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.
No comments:
Post a Comment