An Interview with Dr. Marcie Beigel, Author of “Love Your Classroom Again”

 

“An astonishing 68% of elementary

school teachers reported a significant

increase in the number of behavioral

problems in their classrooms over 

the past five years, but thankfully,

‘Love Your Classroom Again’ is

changing that reality. “

 Dr. Marcie Beigel on “Love Your Classroom Again”

Why did you decide to write “Love Your Classroom Again”?

For years people have asked me if I had a book, and I wanted to start answering yes.

At the same time, I was approached by a publisher who heard me speak about writing

a book for teachers.

I wrote up the proposal and while it was not something she wanted to publish, I knew

there was a need for it and decided to move forward myself.

What do you think are the biggest problems teachers face these days?

They are not taught how to get children to sit and listen and learn.

If you can teach a child HOW you learn, you can teach them anything.

These are simple behavior skills, and teachers need to be taught the skills to do it.

Instead, teachers are trained in WHAT to teach and when they enter the classroom,

they struggle with how to accomplish it.

What do you hope to achieve from the ‘Love Your Classroom Again’?

For teachers to be more successful teaching and for parents to have better skills when

facing challenging behaviors.

Both of which ultimately lead to children who are thriving!

My goal is for children to thrive!

Do you think there is something more government should be doing to help teachers?

Yes – changing teacher training to include information about behavior would make

a drastic impact.

Understanding behavior is something all teachers can do, if they are taught about it.

Instead it is kept out of the curriculum and schools suffer because of it.

Also continuing education credits – which are required by states for teachers to maintain –

certifications are often a joke and waste of time.

There needs to be quality control to ensure teachers are really learning and getting the

support they need!!

What about parents? What can they do to support teachers?

Parents and teachers are on the same team – unfortunately it does not often feel that way.

We need to bring parents and teachers together in the same conversation about behavior –

to support each other in making change.

I did my dissertation on parent teacher relationships and put in a training to enhance their

relationship.

Training here is so needed!

What should parents be doing to keep a good line of communication with their kid’s teachers?

I think it is a two-way street.

Teachers need to reach out to parents with good news – not just when there are problems.

Parents need to reach out to teachers with their questions and concerns and accomplishments.

Often there are a lot of conversations just complaining about each other, rather than talking to

each other from the beginning.

As school is getting started, create a routine – reach out once a week and start building the

relationships that will benefit everyone for the school year.

Get to know each other and share about your child!

Anything else you want people to know about “Love Your Classroom Again”?

This is is a guide – providing actual, practical solutions to the common behavior challenges

teachers face.

It is not another theoretical book, but full of tools to use as soon as they put the book down.

While it is called “Love Your Classroom Again“` – parents can certainly benefit from its content.

The behaviors are the same.

About Dr. Marcie Beigel

Dr. Marcie Beigel is the founder and director of Behavior + Beyond. By redesigning behavior with realistic strategies, Dr. Marcie has been transforming classrooms, families, and students since 1998. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctorate, earned her Doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University, and became a New York State Certification Special Education Teacher. She earned two masters degrees from Teachers College, Columbia University as well as certifications as a school and a district administrator in New York State. She lives in Brooklyn where she practices yoga, gets her hands dirty with soft pastels, and enjoys weekend hiking trips to Upstate New York www.BehaviorAndBeyond.net.

What are your suggestions for practical solutions to some of the common behavior challenges teachers face?

What do you think parents should be doing to help teachers help their kids?

Share your thoughts and comments with us.