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 * TEACHING STANDARD #8: ** Demonstrates effective communication and interpersonal relationships with students, parents, staff, administration, and faculty.

"//** If your emotional abilities aren't in hand, if you don't have self-awareness, if you are not able to manage your distressing emotions, if you can't have empathy and have effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are, you are not going to get very far. " **// --Daniel Goleman

I certainly hope that I have demonstrated the same or better effective communication and interpersonal relationships with students, parents, staff, administration, and faculty. This year I have served on the NEASC Re-accreditation Steering Committee as a committee member and as a liaison to three subject areas. In the future, I hope to be able to make the time to serve as a community member on a NEASC committee.

I think the previous pages of this wikispace demonstrate that I have been a committed member of the ASD community, particularly keen to maintain great relationships with the folks I work with, the students, and the greater school community. One thing I did that was completely new concerned a student who didn't quite get the process of taking the MAP test. He seemed to have the understanding that his job was to work quickly and that's about it. He completed one of his tests in 15 minutes. And when I reminded him to take his time, he did take his time--he slowed down between questions and fiddled with a pencil or something on his clothing. I offered him a chance to re-take a test but after we had a training session that included his parents and the following steps:

1. Use paper and pencil to actually work out problems (He tried to do too much of the work in his head and gets mixed up sometimes.)

2. Read every question and every answer option aloud (We also talked about how he could read "aloud" in his head the next time if he's in a room with other people and can't read out loud.)

3. Read each answer

4. Read everything AGAIN

After all of that, THEN select the answer.

The student increased the amount of time he spent on the re-take and achieved a better score. What's more, the training I offered him gave me a chance to reinvent the pre-MAP test-taking sessions I offer my ESL students.