The Four C’s of Successful Teaching: Consistency, Contigency, Compassion & Courage
B. C. Tozer
Author Bio
B. C. Tozer, the author of Four C’s of Successful Teaching: Consistency, Contingency, Compassion & Courage, Scales for Band: Major and Minor and Beginning Band Scale Warm Up, holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Tozer is a member of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity and a Life Member of the Boy Scouts of America National Eagle Scout Association, Eagle Scout Class of 1997. He is also a member of the National Association for Music Education, the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, Co-Treasure of the Somerset County Band Association, and a member of the National Education Association.
He has been awarded the Great Idea Grant from the Mon Valley Education Consortium and recognized by Pennsylvania State Representative Peter J. Daley, for the accomplishments of his Band Program and by Pennsylvania State Representative Jeffrey P. Pyle for Academic Achievement.
He is blessed with a wonderful wife Jenna. He and Jenna have three daughters. Twins, Madelyn and Joanna, and Bridget along with a Weimaraner named Geno. Tozer is also a life long Pittsburgh Penguins fan.
Description
The Four C’s of Successful Teaching, offers practical, realistic suggestions and ideas, complete with personal situations for the application of consistency, contingency, compassion and courage to the Four Pillars of a school district – administration, students, parents and teachers. From the presentation, a new outlook and mindset on how to handle problems that arise when working with the Four Pillars can be achieved.
This book is excellent for anyone in the field of teaching. Whether a college student preparing for student teaching, a new teacher learning the ropes, or a veteran teacher stuck in a rut, this book can help.
Book excerpt
The Forgotten C – Communication
As I stated in the first chapter, each school has four pillars that supports it, administration, students, parents, and teachers. To ensure success apply consistency, contingency, compassion, and courage to each of these pillars. If that is done properly the pillars will be a sound and strong structure. Far too often we forget what those pillars rest upon. It is the foundation of everything in any society, whether it is a school system, form of government, or family. That foundation is communication. An open flow of information readily available.
In just about every one of my examples in this book, positive and negative, you find communication. Sometimes it is a break down of communication in the negative examples. However, in every positive example, from working with the administration to planning a trip, to students achieving success, to parents not bombarding your inbox with questions, all had successful communication involved.
The number one reason something fails is because of a lack of communication. Your principal may have the best reward system planned for the students when they display positive behavior, but if the schedule or plan is not communicated to the teachers there is no way that they can be on board. If you are teaching a lesson and the students in your classroom are not understanding the concepts, no matter how interesting your build up and introduction of the lesson may be, if the students don’t understand the concept it is because there is a breakdown in communication. You can be the best organizer in the world. However if you do not communicate in a timely and effective manner nothing will be done properly.
It is my hope that while in this book I highlighted many ways that you can improve your teaching and find success when you work you understand that it is all built on strong communication. Do not be afraid to speak when something needs to be said. Do not be afraid to ask a question when you do not understand. Be the example of open communication and you will see others follow you. When you communicate to anyone, consistently, with courage and compassion you will begin to find you rarely need to worry about many of your contingencies.