Cleanliness is next to...

Sitting in my classroom Friday evening at 5:51PM on my birthday weekend I noticed something about me as a teacher. I'm spending time organizing my classroom. I'm cleaning the white boards, clearing off counter space, and clearing off my small group table. I may not be completely organized every minute of the week but I realize now that it makes me feel better if things are in order. I also think the kids deserve a clean, organized classroom. Question: Is there a better system so it looks like this during the week, too?

Week Three...what!?!

We started our third week in school today. Flying by! I could get upset that this is the first time I am writing on this blog since the year began but that's not what this is about. This is about me finding out what I believe as a teacher. So let's make it about that.

Last week I had an epic fail with my math lesson on Thursday (and every other day before that, if I'm being honest). Of course, on Thursday, Brian came in my room to 'check-in.' Not good times to watch, I'm sure. This merely lit the much needed fire for me to jump in and find a new way. The program has us working a lot with worksheets (I think mostly in the beginning...I'm hoping). That felt Yuck to me and I'm sure that's what was coming out in my teaching. Hence, the epic fail.

So here's what I did: Got my Debbie Diller Math Work Stations book out and started reading. I read through what Math Work Stations were and I brought those thoughts to my Lesson for today. What a difference! It felt so much better and I think the kids were having fun. I had to do some AimsWeb testing today so I didn't get to finish the lesson. This is a good thing, though, because I'll be able to see how much of the info from today made it into their brains.

What I learned today about what I believe: I believe I am always working on ways to make things better. If it doesn't feel right for me it probably doesn't feel right for them either. I set the tone. I am not a worksheet girl. That's been pounded into my head nicely and I tried to take the "easy way out" and not plan ahead for math. Not so easy. No teaching.

School starts when!?!

I went to grab some breakfast this morning (and check to see if the owners' kid was in my class) at a local bistro and was reminded of the newness of teaching in a small town. I was correct that I would have the child of a delightful couple in my class this upcoming school year. What I did not know was that both of their daughters would be in my class. Cool for all of us! The papa casually asked "So, when does school start?" Funny how odd this question sounded to me but was perfectly legitimate for him. Doesn't everyone know EVERYTHING has to be done by August 17th...or else. I was thankful to have my perspective put in check.

So what have I been doing? Nothing. Everything. I've been setting up my classroom library and thinking about how I want to introduce this special area to my students. (Pictures to come as soon as I figure out how to do that) I bought a really cool chair for when I sit with my children at the whole group meeting area. I've put up my Word Wall and a section for my Small Group Kiddo's work. I've spent thousands of dollars (ok, like one but it's sounds cool to say thousands!) on things we'll need this year. I've spent some time in the cums of a few of my students, learning about mom and dad and what school's been like so far for them. I have started my plans for the first week of school, detailing how we will spend our first minutes, hours, and days together.

So what have I learned about myself as a teacher? I have learned I am very intentional. The only things on my wall right now are things I KNOW I will use and exactly how I will use them. Each item I have purchased has a specific purpose for this classroom and I can name that purpose easily if asked. I want to know my kiddos. I think about them in every step I take because without them, I wouldn't want to be here. I want to know more about teaching. I have done this for several years now but already in the last couple of weeks I have scarfed down pages and pages of info to help me plan and decide what to do in my classroom with my crew. It may take a bit longer but I don't want to do it if I can't do it right.

It's 7:28pm and I am sitting in my classroom, walls bear, piles stacked, and the hum of the florescent lights as my soundtrack. This is livin'! Time to go back to work. Let's see how to get these Morning Meetings started!

Teaching with Intention

Well, well, well. The time is fast approaching. Teachers are already filling their rooms with vibrant colors and exciting corners in preparation of the upcoming year. I have the alphabet up. And some desks put together. I"m waiting on my husband and his friend to chop up some cubbies and bring them to my room so I can pain them and try to figure out where I want to put them. Other than that I haven't really been worried about what my room is going to look like as much as I am what we're going to do in it. True, I've done this thing before but I want things to be different. I want things to be intentional.

I have challenged myself this year to be a learner. I don't want to do things because it's the next thing to do. I want to know exactly why I do what I do and have that be clear to all around me. I have already purchased several books and plan to do more of that this year to add to my professional collection. I plan to document books I've completed, both personal and professional, so I can begin to see if the choices I am making are helping me become the teacher/woman I want to be. I will highlight and mark all over these books and then bring some of those nuggets to this blog so I can check in from time to time to see if I've implemented any of the ideas or suggestions that caught my attention on the first read.

From the book "Teaching with Intention" Debbie Miller challenges me to think about these things:
*How do I go about teaching kids something new?
*What principles guide me?
*How do I know if kids are getting it?
*What do I do when they don't?

The perfectionist in me is scared to try to answer these questions right now. What if I get them wrong? What if I decide to change my mind? I've never sat down to think about my feelings about these questions. All I'm feeling right now is anxiety. Miller gives me some relief. She says "Take your time. No rushing allowed!" She then goes on to suggest keeping a notebook to record observations, reflections, new thinking, learning, and questions.

I will leave those questions for another day. For now I will take the author's advice to slow down and be present. I believe this includes these weeks before the first bell rings. Anyone that know me knows that slowing down is no easy task for me. I am convinced it is the key to my success.

My pledge: I will write three times each week for the first two months of school. The writing will reflect what I have learned about my kids or myself as a teacher that day. At the end of the two months I will go back through my entries, see what I notice, and begin writing my belief statements. I will then memorize them and put them up where I can see them every day.

'Til then I will keep reading, keep learning, and keep reminding myself to Slow Down and be Present! No rushing allowed!

"You'll like it here!"

Welcome to the very first post on the new and exciting blog I am positive will improve the lives of many. Well, I can confidently say that total will be no less than 1 since the lovely Debbie Miller has convinced me that Reflection, Reflection, Reflection! will dramatically change my teaching practice. What better way than to do so on the World Wide Web? Talk about accountability!
I am fortunate enough to be sitting on the floor in a basement with stuffy air (greatness can happen anywhere!) in the final hours of a life changing professional development. The grouping of words in the previous sentence would have settled very different for me just a few short months ago. That was before I was part of a crew! Keep reading and I'm sure you'll see why/where the shift occurred.
Since this particular post is part of a final assignment due in 21 minutes it will probably feel a bit loose since my editing time will be fairly non-existant. However, as I'm reflecting on the purpose of this blog I realize that's the way it needs to be. I want true snapshots of what's going on in my class: thoughts, feelings, celebrations, insights, next steps. That gets hard for me when I'm worried about structure, grammar, spelling, and the such. How 'bout I worry about those things when I write my book :) For now, raw it is!
Best way to spit it out? Bullets is is!
*Excuses-get in the way of magic! For years I tried to "understand" kiddos and made "accommodations" for them because of their situation, whatever that may have been. I now realize those were just colorful words for excuses. These excuses were more reasons why my kids couldn't become experts or create high-qualit work. I realize now I was making excuses for my own teaching. It was my job to get them there any way I can. No more excuses!
*I believe primary students CAN become experts and CAN create high-quality products.
*I believe primary students NEED music, movement, poetry, and art to learn. It is also crucial in building something else the NEED which is community.
*Keep it fresh! Don't I know this one's for me, too!
*I believe primary students need me to purposefully select activities (all activities) that align with what I believe about primary students. I owe it to them to continually check myself to be sure this doesn't fall to the wayside.
*A take back practice for next year will be the Morning Meeting and Closing Circle structure to my day. It is a simple starting point for me to practice what I believe...that children need systems, structures, rituals, and routines to foster student character and build community in their classroom.
Wow! It's 11:58am and we need to be back in the circle at noon. I wish I had more time to share all that I've learned (or even read what I just wrote!) Guess I'll just have to keep writing on this blog. One last thing that has resonated with me in this reflection and I will leave it with that:
I need children and learning like I need air and water. I'm lifeless without them.