Super Teacher, Everton Nelson (right), consults with KFC Quiz Show executive producer, Tina Myers-Matalon, the company's marketing manager .

Play in Round 1 of the 2008 KFC Quiz Show began last week, January 15 (with matches in that un-televised round) at the Technology Innovation Centre at the University of Technology (UTech).

But before the schools could square off this season, the coaches were put through an intensive forum for preparation for the 2008 KFC Quiz Show season.

At the end of the teams forum, Everton Nelson was for the second time crowned Super Teacher.

Nelson was lauded because of his team's ability to maintain the "All About The Fun" theme of the KFC Quiz Show.
Nelson underscored his belief that "students, regardless of race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, religious background or other classification, are deserving of a holistic education, which would allow them to fully discover themselves, their strengths and weaknesses and benefit from the real world and real-life instruction."

Nelson acknowledged that with students arriving in classrooms from a variety of backgrounds and facing different challenges, the teacher's job demanded that they provide each student with tools that would give them the best possible chance of success in the classroom and in the world outside "where most of the lessons take place".

"I want to provide my students with multiple perspectives, expose them to many cultures, help them understand that the more they learn, the more they will be able to think for themselves and decide what to trust and believe. I want them to learn to use the knowledge they get from within my class and apply it to daily experiences with other people, media, family and friends."

Nelson challenged his fellow teachers "not to be weary in serving", but to do their best for those who are in need, despite what might seem to be insurmountable odds. He also outlined a roadmap for teachers to help students develop positive attitudes and perceptions about the classroom environment and to help them feel accepted. This checklist included:

. Establishing a relationship with each student in the class.

. Monitoring the teacher's own attitudes towards students whom they may dislike or whom teachers may expect to learn very much.

. Engaging in equal and positive classroom behaviour by giving eye contact to each student in the room, deliberately moving toward and being close to all students - including slow achievers.

. Attributing the ownership of ideas to the students who initiated them.

. Responding positively to students' incorrect responses or lack of response.

. Providing students with opportunities for co-operative learning.

. Having students develop strategies for gaining acceptance from peers

. Teaching students to use positive "self-talk".
In the end, Nelson said, his hope is that every student whose life he touches will take a glimpse of God that they carry throughout their lives.

Trousers in Denim

Cream of the 'Crop'

Cheeky's World