Classroom Tips
SPECIAL TIP
All ARCS Teachers should read this book:
I Hear You: The Surprisingly Simple Skill behind Extraordinary Relationships
by Michael Sorensen
It's being added to the curriculum under the Course Heading "Empathic Listening"
This book will help you to enhance your classroom, private practice and relationship skills.
I Hear You: The Surprisingly Simple Skill behind Extraordinary Relationships
by Michael Sorensen
It's being added to the curriculum under the Course Heading "Empathic Listening"
This book will help you to enhance your classroom, private practice and relationship skills.
1. WELCOME NEW STUDENTS
It's crucially important to help your class visitors to feel safe, supported and welcomed.
• You've very likely seen your Professor/DPA do this, so feel free to copy their style or explore creating your own.
• Invite enrolled Students in your class to raise their hands and share their ARCS experience with class visitors.
• You've very likely seen your Professor/DPA do this, so feel free to copy their style or explore creating your own.
• Invite enrolled Students in your class to raise their hands and share their ARCS experience with class visitors.
2. TAKE ATTENDANCE
Attendance Styles
Teachers keep attendance records in different ways:
• Mark on Student Spreadsheet
• Download from Zoom
• Keep a Handwritten record
Attendance Challenges
• You need to ask anyone whose name is not readily apparent on Zoom to identify themselves, so you know who they are.
• Try contacting the unidentified student or visitor via Private Chat on Zoom.
• If this doesn't work, you can simply ask something like: "Hi 'iphone', welcome! I can't see your name... Who are you?"
• If you have a regular student who is regularly unidentified, ask them change that next (or each) time they join your class.
Special Notes:
If a Student ever files a complaint, refund, or chargeback you'll be required to provide documentation of their class attendance
Teachers keep attendance records in different ways:
• Mark on Student Spreadsheet
• Download from Zoom
• Keep a Handwritten record
Attendance Challenges
• You need to ask anyone whose name is not readily apparent on Zoom to identify themselves, so you know who they are.
• Try contacting the unidentified student or visitor via Private Chat on Zoom.
• If this doesn't work, you can simply ask something like: "Hi 'iphone', welcome! I can't see your name... Who are you?"
• If you have a regular student who is regularly unidentified, ask them change that next (or each) time they join your class.
Special Notes:
If a Student ever files a complaint, refund, or chargeback you'll be required to provide documentation of their class attendance
3. LEAD CLASS DISCUSSION
Tell your Story
• Telling your story is the single most important skill you need, as a Coach --- because it makes people feel safe to tell theirs.
• We all heal from sharing out own stories, being heard, listening to the stories of others and realizing that we're not alone.
• Sharing your entire life's journey at once isn't practical --- instead, think about the "little stories" within your overall journey.
• Start journaling on a regular basis, to enhance the stories you impart in classes and sessions:
- What have your struggles been?
- What got you out of them?
- What tools and resources have helped you the most?
- Recount your "lightbulb moments" --- the shifts in perspective and consciousness that have made all the difference.
• Feel free to pass on other people's stories, as well --- include inspirational content from other resources in your journal.
Special Note: Watch this video by Lisa Nichols on how to explore inspirational story telling:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqAGlzm88xI&t=2s
Use your Skills
• Don't know what to say?... Practice Active Listening and ask more questions.
• Not sure if you're understanding someone?... Ask for Feedback
• Someone says something controversial?... Model and explain our respect for Self-Determination
• Stubborn or confrontational Student?... Practice Motivational Interviewing
• Is someone beating themselves up?... Recognize their Strengths
• Trying to explain a complex concept?... Come up with an Analogy
• Is someone's thinking pattern "stuck, like a broken record"?... Reframe, by offering a new way to look at the situation.
• Are Students all trying to advise each other?... Model and explain "Speaking in the 1st Person" (or "Speaking in the I")
• Want to make a suggestion while still encouraging your Student's adult empowerment?... Preface, so they retain choice.
Click here to download a copy of various Coaching Methods
Build Rapport
• Be Yourself and Have Fun :)
• The more authentically human and genuine you are, the more comfortable your Students will feel.
Special Note: You can share about any life challenges you've experienced and overcome, but we do not share any current
struggles with our Students or Clients because it is unethical to burden them with trying to help us.
• Engage in conversations with your Students --- and other Students who are witnessing this will learn a lot about coaching.
Be Student Focused
• Even if you offer a topic, it's optional --- be responsive to what your Students need to discuss.
• This is their time, to share about what is important to them.
Special Note: The more you meet your Students' and Visitors' emotional needs, the more people will enroll in your class.
Explore Different Styles for your Class
Different Coaches start their classes in different ways. Here are just a few to try.
• Ask for Students to raise their hands and share about whatever they wish --- remind them that this is their time and that they
choose classroom discussion topics.
• Read from a daily meditation book (and )
Example: Affirmations for the Inner Child, by Rokelle Lerner
Special Note: most books have a glossary in the back, so can choose a topic rather than reading by date.
• Give Students a topic to think about or a "Class Project" when you text out passwords for the week
Example: Show & Tell - bring your inner child's favorite item to class.
Example: Bring a photo to class and share how it makes you feel (from your photo album, the internet, your phone, etc.)
Special Note: Any Class Projects should be OPTIONAL.
It's important that Students feel invited to participate --- without feeling pressured.
HAVING THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE IS HEALING.
• Invite Students to write how they feel (or another topic/question) on a piece of paper, and share it with the class.
Special Note: Again, participation is OPTIONAL --- Always respect everyone's right and comfort level, to participate or not.
• Get creative! There are plenty of books written on imaginative ways to facilitate coaching and counseling groups.
Special Note: Remember that you cannot practice a methodology for which you have not been trained and certified.
For example, you may not practice hypnosis techniques in class, unless you are a certified hypnotherapist.
The Sound of Silence
If there's silence in the classroom sometimes:
• Don't worry, it happens.
• Fill in the gaps with segments of your own story.
• Always have something handy to read --- from the ARCS reading list, or a Psychology Today article, or another book or blog.
• In between each person sharing, invite others to raise their hands and join the discussion.
Keep Your Balance
• Make sure that you're accessing resources to stay emotionally balanced --- support groups, therapy, etc.
• What your DPA provides should be just one of many resources that you implement, to fortify your self-care.
Special Note: This section should really be at the top ;)
Ask for Help
• If you run into something you don't know how to handle in class, ask your DPA about it.
• If you encounter an ethical dilemma in class:
- Ask your DPA
- If your DPA is unsure of the answer, they should email Ms. Gill about it: f.gill@arcstofreedom.com
- If Ms. Gill is unsure of the answer, she will write to the certification board for clarification.
• If you ever feel that you may not be fit for practice, ask fellow Teachers to cover for you and get the help that you need.
• If you have a medical, psychiatric or other emergency dial 911.
Special Note: It's a good rule to leave this disclaimer on your voice mail and "do not disturb" messages.
• Telling your story is the single most important skill you need, as a Coach --- because it makes people feel safe to tell theirs.
• We all heal from sharing out own stories, being heard, listening to the stories of others and realizing that we're not alone.
• Sharing your entire life's journey at once isn't practical --- instead, think about the "little stories" within your overall journey.
• Start journaling on a regular basis, to enhance the stories you impart in classes and sessions:
- What have your struggles been?
- What got you out of them?
- What tools and resources have helped you the most?
- Recount your "lightbulb moments" --- the shifts in perspective and consciousness that have made all the difference.
• Feel free to pass on other people's stories, as well --- include inspirational content from other resources in your journal.
Special Note: Watch this video by Lisa Nichols on how to explore inspirational story telling:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqAGlzm88xI&t=2s
Use your Skills
• Don't know what to say?... Practice Active Listening and ask more questions.
• Not sure if you're understanding someone?... Ask for Feedback
• Someone says something controversial?... Model and explain our respect for Self-Determination
• Stubborn or confrontational Student?... Practice Motivational Interviewing
• Is someone beating themselves up?... Recognize their Strengths
• Trying to explain a complex concept?... Come up with an Analogy
• Is someone's thinking pattern "stuck, like a broken record"?... Reframe, by offering a new way to look at the situation.
• Are Students all trying to advise each other?... Model and explain "Speaking in the 1st Person" (or "Speaking in the I")
• Want to make a suggestion while still encouraging your Student's adult empowerment?... Preface, so they retain choice.
Click here to download a copy of various Coaching Methods
Build Rapport
• Be Yourself and Have Fun :)
• The more authentically human and genuine you are, the more comfortable your Students will feel.
Special Note: You can share about any life challenges you've experienced and overcome, but we do not share any current
struggles with our Students or Clients because it is unethical to burden them with trying to help us.
• Engage in conversations with your Students --- and other Students who are witnessing this will learn a lot about coaching.
Be Student Focused
• Even if you offer a topic, it's optional --- be responsive to what your Students need to discuss.
• This is their time, to share about what is important to them.
Special Note: The more you meet your Students' and Visitors' emotional needs, the more people will enroll in your class.
Explore Different Styles for your Class
Different Coaches start their classes in different ways. Here are just a few to try.
• Ask for Students to raise their hands and share about whatever they wish --- remind them that this is their time and that they
choose classroom discussion topics.
• Read from a daily meditation book (and )
Example: Affirmations for the Inner Child, by Rokelle Lerner
Special Note: most books have a glossary in the back, so can choose a topic rather than reading by date.
• Give Students a topic to think about or a "Class Project" when you text out passwords for the week
Example: Show & Tell - bring your inner child's favorite item to class.
Example: Bring a photo to class and share how it makes you feel (from your photo album, the internet, your phone, etc.)
Special Note: Any Class Projects should be OPTIONAL.
It's important that Students feel invited to participate --- without feeling pressured.
HAVING THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE IS HEALING.
• Invite Students to write how they feel (or another topic/question) on a piece of paper, and share it with the class.
Special Note: Again, participation is OPTIONAL --- Always respect everyone's right and comfort level, to participate or not.
• Get creative! There are plenty of books written on imaginative ways to facilitate coaching and counseling groups.
Special Note: Remember that you cannot practice a methodology for which you have not been trained and certified.
For example, you may not practice hypnosis techniques in class, unless you are a certified hypnotherapist.
The Sound of Silence
If there's silence in the classroom sometimes:
• Don't worry, it happens.
• Fill in the gaps with segments of your own story.
• Always have something handy to read --- from the ARCS reading list, or a Psychology Today article, or another book or blog.
• In between each person sharing, invite others to raise their hands and join the discussion.
Keep Your Balance
• Make sure that you're accessing resources to stay emotionally balanced --- support groups, therapy, etc.
• What your DPA provides should be just one of many resources that you implement, to fortify your self-care.
Special Note: This section should really be at the top ;)
Ask for Help
• If you run into something you don't know how to handle in class, ask your DPA about it.
• If you encounter an ethical dilemma in class:
- Ask your DPA
- If your DPA is unsure of the answer, they should email Ms. Gill about it: f.gill@arcstofreedom.com
- If Ms. Gill is unsure of the answer, she will write to the certification board for clarification.
• If you ever feel that you may not be fit for practice, ask fellow Teachers to cover for you and get the help that you need.
• If you have a medical, psychiatric or other emergency dial 911.
Special Note: It's a good rule to leave this disclaimer on your voice mail and "do not disturb" messages.