Principal of Lincoln Elementary
Many of the things learned and practiced during PCT Training were not entirely new to me. I tend to approach discipline by asking questions, i.e. Why are you here? What did you do? Did you get what you wanted? Was it worth it?. etc. However, the training has helped me be more focused and intent with my questions. Before, I just asked questions without knowing exactly where they would lead.
I had the opportunity to put my new skills into practice right away on Monday.
Me: What did you want?
Student: To get my library book from my locker.
Me: What did you do?
Student: I asked very politely if I could go to my locker.
Me: And did it work?
Student: No, she told me I couldn't.
Me: So what did you do?
Student: Nothing
Me: So why are you here?
Student: Because when we returned to the room, I asked to use the restroom. We had the chance to go earlier but I didn't need to.
Me: So you wanted to use the restroom.
Student: Yes
Me: What did you do?
Students: I asked politely if I could go use it.
Me: Did that work?
Student: She said I could but I would need to lose recess.
Me: What did you want?
Student: To use the restroom but I didn't want to lose recess.
Me: What did you do?
Student: I used it but now I have to miss recess.
Me: So you got what you wanted, the chance to use the restroom.
Student: Yeah, but I shouldn't have to miss recess.
Me: Could you have chosen not to use the restroom and still have your recess?
Student: Yes, but I would have used it on myself.
Me: So it sounds like you made a good decision. I'll see you at recess.
This is a repeat offender who does a lot of playing around to avoid doing what is asked. I remained calm, he remained calm and could see that he chose not to have recess, and I was able to support my teacher. The bottom line (and we know that there are 'bottom lines') is that he must do what his teacher asks him to do, even if it does not make him happy.
The other major thing I discovered upon returning to school is the common language that I now share with my counselor, social worker, and the two teachers who joined us in training. At this point, we think it would be helpful for all staff to participate in ACT 1 so that we can share a common language in regards to behavior. This is similar to what we have done through extensive PD in reading with good results.
A big part of PCT is being reflective of our own behaviors. What I want now is to be productive. What I am going to do is take in a movie with my daughter. And yes, that works for me in being the kind of mom I want to be. (I am not even going to go look at her room!)
Keep warm,
Kim
I had the opportunity to put my new skills into practice right away on Monday.
Me: What did you want?
Student: To get my library book from my locker.
Me: What did you do?
Student: I asked very politely if I could go to my locker.
Me: And did it work?
Student: No, she told me I couldn't.
Me: So what did you do?
Student: Nothing
Me: So why are you here?
Student: Because when we returned to the room, I asked to use the restroom. We had the chance to go earlier but I didn't need to.
Me: So you wanted to use the restroom.
Student: Yes
Me: What did you do?
Students: I asked politely if I could go use it.
Me: Did that work?
Student: She said I could but I would need to lose recess.
Me: What did you want?
Student: To use the restroom but I didn't want to lose recess.
Me: What did you do?
Student: I used it but now I have to miss recess.
Me: So you got what you wanted, the chance to use the restroom.
Student: Yeah, but I shouldn't have to miss recess.
Me: Could you have chosen not to use the restroom and still have your recess?
Student: Yes, but I would have used it on myself.
Me: So it sounds like you made a good decision. I'll see you at recess.
This is a repeat offender who does a lot of playing around to avoid doing what is asked. I remained calm, he remained calm and could see that he chose not to have recess, and I was able to support my teacher. The bottom line (and we know that there are 'bottom lines') is that he must do what his teacher asks him to do, even if it does not make him happy.
The other major thing I discovered upon returning to school is the common language that I now share with my counselor, social worker, and the two teachers who joined us in training. At this point, we think it would be helpful for all staff to participate in ACT 1 so that we can share a common language in regards to behavior. This is similar to what we have done through extensive PD in reading with good results.
A big part of PCT is being reflective of our own behaviors. What I want now is to be productive. What I am going to do is take in a movie with my daughter. And yes, that works for me in being the kind of mom I want to be. (I am not even going to go look at her room!)
Keep warm,
Kim
Sunday, January 25, 2009
A little honesty......
As Marlene mentioned earlier, Perceptual Control Theory is not a quick fix. It is a new way of thinking, and change is not easy or fast.
On Friday and over the weekend, I have felt like I used to when I came home from church camp. When I was in jr. high and high school, I would go to church camp for a week each summer and be inspired, only to step back into daily life, where it was much tougher to live out the ideals I aspired to.
Changing one's way of thinking is a process, and I'm only a few days into it. On Friday, I felt exhausted at the end of the day from being so conscious of every word and action and from asking so many questions! But the seeds have been planted, and I know it's worth it -- just like church camp.
Better go get everything ready for tomorrow morning. I don't HAVE to go to A.M. duty, I have the OPPORTUNITY to...LOL! :)
Go Pacers!
On Friday and over the weekend, I have felt like I used to when I came home from church camp. When I was in jr. high and high school, I would go to church camp for a week each summer and be inspired, only to step back into daily life, where it was much tougher to live out the ideals I aspired to.
Changing one's way of thinking is a process, and I'm only a few days into it. On Friday, I felt exhausted at the end of the day from being so conscious of every word and action and from asking so many questions! But the seeds have been planted, and I know it's worth it -- just like church camp.
Better go get everything ready for tomorrow morning. I don't HAVE to go to A.M. duty, I have the OPPORTUNITY to...LOL! :)
Go Pacers!
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