Chapter 5: Teaching to the Individual, Working with the Group

Chapter five of Fires in the Bathroom by Kathleen Cushman talks about students working together in groups and the diverse students that make up each group. Throughout every class there is always at least one kid that represents your typical stereotype. As the book says you have : the eye roller, the hand waver, the wallflower, the dreamer, the con-artist, the goof-off, and the work horse. When integrating group activities into a classroom with such diverse students, it is important for the teacher to recognize and take advantage of the differences. It's important for the teacher to challenge every student and to include every student, perhaps in different ways. There will be times when you will have students that like to dominate a class, this is when the teacher needs to step in and manage a classroom where all students have the opportunity to participate equally. Teachers need to be aware of the differences and take into consideration why some people might not participate as much as others, but it is still important to challenge every student.

Chapter 4: Creating a Culture of Success

Chapter four in the book Fires in the Bathroom, by Kathleen Cushman talks about creating a culture of success. Creating this culture first starts off by encouraging the students efforts even if they are having trouble. It is important for teachers to consistently push their students into working hard. But it is also as equally important for teachers to recognize that sometimes students are not going to be doing their best and you can't hold that against them. Teachers should never give up on students because if they do that sends a message to the student that they're not worthy. The next part of creating a culture of success is about expecting the best from students but also providing support along the way. Overall, this chapter was about creating an environment where students feel safe to take risks and ask questions.

Chapter 3: Classroom Behavior

Chapter 3 in the book Fires in the Bathroom by Kathleen Cushman discussed the importance of maintaining classroom behavior. The chapter provided many different ways to manage classroom behavior. It begins with the teacher. Teachers need to set the stage when it comes to classroom behavior. They must demonstrate proper behavior in order for students to understand what the expectations of proper behavior is. It is also important for teachers to set expectations early on and to continue to follow and uphold those expectations. If those expectations are not withheld throughout the year, students will not respect you or the expectations which stimulates misbehavior in the classroom. Overall, this chapter provided preventative measures teachers can take in order to maintain classroom behavior.