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What is REM?  After reading books and taking courses on brain research and from experiences with my students, I have found that these three ingredients are needed to maximize success in the educational process -- Rapport, Environment, Modeling.

R - Rapport

One needs to take time to build rapport with their students and their parents.  Let's face it, if a child doesn't enjoy listening to you or give value to what you say, then chances are they are not going to learn very effectively.  With parents being the biggest single influence in most children's lives, it is a good idea to make sure you have good rapport with them as well. 

Good rapport with a parent is worth gold.  Let me give you an example.  My first year of teaching I had the brilliant idea of FEAR FACTOR spelling.  Well, this was working great.  The students were motivated.  They loved the challenges.  Spelling scores were no lower than a B from every student.  Just beautiful.

Then late one evening, I had the brilliant idea of making them dig for spelling tiles (a Starburst with a letter on the back) with just their mouths. These tiles would be tossed to their teammates and the spelling word would be assembled.  The Fear Factor part comes with what was on top of the tiles.  Cooked noodles and cottage cheese.  Not my best decision.

As soon as I said, "Go", one student smelled the cottage cheese and vomited.  I called the student's mother waiting for an irresponsibility lecture, but it never came.  She said it sounded like a real fun idea and was sorry that it didn't work out.  A good rapport and the building of trust is what kept this situation from getting blown out of proportion.

Burning Obstacles Lesson -- Read short stories about Jesse Owens and Wilma Rudolph.  Discuss adversity.  Have them write about obstacles in their lives and then make them disappear.  Have them write one word that represents their obstacle on a piece of Flash Paper (get at a magic shop).  You, the teacher, lights them and tosses them into the air.  Viola.  It vanishes.  Impressive, but a little costly.  About $7 for a pack of 20 sheets the size of a Post-It note

E- Environment 

Never underestimate the power of the environment.  Everything needs to be on purpose.  It is truly the details that move thing from pretty good to pretty great.  This is all especially important on the first day of school.  

Quick Hints on the Environment

• Don't make the room too busy.  Don't clutter up the walls with posters just to save time.  Again, everything on purpose.  Picking a theme can help.  See what scene setters are available at the local party store.  This will save hours in creating your own art work.  For $20, you can have an instant theme.  I favor Hollywood because it can tie into the classroom on many level.
• Use curiosity to your advantage.  Keep the room top secret until the first day of school.  
• Have the smell of vanilla or mint permeating in the room.
• For conferences and special occasions have a tasty bowl with mints or chocolates.
• Have the children of the names in at least two places.
• Take pictures of the students and post them in the room, on the door, above their coat hook or cubby.
• If you have computers in the room, set up a picture on a PowerPoint that fits your room's theme.  It is a small touch, but makes a difference.  Each monitor is like a versatile picture frame.
• Sounds:  Have a fun song playing as the students walk in.  This can be part of an anticipatory set for the day or just a fun song to energize the students (Walking on Sunshine, Welcome Back Kotter, Celebration).  Eventually, I will do a whole section on the power of music.  Start saving for an iPod and speakers now, so you will be ready.  Until then, enjoy Rich Allen's website.  He is got this music thing down.

Word Wall Olympic Style (see prom catalogues for columns)

Everyone Is Part of the Team (barebooks.com)

Recognition Wall Patriotic Scene Setter (1/2 Price at Party Stores after July 4th.)

More Decor.

M-Modeling

Practice what you preach ALL THE TIME.  Be genuine.  Live to the standard that you expect your students to live to.  If you don't want them to lie, then you should never lie...in or out of school.  To them you are like a celebrity.  Act like one.  If you don't want them talking in the hall or wasting time, then don't stop in the hall and talk to your colleagues when you are taking your students to lunch. 

Some of you may recall a drug commercial where a parent is yelling at his child for smoking some illegal substance.  The parent questions, "Where did you get this?  Where did you learn how to do this?"   The child breaks down and yells, "I learned it from watching you!"

If your students can ever say, "Well, you do it!" then you are not being a good role model.  Make the quotes "Do as I say not as I do" and "Because I am the teacher" disappear from your vocabulary.