First Five Years
Capturing the Spirit of Aloha

Hawaii program turns cultural traditions into classroom strategies.

Like many new teachers in Hawaii, Maile Yasui started her career in Leeward, the state's largest school division, on the coast of Oahu. Unlike many of her predecessors, Yasui still teaches in the district six years later, thanks to a support program organized by the Leeward Education Association.

Joan Lewis, a former LEA president, initiated the program in 1995. That year almost half of the local's 2,000 members either retired or left the school district. Lewis wanted to create a support system for the incoming new teachers.

But she also wanted the project to equip them with the strategies they needed to teach in the district. Leeward, like other Hawaiian school systems, recruits heavily from the mainland United States. Many recruits are unfamiliar with the cultural traditions of the coastal community, which is 90 percent native Hawaiian, Lewis says.

"We were struggling with what to do with these new teachers," says Lewis, currently vice president of the Hawaii State Teachers Association. "We knew there was a high level of burnout. The culture is not necessarily what they think they are getting when they interview, and we wanted to do something to keep our teachers with us."

The program encourages teachers to incorporate local traditions, such as song, dance, artwork, and storytelling, into their classes to stimulate students' individual learning styles. A sample lesson might involve sharing food with students to create class unity and build on the connection between food and family. Other lessons let students work in small groups to help them connect to each other and to what they are learning. Studies have shown that Hawaiian children respond better when they have an opportunity to learn from their peers.

During the semester-long class, co-sponsored by the Hawaii Department of Education and University of Hawaii, participants refine their strategies and network with other beginning teachers. At the end, they receive four professional development credits, which allow them to advance on the district's salary schedule. About 30 to 40 new teachers enroll each semester.

"The program was good at helping you adjust to the school system, especially if you had never been in it," says Yasui, a sixth-grade teacher at Momilani Elementary School. "The networking helped us get over the challenges quicker. We all felt connected and everyone was willing to help one another."

Advisors recommend incorporating the native Hawaiian language and local history into lessons as well. Other suggested classroom strategies include using hands-on activities, visual aids, poetry, and humor.

"It's not necessarily that native Hawaiian children have to be taught differently from other students, but teachers need to understand their history and where they come from," Lewis says. "These strategies work well with all students."

Leeward recruits about 300 new teachers each year, says UniServ Director Georgiana Alvaro. Those who complete the training generally remain in the district and the state longer, often assuming leadership positions in the Association, she says.

Aaron Meyer, a fifth-grade teacher at Salt Lake Elementary School, appreciated the classroom management tips covered in the course. He also enjoyed talking with other beginning teachers.

"Sometimes you get so caught up with just yourself and your classroom that you don't have time to discuss things with other teachers," says Meyer, now in his third year of teaching. "The socializing alone was well worth the experience of being in the class."

Lewis, of HSTA, says the program owes much of its success to its partnerships.

"We've used everybody's strengths to the fullest," she says. "And we're helping teachers tap into their own strengths as well."

--Kristen Loschert

Two Minute Tips

Personalized Plates
I give my students an assignment to describe themselves in eight or fewer letters and/or numbers. Then I give them a license plate template and tell them to create a personal plate that best describes themselves. They decorate their plates and explain why their choice of letters or numbers suits them. I post the plates around the room so they can see what their classmates say about themselves. The license plates are a hit at parent open houses.

Sue Schmitt
Antioch, Illinois

Time-Saving Tip
It can be difficult getting students who cannot yet read a clock to resource classes or early buses on time. I recently replaced a dual alarm clock at my house and took the old one to school. I set the alarm time and the students are responsible for setting specific alarm times each day as a reminder for the day's activities. It has worked so well that I bought a triple function alarm clock with a radio, buzzer, and nature sounds for the other settings.

Jeanette Newquist
Tulare, California

Nobody Ever Told Me

The Great Snake Chase
My first year of teaching, I taught a large class of fifth graders. Early one morning I came into my classroom and was surprised to see a group of boys gathered around my desk. I greeted them cheerfully and then pulled out my chair.

As I went to sit down I saw--to my horror--a huge snake coiled up on my chair. Without thinking, I started screaming and began to run. The boys picked up the snake and chased me as I ran across the hall to another teacher's classroom. She was not there. So, with my students close behind me, I ran furiously up the hall toward the library.

When I reached the library door I tried unsuccessfully to open it. It was then that I felt something heavy around my shoulders.

The boys had draped the large snake over my shoulders and around my neck. They were hooting and having a great time. I felt that I would pass out from fright. I learned a valuable lesson that day that has stayed with me through 15 years of teaching: Maintain a good poker face!

Barbara Beckstrom
Fourth-grade teacher
St. George, Utah

Got a Story?
E-mail kloschert@nea.org.

Dilemma
What do you do if a student has a crush on you?

The best medicine is prevention. I keep crushes from getting out of hand by talking openly about my family. I don't spend a lot of class time on my personal life, just enough for my students to know I am a real person and that I have a life of my own. I have seen these methods avert possible uncomfortable moments for both myself and my students.

Lisa Lillywhite Lonsdale
Junior high school teacher
Salt Lake City, Utah

If a student has a crush on a teacher, the teacher should have the student talk to the school counselor and ask that the student be removed from the class. Inform the parents of the situation and have the administration document it to protect the teacher from possible future conflicts.

Ahmed Elgammal
Bilingual teacher
Macomb, Michigan

Sit down with the student in the presence of a counselor or administrator and point out the inappropriateness of the situation. Explain about community perceptions and how you need to protect the student's good standing and yours in that community. You must be gentle in your delivery but firm in your meaning. Conclude your meeting with a smile and a sincere handshake.

Al Tucciarone
Technology teacher
Salem, Ohio

I remind students that although I may look their age, I am the teacher and there are clear boundaries that never will be crossed. I've also found my friends are helpful. Other teachers stop by to ensure I'm not alone with a student (thereby avoiding possible awkward moments), and I stop by their classrooms as well.

Heidi Bowman
Language arts teacher
Riverside, California

Got an answer?

How do you get your class back on task after lunch?
E-mail your answer to dilemma2@list.nea.org. Or send by regular mail, or fax to 202/822-7206. Include your name, city, state, and job. If published, you will receive an NEA Today mug!

Resources

Wise Up
Looking for a place to talk with other teachers? Then check out www.owl.org, the new Association Internet portal. Register at the site to gain exclusive access to lesson plans, discussion boards, and information on certification, licensure, and jobs in education. Sign up to receive classroom tips by e-mail each week or to receive discounts on online courses and tutorials, offered through NEA partners. Stay on top of your profession at OWL.org.

Online Pen Pals
Connect your students with students overseas at www.epals.com. More than four million teachers and students take part in the ePALS program, which unites people from 191 countries through discussion boards, chat rooms, projects, and ePALS events. The site offers instant translation to overcome language barriers between participants. You'll find projects for different age groups and resources for incorporating the program into your lessons. The site also has a section called "Teacher Talk" where teachers can post messages, discuss classroom material, and apply for mentors.

Connecting with Families
Healthy relationships between parents, students, and teachers are important, and a visit to www.education.com/home/index.jsp will help you strengthen those bonds. The site offers tips for connecting with students' families, maintaining regular contact with parents, and setting clear goals for parent-teacher conferences. Visitors can register to receive field trip tips, homework help, educational activities, and free clip art.