On Saturday, April 23, 2011, over fifty Intern Teachers from the San Francisco Bay Area attended a workshop at Santa Clara University, hosted by the Department of Education and organized by Bob Michels from SCU and Ruth Beauchamp from San Jose State University. This professional development workshop was presented by Grace Dearborn, and it was focused on the work of Rick Smith and his book on Conscious Classroom Management—Unlocking the Secrets of Great Teaching.
Attendees learned about making invisible management skills visible, how to hold your ground in ways that invite student cooperation, motivating reluctant learners, strategies that result in reduced anxiety, and a fresher, more positive approach to teaching. A variety of practical tips that are vital for classroom survival were also introduced. Comments after the workshop indicated that the participant intern teachers appreciated how valuable the information and perspectives presented are to help them become more effective and efficient teachers.
