Disagreements

Mid-August means my Facebook newsfeed and pinterest boards are filled to capacity with back to school activities and articles on teaching.

Normally I skim these articles, but this {one} about what to not do on the first day of school. I re-read several times.  It rattled around in my brain and I struggled with some of the information presented.

I struggled because I fundamentally disagreed with some of the points being made.  That disagreement made me question if my teaching philosophy was skewed and my priorities were off.  However, after far longer than I'd care to admit, I came to the decision that those points in the article were not ones I'd accept.

So what did I have such a strong reaction to?  

These apparent "no no's" of the first day(s) of school:

"Discuss Class Rules"

It's not the first thing we do, but it is discussed.  We make our classroom norms together with a gallery walk and anchor charts.   We read some picture books on class norms and create our expectations together.  I think having defined schedules and expectations helps students feel comfortable because they know what the boundaries are.  Plus we create them together, so they feel an immediate sense of ownership.

"Assign Seats"

I make it clear to my munchkins that we will switch seats (and class jobs) often.  However, I don't want the first impression in fifth grade to be a popularity contest and students scrambling to sit by friends, leaving others out.  I'd rather everyone has an assigned seat because that helps cut down on anxiety.  Everyone belongs.  Everyone has a safe space.  Everyone is included.

"Make students introduce themselves"

I don't make students stand up and share their life stories, but they do have to introduce themselves to their table teams.  One of the activities we did at DENSI was finding things in common with our team.  We had to find 10 statements that were true for all our members of our team.  I think I'll cut it to five, but I want students to have conversations about what they have in common.  

I'll also have them do "Find Someone Who" over the first few days of school to help them bond with one another.  

"Assign homework"

Their homework on the first day is filling out their agendas correctly and having their families go over the welcome packet.  They also do silly "math about me" and "me as a reader" interest surveys so I can gain more information about them in a not so creepy way.  They've got homework, but it's fun.  They need to get back into the routine of school and that involves (meaningful) homework. 

I agree with other portions of the article (make sure you smile, greet all students) but these four "no no's" were actually must do's for me.

Fellow teachers, what are your thoughts?!

Exciting Changes

It's almost the start of another school year and I'm excited.  I'm ridiculously, optimistically, enthusiastically excited about this school year.

 Yes, the school district's budget is awful and I'm still upset about taking a pay cut, but there's not really anything I can do about it so there's no point to dwell on it.  As teachers, we've made our disapproval pretty clear! So it's time to move forward.

I have an amazing school that prioritizes people first.  We take our jobs seriously, but have lots of fun while working hard!  This culture of support and fun spills over into our classrooms and I think that's important.  I enjoy going to work.  I want to be there.  I enjoy the people I work with. 

It's an awesome feeling.

So now let's zoom in on what top ten things are contributing to my excitement:

1) Long Range Plans

We have long range plans done before the school year has started.  I feel like I have direction and a sense of purpose.  Last year, we didn't have plans and as a natural result, some activities ran too long and we hit major crunch time in March.  Our long range plans, which we know are flexible, have all our standards addressed by the beginning of April.  That leaves eight weeks of flexibility for testing, reteaching, and shifting things around due to school events (field trips, assemblies, etc).  

2) My Planner

Continuing with the excitement of long range plans, I have already sketched out the year in my teacher planner and created my online planning calendar.  

I have my first week's plans done and many of the copies already made.  Mrs. H and I are going to go over the plans on the way to day two of our math training on Monday, then head to school after to do some more planning.

3) Balance.  

With a new puppy at home, I'm not staying late each day.  I will go in early because that's when I work best, but I am leaving each day as soon as the parking lot is clear.  I've voiced it to others to keep me accountable, but I am going to leave on time to spend time with B and our fur babies. 

I've picked one night a week to work on things from home (whatever night B has class), but that's it.  I'll be more proactive in planning and keep my door closed more in the morning so I can get my work done.  I'll just ask my coworkers to respect closed door means work time while open door means I'm willing to chat.

I've got an upcoming trip to Arizona planned in October for my mom's birthday (and buying a new computer because this laptop is eight. EIGHT. This laptop is a third grader.)  

I've got fun girls nights planned.  We've got date nights to look forward to.  Friends have new babies that I get to snuggle, then hand back when the crying starts.  I've got a full calendar and there are fun social events planned!

4) Sunshine committee.

At the end of last year, I started talking to Mrs. S more at work.  She was always friendly, but she intimidated me.  Not only is she like a walking Amazon (six feet of gorgeousness) but also appears to have every aspect of her life together.  She crafts, has three young kids that are all involved in sports.  Not only does she show up to their games, but she makes their jerseys and does their make up (for dance, not for her son's football team).  Plus teaches, is quite good at it, and runs Sunshine committee.  It's a little intimidating!

However, she's also possibly one of the nicest people at my school.  I asked how I could help with Sunshine events next year without stepping on her toes.  She welcomed my ideas with open arms and we started talking.  Turns out, she lives maybe ten minutes from me.  She loves crafting, organizing, wine, and girl time as much as I do!

We've hung out over the summer under the attempt to plan Sunshine events (didn't happen) and she's become more than a colleague, she's a friend.

So next year, I get to have craft and wine parties with a friend.  It will be for school events, so it's legitimate procrastination.

5) DENSI 2015

I'm still in my glorious post DENSI bubble of happiness.  I signed up as an ambassador for my district, so I'll be hosting some PD in the coming months.  I'm still going through my notes and blogging about the amazing sessions I attended.  There are so many things I want to try, but I'm not going to overwhelm myself.  Two of the things I'm most excited about are notebook sketching and mystery skype.

6) Notebook Sketching

Also known as {embracing the doodling}, I'm excited to add more creativity into note taking with my students.  I know it will take some modeling but I'm eager to embrace something new.

Learn more about it {here}.


7) Mystery Skype

Our adventures with the map have been well documented.

The map is blank and ready for the next round of students.  However, this year we are stepping it up.  Last year we made powerpoint slides for each state, but didn't give students enough practice time identifying states and capitals on the map.  (That was quite obvious with the end of the year assessment.)  

This year, we're adding mystery skype.  Thanks in a large part to my tribe, the DEN, I am connected to educators in every other state.  We're going to call other classrooms and have students try to guess where each other are from, using geography clues.

For example:

1) Does your state border an ocean?
2) Are you closer to Mexico or Canada?
3) Are you east or west of the Mississippi River?

It will require some flexibility (time zones) but I think it will be a great learning opportunity for my students.

8) Engage NY

Last year, math was frustrating to plan.  We were pulling mostly from Engage NY's lessons, but didn't follow their pacing guide.  As a result, many of the lessons had to be tweaked.  After switching up planning roles, Engage NY was abandoned because it was too time consuming.  I didn't agree with the change, but I must remind myself of this:

This year, it was decided by my admin that all grade levels would be using this.  There are no excuses.  We've also split up the copying load so everyone has a role for each unit.  I think that it's important for all of us to be involved with the planning of all subjects.

9) Novels

I've picked the novels I want to do with students and am fairly positive I already have enough copies!  We'll start the year with The Lightning Thief, move into Esperanza Rising, and finish the year with Number the Stars.  It's a tad ambitious to do three novels, but I think we can do it.  All of the fifth grade reading literature standards can be taught with these novels and I think it's important to have students involved in longer, more complex texts.

10) Support

I'm not alone. I have a supportive grade level.  I have a great school.  I have teacher friends in other districts.  I have a (future) family member who is now licensed to sub, so I don't foresee having to worry about finding someone to watch my kids if I'm out of the classroom for the day.  I have my DEN tribe and know that I can reach out, virtually, for support and be overwhelmingly comforted by the advice of others.

I have a wonderfully supportive fiancee.  He's even willing to help me sharpen hundreds of pencils next week (because that's love).  People have shown their true colors recently and while that was a painful moment, I'd choose to focus on the overwhelming support and loving messages I've received from others.  

I'm in the midst of planning my wedding (no major developments) and enjoying this engagement period.  I've received lots of advice, some welcomed and some not, but it's nice to see people (for the most part) supportive of my choice to spend forever with that goober B of mine.  However, I want to remind them all that I was on student council, I was an RA, I'm a teacher, and I'm a ridiculously type A person.  I like logistics. I've got this wedding planning handled!

Monday brings day two of a math training and classroom prep.  Tuesday brings finalizing my room.  Wednesday marks the official start of training and next Monday will be my first day with students.  Right now, my roster is sitting at 31 and that's where I hope it stays!

There will be moments of darkness and periods of doubt.  I'm glad I've got support to turn to.  This year will be the best yet.  Thanks for being a part of it.

Embracing the Doodle

One of the break out sessions from DENSI 2015 was on doodling as a strategy for note taking and I had the opportunity to try it out yesterday at my {math training}.

Before attending this training, I was skeptical.  I love note taking, but was worried students might be drawing and zoning out instead of doodling as a way to itemize what was important.  

Tracy, a fellow DEN member, shared two books on visual literacy that are pending in my Amazon cart.  

She mentioned that children start out as visual learners (pictures) and those pictures slowly fade away.  The argument is made (both by her and in a TED talk) about bringing back these doodles.

She shared that there are three distinct benefits:
1) Power:  Students feel in control with their doodles and take ownership over their notes.  I'd even have them share their doodles with one another.

2) Performance:  Connections are made between the brain's hemispheres during doodling, thus storing information in long term memory and leading to higher recall and understanding, which leads to higher performance.

3) Pleasure: It's fun to doodle.

(Example of a doodle from a TED talk)

For setting this up in the classroom, she focuses on stressing that this isn't drawing, it's doodling (so there is less pressure).

Here is her ice breaker to introduce doodling:

1) A pair of students share one piece of paper that is folded in half.
2) One student begins the drawing on the folded line by adding a simple shape.
3) For two minutes, students do not speak but build off of the picture.
4) After the timer, students share their work with their table team.

We'll be doing this activity during the first week of school!  Not only does it aid in team building, but also retention, helps students focus, and builds creative problem solving.  I'll also use it to discuss strengths and challenges, focusing on the next time it's done, it will be more comfortable because learning is a process.

She said the timer is set for two minutes, but not displayed to students.  Students should focus on each other, not how much time is left.

I gave doodling a try at my math training and enjoyed it. I am excited to give this a try with my students.  I think we'll start with doodling in pencil, then slowly add colored pencils as well.  Since my students share classroom supplies, I don't want the doodling to become a fight over specific colors. 

This is one of the new changes I'm trying this school year.  

What new strategies are you trying?

Math Training, Day 1

I get really excited when grade level specific trainings are offered in my district.  I get even more excited when they're in math (an area I want more professional development in) and when one of my dear friends, Mrs. B, is one of the trainers.  She's a wealth of information and I love learning new things from her.

I signed up for the three day training (Friday, Monday, Tuesday) with two other lovely ladies from my grade level.

Naturally, the school where the training is held is on the other side of town, so Mrs. H and I carpooled, which meant I saw her lovely face at 6:03 am.  Yes, that early.  The training was 7am-1pm.

Day One:

We got to the other side of town early (no traffic on a Friday morning, which is somewhat of a miracle).  We got there, found a table with three open seats (so our grade level could sit together) and once we were nice and settled, were told to move closer.  Sigh...I have perfect vision. I can see from the back of the room!

After we moved, the training started.  Here are the highs and lows:

Highs:

We learned some new strategies for teaching multiplication of fractions with manipulatives (washi or highlighter tape for models).

We got some tricky word problems that really require students to think. I'm excited to use them the first week of school.

We learned about some cool new virtual manipulatives, like this and this!  My favorite parts? Not only will it cut down on the frustration I feel when making models to demonstrate fraction by fraction multiplication, but they are both free.  

Lots of the information wasn't new, but rather reaffirmed that what Mrs. H and I did last year when planning math was appropriate for students.  We'd rather give them fewer problems but make them thoughtful, real world application questions that they struggle with to build perseverance. 

Not related to the training, but my grade level went out for a wonderful lunch at the Mac Shack afterward!  Gourmet mac and cheese? Yes please. 

Lows:

It's frustrating that when we are in a major budget crisis, the school district makes some questionable decisions.  i have absolutely no problem with teachers receiving extra pay for attending extra trainings outside of contract hours.  However, I took a pay cut and my insurance increased, but new hires get a $4,000 hiring bonus?  There are at least 22,000 employees in the school district, including a pretty competent math department, but they flew a presenter in from Florida.  So not only does the school district pay the presenting fees, but also lodging and food.  Plus the training is Friday & Monday, so the weekend has to be covered as well.  Isn't there someone already on pay roll who lives here that could have been paid to do the training?

We sat for six hours.  We didn't get to use the manipulatives til around 11 am, which meant four hours of sitting and listening.  I wouldn't do that to my students, so don't do it to teachers.  It was very obvious the two main presenters were used to sitting in offices all day by how they ran the training.  I need to move! I don't do well sitting still.

I ran out of food.  I brought snacks, then ate them quickly because I was bored of sitting.  I got hangry and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

We were promised two 15 minute breaks and only got one.

Our Tuesday training was cut, due to budget (?).  I was looking forward to the extra money, but after sitting through Friday's, I'm glad there's only six hours left.  Plus it means I have Tuesday to work in my classroom!

I'm hoping Monday's training is better.  We are supposed to be broken up into smaller rooms with our schools, so we'll see...

 

Week 3: Decor & More

As I previously shared, I was worried I wouldn't be able to get back into my classroom early due to trainings.  However, I got to go back on Wednesday (instead of Friday!)

My room isn't done, not even close.  However, when the AC is only on for six hours, you're kind of limited with what you can get done.  Here are some snapshots of my room.  I'm ready for year seven!

Without further ado, my classroom reveal!

Here is what I walked into:

Overall, not bad! My roster shows thirty one kiddos and I have 35 desks.  I use two by the door and one underneath my projector.

However, let's zoom in on some of my favorite things:

I've struggled with class bucket organization...so this is my solution.  I'm hoping that it will yield better results.

I went in on Wednesday and Thursday, but somehow neglected to take pictures.

More will be revealed next week!

What do you want to share? Join the conversation!

Professional Reads

I stumbled upon both of these articles recently and was overwhelmed with emotion while reading them.

1. Dear Teacher

Last year, I had some difficult students, but I also had THE ONE.  

The one who was placed in my room after being kicked out of another fifth grade class.  the one who was known by every adult in the building and at the neighboring schools.  The one who would run the streets at night with a much older crowd.  The one who had picked up "street smart" coping skills to deal with a deteriorating home environment.  The one who came to school for stability and to be cared for.  The one who tested my patience on a daily basis.  The one who I struggled to reach while still trying to teach the other twenty nine students.  The one whose behavior meant the office was on call all day long.  The one who had so many unfair life circumstances and didn't know how to appropriately cope with challenges.  The one who so desperately wanted adult attention, but was uncomfortable when it was publicly given for a positive reason.  Yup, that one.

I feel like this article was written about my one student.

I cried while reading it. 

I wish I found it months ago.  

It helped me shift my feelings of frustration and irritation with the one to feelings of patience and compassion.  I am not the enemy and the one is lashing out because those are the social behaviors that are modeled outside of school.  I am the rock, I am the lighthouse for the one.  I am there to be a guiding, calming, supportive presence...even when I'm being called names.  When dealing with the one, it's hard not to take things personally.  

I'll be printing this article off and putting it in my binder.  Not the teacher binder of lesson plans and schedules, but the secret binder.  The binder with notes from parents and inspirational quotes for when nothing is going right.  This has earned its place of honor in the binder of warm and fuzzy feelings, which is my best weapon against negativity.

The second reading wasn't an article, but a picture:

Succinct and powerful.  Another addition to the binder.  

Going into my seventh year, I've got a big job to do.  I have thirty(ish?) young people to care for, to inspire, to teach, to help grow, to educate, and to love.

Good thing I know I'm not alone.

 

Try It Tuesday

I've had a rough few days.  

Between unpredicted backlash after what was supposed to be a joyous day and finding a live scorpion in the house, ready to sting one of my fur babies, I've been on edge.  I was furious that I needed to call the pest control company for the third time in six weeks to come back out and spray, but my six month issue with them is another story. Our cable company was consistently changing their rates and story, which only lead to further frustration.  Essentially, I've been feeling a lot like this:

But I'm holding in my inner she hulk. 

I was humiliated by a family member on social media completely out of the blue.  The situation was blown way out of proportion, I truly did nothing wrong, and I was publicly shamed without just cause.  My perception of this person has changed and I am having a very hard time moving forward.  I've spent a lot of time crying about this mind boggling situation.

Instead of commenting and sparking a fight on Facebook for all the world to see, I simply untagged myself and set a text message, inquiring as to what the concern was and asking why this wasn't addressed privately.   I am dissatisfied with the response and lack of resolution, but I am working on forgiving this person.  

I did not retaliate, though it was suggested I would.  I'm not that kind of person.  


Instead of focusing all my energy on what's going wrong, I'm focusing on what's going right.

I had tremendous support from friends who saw the hurtful words and reached out to make sure I was alright.  They sent loving and gentle reminders of the type of person I try to be: kind, giving, thoughtful.  They offered words of support and prayer, both of which were appreciated.  

So for try it Tuesday, I challenge you to look around and see what's going right.  Look for the positives.

It's so easy to focus on the hurt and negativity that surrounds us.  It's a struggle to find the good things some days.  When you've been scorned, it seems impossible.

But you can do it.  I can do it.  Let's spread positivitiy.

Yesterday, I had a two hour lunch date with two wonderful women at work.  We talked about their family vacations, their babies (both boys are a few months old), and my upcoming wedding.  There was nothing but love, Starbucks, friendship, and cake pops.

(I haven't succombed to the whole coffee drinking thing, but I'm in love with their peach green tea lemonade!)
 
I also went to Joann's in search of classroom things, but instead found some very cute craft items for my wedding in the magical clearance land.  Plus I had a 20% off my whole purchase coupon, which just made it better.

I went grocery shopping and stocked the fridge with healthy salads.  Eating right is connected with feeling right, so I'm pleased to try to make these healthy life style modifications.

I had a twenty minute chat with my bestie before she heads off on vacation for a week.  She's going to snag some Mayan post cards for my munchkins because she's amazingly thoughtful like that.

This morning, while i relaxed in our hammock, I got to watch Waffles run around and play in her pool.  She is so excited about everything and I'm enjoying this puppy stage.  She'll go from frantically chasing a bird to snoring next to me on the couch in a matter of minutes.  I'm so glad we rescued her.  Even when I'm furious at what she ate (air conditioning insulation, a tissue box, and a pumice stone...all in the same day), I have to remember that she's teething and 4 1/2 months old.  Then she looks at me with her puppy eyes and her ridiculous ears, and all is forgiven.

Seriously, how does this face not make you happy?

I get to return to my classroom tomorrow. I'm so excited for year seven and to implement some new strategies I learned from my DEN tribe.  I get to decorate my classroom and create a happy learning environment for my students.  

I've gotten a lot of positive feedback on TpT lately and it's nice to feel appreciated.  I make all my products for my own bunch of students, but I share my resources with others.  It's nice to know their students are using (and loving) them too!

I feel valued and appreciated by my fellow colleagues. 

 Seriously, I hit the teaching jackpot with my school.  My first school had some amazing people, but also some stinkers.  At my new school, it seems everyone supports everyone.  We are there to learn from each other, to inspire our students, and to have fun.  

Yes, we take our jobs seriously, but we also have lots of fun while doing it.  I think that fun component is super important.  What other job has administrators supporting a prank war to deal with end of year stress?!  (More on that later.)

What's going great in your day? What positive moments are you going to focus on?