The Call Center Classroom

Have you ever been inside a call center where sales are involved? It is one of the most energetic, exciting, goal-driven environments I have ever experienced. One of my first jobs was selling telephone products over the phone and it was an experience that has shaped who I am and how I view the world.

In a call center, you often have what are called “clappers.” Every time you make a sale, people run up and down the aisle clapping devices to celebrate your success. If you continued to sell, you not only got the noisemakers, but also streamers, balloons, cupcakes, and enough attention to make a billboard blush.

I thought about this environment when I entered my first classroom. Those positive motivators made me want to sell more, work harder, and become better. Can this environment be created within the classroom and produce the same drive? I began to implement this crazy idea of extreme positivity and motivation. I immediately saw students strive to be better.

In a world full of wrong turns, our students need that burst of positivity and motivation at every opportunity. As a math instructor, it is a struggle to remove the phrase “not a math person” from our students’ vocabulary. However, by cheering my students on at every opportunity, celebrating wins big or small, and making a big deal out of every accomplishment is a critical way to improve student achievement.

So go get your noisemaker and celebrate the little wins with your students. Who have you celebrated today?

Post by Shawn Wigg, Former Lead Teacher and 2014 FLVS Teacher of the Year

Shawn Wigg, 2014 FLVS Teacher of the Year, was presented with the Governor’s Shine Award while attending the inaugural Teacher of the Year Summit, held June 26-27, 2013 at the Governor’s Mansion. The Shine Award was created to highlight teachers who go above and beyond the call of duty in pursuit of educational excellence. Shawn was among 23 other distinguished 2013-2014 District Teachers of the Year to receive the honor.