Teaching With Aloha — Bringing our Universal Values of Aloha to the Art and Heart of Teaching

Micromanaging

October 8, 2009

Today, two articles came across my desk focusing on micromanagement. After reading each, I began to think about how common it is seen in the classroom. From my experience, I believe that micromanagement can stifle the joy of learning. Surely, teachers need to monitor students. But, when monitoring becomes micromanaging, Kūlia i ka nu‘u (achievement [...]

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Teaching “beyond”

October 6, 2009

A wise teacher’s ways, thoughts, plans, dreams must be higher, deeper and broader than his students’. This is the bottom line to Kūlia i ka nu‘u. He always leads his students to greater heights, deeper depths and expansive horizons. He is the ultimate example of Kūlia i ka nu‘u in their lives.
In short, teaching [...]

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Marks of a Mentor: Releasing Others

September 30, 2009

Mentoring can develop into vital relationships; thus, when there is a parting it can be very difficult. Transition is a natural and necessary part of mentoring. In fact, it might not be healthy to extend a mentoring relationship beyond its intended time. Perhaps the one who has been mentored needs to be released to become a [...]

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The 10 Alaka‘i Beliefs of Great Teachers

September 28, 2009

When I read Dean’s posting, “The Teacher as the Leader” I could not resist pulling out one of the most popular articles I have ever written for the web in the years since Managing with Aloha was published so I could compare notes.
I had titled it “The Calling of Management: The 10 Beliefs of Great [...]

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The teacher as the leader

September 27, 2009

Teachers are leaders (of people) and managers (of processes). Both roles require significant effort and attention. Those who are most effective and transformational are those who are:

Visionary: They create solutions to meet the problems their students face. They inspire hope when things look very hopeless. They are imaginative and creative when facing the future; they [...]

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Identifying your students’ hidden talents

September 25, 2009

Ho‘ohanohano respects each students strengths and talents. Aloha teaching is not so concerned with how smart students are but how they are smart. Therefore, one of the teacher’s joys is discovering her student’s hidden talents. Here is a simple guide to help you:

Turn a compliment into an interview. When an student does an excellent job, [...]

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Marks of a Mentor: Addressing Weakness

September 23, 2009

Last week I shared with you one of the marks of a mentor that we all enjoy: affirming others with trust. But there’s another side of the coin that’s just as important. Good mentors also address weaknesses. A discerning mentor addresses weaknesses that need to be strengthened and wrongs that need to be corrected. That’s one [...]

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Making excuses

September 22, 2009

Preparing for a new year and living the new year can look like very different. Perhaps you have already met a roadblock to your plans and are wondering what to do next. Or, a challenge has come your way and you have no idea how you are going to be able to meet the expectations. [...]

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Marks of a Mentor: Trust

September 16, 2009

Admit it…trusting is not easy! However, effective mentoring requires appropriate trusting. What I mean by appropriate relates to when the time is right and when the task is fitting. Entrusting prematurely or with something that cannot yet be managed is not good mentoring. Mentoring is not, “Here you do it.” It is not premature or [...]

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