Spring has sprung, I suppose. The kids are bouncing off the walls when they're not hunched over their desks, laboring over a love poem or daydreaming while I drag them through a language arts lesson. Yes, for the last few days I've felt that I'm literally dragging them through the nonfiction reading, then dumping a pile of comprehension questions on them.
The VP did a walkthrough with a VIP yesterday, and what were we doing? I had gotten tired of talking over them (I haven't yet developed that room-quelling loud-teacher voice), so I told them to write me a 1-page reflection. I cringed a little as my two visitors examined the questions on the board, which included "What are the expectations for 4th-graders?" and "Why is reading important for your future?"
During my drive to work, I reflected on how quickly the school year is coming to an end -- just about a month, really. I asked myself how I wanted to spend that month: stressed-out and grumpy or working hard but keeping things in perspective? I decided that I wanted to enjoy my last month with my fourth-graders. It's hard to imagine on some days, but I know I will miss them.
This is one of the roughest parts of the year, I think. I've noticed a precipitous drop in my students' vocabulary test scores. While even my most struggling students would score a 2 or 3 out of 10 in previous quarters, a bunch of them have been pulling down 0s. Understandable for those who are chronically behind on homework and classwork, but painful to see for those kids who I know are doing all their work. I reflected on it during the weekend and decided I needed to start discussing the words daily with students. It was something that I did consistently at the start of the year, but it fell to the roadside a while ago. It does take time and some prompting, but I'm hoping it will help students retain the words better. I also started having them draw pictures to represent the words. I'm crossing my fingers for better results on Friday's test.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Mentos volcanoes, dinosaurs, and more: overnighter
Went on our overnighter field trip at the museum on Thursday night. Logged more hours with my pillow than normal this weekend to recuperate! But it was worth it. The kids were too busy learning and exploring to get into trouble, and it was wonderful to see them so excited to be there.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
things I love
I love my little bell. It's the kind you press down on to ring, the type you find on store counters everywhere.
When I started working with small groups, volume control for the students working on their own was a problem. I let students know that if I rang the bell, that was their signal to quiet down. If I rang it twice in a day, the class would lose recess.
The lovely thing about this is that I don't need to stop working with my small group to quiet down the entire classroom. I ring the bell and a hush descends. I ring it a second time and there is a collective groan. I will occasionally issue a sharp reminder after ringing the bell, but I've realized it's not necessary. The bell is effective on its own.
One mystery of classroom management solved, 10,000 more to go ...
When I started working with small groups, volume control for the students working on their own was a problem. I let students know that if I rang the bell, that was their signal to quiet down. If I rang it twice in a day, the class would lose recess.
The lovely thing about this is that I don't need to stop working with my small group to quiet down the entire classroom. I ring the bell and a hush descends. I ring it a second time and there is a collective groan. I will occasionally issue a sharp reminder after ringing the bell, but I've realized it's not necessary. The bell is effective on its own.
One mystery of classroom management solved, 10,000 more to go ...
sweet
Our end-of-day routine includes me standing by the door and offering students the option of a hug, handshake or high-five. Most of my girls will take me up on the hug. For the last few days, Pirate has surprised me by giving me a hug on the way out. It's one of those slightly awkward, boy hugs -- the kind that say, "I'm-only-9-so-I'd-still-like-to-hug-you, but-I-don't-want-people-to-think-I'm-a-sissy" hugs. Which makes it all the sweeter, really.
Speaking of hugs, Quarterback came in tired-eyed, out of sorts, and as grouchy as a bear one day last week. He started verbally picking on someone. I pulled him outside to talk. Turned out he was tired from staying up late to pick up grandma at the airport. I ended the conversation by saying, "you look like you need a hug," which he happily accepted. I've realized that while he will rarely initiate a hug, he often needs one, and he has much better days in the classroom if I make it clear that I care about him. It's just hard sometimes to dredge up the patience to pull him on the side and give him the positive pep talk and gentle reminders. I wonder if that's why we call some of our students challenging? Not just for those difficult behaviors, but because they challenge us to be better teachers and people?
Speaking of hugs, Quarterback came in tired-eyed, out of sorts, and as grouchy as a bear one day last week. He started verbally picking on someone. I pulled him outside to talk. Turned out he was tired from staying up late to pick up grandma at the airport. I ended the conversation by saying, "you look like you need a hug," which he happily accepted. I've realized that while he will rarely initiate a hug, he often needs one, and he has much better days in the classroom if I make it clear that I care about him. It's just hard sometimes to dredge up the patience to pull him on the side and give him the positive pep talk and gentle reminders. I wonder if that's why we call some of our students challenging? Not just for those difficult behaviors, but because they challenge us to be better teachers and people?
Thursday, February 24, 2011
bwahahaha
You know you don't grade and return papers enough when your kids get excited and tell you "thank you" when you pass out the corrected work.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
a secret ... and a success
You're not going to tell, are you?
Promise? Cross your heart? Spit in your hand and -- wait, I've changed my mind about the necessity of spit for the current proceedings.
OK, here it is: I hate grading papers.
I know feedback (and at least giving back their homework with a checkmark in the upper right corner, or even a smiley face or star) is integral to what happens in school.
I must confess, however, that it is one of my least favorite things to do. Well, cleaning out some mystery pile of papers that keeps growing and taking over my desk is higher on the list of least-favorite tasks. But still.
I have been guilty of tossing an enormous heap of papers to be graded into my backpack, then lugging it back and forth for longer than I'd like to say right now.
However, tonight I am patting myself on the back for plowing through a pile of papers. I think it helped that I half-watched/half-listened to "American Idol" on TV while I corrected student work. It also helps that I started displaying exemplary vocabulary sentences and vocabulary stories, and I am trying to stay current with the display. I type up 2 of the best stories, then let the writers title them and decorate the margins before they are posted on the board.
Vocabulary stories were a challenging homework assignment at first. I had many students writing disconnected sentences because they couldn't figure out how to weave a story out of 7 vocab words. However, I'm pleased to see that the stories are becoming more cohesive. Maybe they're getting a little help at home, or just figuring out on their own how to connect the words. Either way, I think it's a good higher-level exercise for them.
Promise? Cross your heart? Spit in your hand and -- wait, I've changed my mind about the necessity of spit for the current proceedings.
OK, here it is: I hate grading papers.
I know feedback (and at least giving back their homework with a checkmark in the upper right corner, or even a smiley face or star) is integral to what happens in school.
I must confess, however, that it is one of my least favorite things to do. Well, cleaning out some mystery pile of papers that keeps growing and taking over my desk is higher on the list of least-favorite tasks. But still.
I have been guilty of tossing an enormous heap of papers to be graded into my backpack, then lugging it back and forth for longer than I'd like to say right now.
However, tonight I am patting myself on the back for plowing through a pile of papers. I think it helped that I half-watched/half-listened to "American Idol" on TV while I corrected student work. It also helps that I started displaying exemplary vocabulary sentences and vocabulary stories, and I am trying to stay current with the display. I type up 2 of the best stories, then let the writers title them and decorate the margins before they are posted on the board.
Vocabulary stories were a challenging homework assignment at first. I had many students writing disconnected sentences because they couldn't figure out how to weave a story out of 7 vocab words. However, I'm pleased to see that the stories are becoming more cohesive. Maybe they're getting a little help at home, or just figuring out on their own how to connect the words. Either way, I think it's a good higher-level exercise for them.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
little blue car
I miss my little blue car.
It was just another Friday morning, around 6:30 a.m. I was zipping along the highway as usual. Puakenikeni and I have discussed before the automaticity of our morning commutes.
I miss that automaticity right now. While I'm not so anxious that I've got a death grip on the steering wheel, I am a bit apprehensive during my morning drive. Not the best way to start a busy day.
I am thankful, however, for many things. While I did have some neck stiffness and soreness and a headache for the first two days, that cleared up. I am thankful that no one got injured. I am thankful for the very kind Freeway Service Patrol worker who exclaimed "Teachers are the best people in the world!" when he learned what I did for a living, then patted me on the shoulder and offered a little reassurance. Also so appreciative of Orchid, who took care of things for me at school, and my colleague who whipped up a sub plan. Yet another co-worker happened to pass by, noticed the accident, and took the time to call and check that I was OK and offer to put together a sub plan.
That being said, I still miss my little blue car, which saw me through two career changes, traveled across the Pacific with me when I moved back, and served as a tangible symbol of the financial independence I gained after college. Each time I get into my rented Ford Focus, with the steering wheel that vibrates once you hit a certain speed, and a few weird squeaks and whines, I realize how comfortable I was in my car.
All in all, though, I realize how fortunate I was that Friday.
It was just another Friday morning, around 6:30 a.m. I was zipping along the highway as usual. Puakenikeni and I have discussed before the automaticity of our morning commutes.
I miss that automaticity right now. While I'm not so anxious that I've got a death grip on the steering wheel, I am a bit apprehensive during my morning drive. Not the best way to start a busy day.
I am thankful, however, for many things. While I did have some neck stiffness and soreness and a headache for the first two days, that cleared up. I am thankful that no one got injured. I am thankful for the very kind Freeway Service Patrol worker who exclaimed "Teachers are the best people in the world!" when he learned what I did for a living, then patted me on the shoulder and offered a little reassurance. Also so appreciative of Orchid, who took care of things for me at school, and my colleague who whipped up a sub plan. Yet another co-worker happened to pass by, noticed the accident, and took the time to call and check that I was OK and offer to put together a sub plan.
That being said, I still miss my little blue car, which saw me through two career changes, traveled across the Pacific with me when I moved back, and served as a tangible symbol of the financial independence I gained after college. Each time I get into my rented Ford Focus, with the steering wheel that vibrates once you hit a certain speed, and a few weird squeaks and whines, I realize how comfortable I was in my car.
All in all, though, I realize how fortunate I was that Friday.
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