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Change is Good

4/8/2013

Spring break is officially over and we have been back at school for one week now. Over the last two weeks, I had time to ponder what changes I would make to improve our daily routine for these last two months of school. Before break, I was feeling a little frustrated with some chatty behavior and inattentive students. I realized that I had become too relaxed with my classroom rules and students were taking advantage of that. I needed to make some changes!!

Change #1--Remind Students of the WHY
Very soon, my students will be heading to 4th and 5th grade!!! They need to be reminded that we still have lots of learning to do...focused attention and hard work right now are necessary for them to get prepared for next year. By reminding them of our true purpose for being here, it creates an urgency to our learning.

Change #2--Zero Tolerance for Outbursts
This seems so obvious and yet, it has become a problem in my room. My students have gotten into a bad habit of blurting out answers without thinking. At first it was cute. Then it was annoying. Now it is distracting us from learning. I decided that upon returning to school, I could not accept blurted answers. Students need to become thoughtful thinkers so I will need to re-train them to Stop-Think-Raise your hand-Speak clearly.

Change #3--Greater Accountability for Class Assignments
We now have a daily goal for what needs to be completed during a class period (with the focus on writing). If the work is not completed, students must finish during recess. While this is not my favorite form of consequences because I believe students need their recess time to play, it has been effective. If work does not get done because it is challenging, that is one thing--I allow more time. But if work isn't completed because of behavior, I must address it. So far only one day of recess has been served--I think kids are realizing that I am serious!!

Change #4--Don't Forget the Fun!
As I looked at my lesson plans upon return to the classroom, I was shocked at how much needs to be done in these last two months. Although some of it will be stressful (testing), some of it will be awesome (a field trip)! I need to remember that school IS fun and I want kids to love being here. I must not let the daily stresses of being a teacher bleed over into the classroom. I need to enjoy these last few months with my class because summer will be here before we know it!!

--What changes did you make to your classroom when you returned from Spring Break? Share your responses here!

Clean House

3/22/2013

After a four-day week with three school days, two twelve-hour days and twenty-six conferences, I am ready for Spring Break! As much as I enjoy meeting with parents and sharing the successes of the classroom, I must admit that having time off also brings me joy!

My first day of vacation always starts the same way:
Step 1--Wake up early because the cats want treats.
Step 2--Sip coffee while reading (today I browsed the internet).
Step 3--Feed the dogs.
Step 4--CLEAN THE HOUSE!!!

When I am on vacation, a clean house makes me feel calm and relaxed. I always spend the first day giving everything a good scrubbing so that I can spend the rest of the time doing whatever I want! It can be a lot of work and some chores I am not looking forward to (the floors), but in the end I know it will be worth it! Later today, when I am lounging on the couch and admiring my clean quarters, I will be very thankful that my first-day-of-vacation routine is firmly in place!

Now, if I can just get the cats to feed themselves.....

--Enjoy your vacation!

Spring Conferences

3/20/2013

Spring is in the air and spring break is fast approaching. That also means that Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up! I enjoy conference time because I get to share the great things that we are doing in the classroom and parents get to see how much progress their child has made since our last meeting.

Although it is not required to meet with every student's parents during this time, I invite all my families to these conferences. For students who are struggling, it gives me the opportunity to express concern and offer suggestions for improvement. For students who are on or above grade level, I get to share funny stories and celebrate with families about their child's success. And for those cute students who are driving me crazy with their off-task behavior, I get a chance to collaborate with parents about motivation and consequences.

Conference time also reminds me that I am not alone in the difficult task of teaching children. When I share a behavior concern with parents, I see a look of recognition cross their faces: Sí, Maestra, we have the same problem at home. When we discuss academic successes, both parents and teacher puff up with pride. And when we brainstorm ideas for improving reading, writing or math scores, we share a look of concern as we hope for progress in the coming months. These moments between the teacher and the parents are powerful for me. I am reminded that we are all on the same team. We all want the best for this smart, funny and unique child who touches each of our lives on a daily basis.

Conferences also present an interesting perspective. For each parent, their child is the most important in my class. Over the next two days, I will get to share funny student stories and brag about accomplishments to parents. When I have to deliver difficult information, I will do it in a sensitive and caring way that let's parents know that I care about their child. Because, even though I have a class of twenty-eight, during each conference, I only have a class of one. It is a wonderful thing to watch the families interact and to let each child have a chance to be the star. It reminds me to carry that good feeling beyond the conferences and into the daily routine of the classroom.

In my opinion, teachers miss a wonderful bonding opportunity with families when they only meet with a few students for spring conferences. I know it takes more time and can be a lot of work, but the positive feelings and renewed energy from these meetings make it all worth it. When conferences are over, I definitely feel exhausted (I always end up doing a lot of talking!) But I also feel encouraged and supported! I know that with a positive attitude, a burst of energy and a good relationship with parents, I will make it to the end of the school year!

--How are you surviving conference time? Share your stories here!

Sticky-Note Lists

3/18/2013

I can get a lot accomplished in a short period of time as long as I have a plan. The part of me that loves to procrastinate gets overthrown as the organized and efficient me takes over and gets things done. The key for me is to write it down.

I love to make lists! Making a list turns a long and overwhelming project into easy and manageable steps. Since I love crossing things off as I get them done, I purposely write my lists so that I can see my accomplishments. The crossing off of items motivates me to keep going. I get inspired and pumped up which leads me to tackle more and more projects. And this, of course, leads to more and more lists.

And how do I organize my lists? With sticky notes, of course! A sticky note has just enough room to write--not too big, not too small. The ability for it to stick on most surfaces is also a bonus. I stick them on my computer, on my lesson plans, in my lunch bag. Sometimes I even wrap them around my keys so I won't forget what I wanted to do.

It might seem a little neurotic to love making lists but I am ok with that. As I search for balance between school and home, the sticky note lists help me decide what is important and what isn't. It helps me prioritize my thoughts and activities so that I really can accomplish the important things. Even when I don't finish everything on the list, at least I have become more mindful of what needs to get done and what can wait. And tomorrow I can always add the incomplete tasks to the top of a new list and have a little celebration when I get it done.

I just finished writing my blog for Monday. Yay! I can cross it off my list!

--Thank you for reading my blog. If you have any ideas about ways to organize your busy day, share them here!!

The Time Change

3/15/2013

I must start out this morning by saying that the time change is a GOOD thing! I love that it is getting lighter later into the evening. It is so nice to drive home after school and see the sun! Or at the very least, to see something! During these winter months, my drive home has been on the dark, headlight-bright highway--no replacement for natural sunlight. But now, as the sun lingers in the sky for just a little bit longer each day, I look forward to the lovely scenery of my evening commute.

For me, this has been one of the longest weeks of this school year. I have had late nights every night this week and I cannot seem to catch up on that lost hour of sleep from last Sunday. I have been tired and a little cranky and this loss of sleep has really thrown me off of my schedule.

Now, although I am looking forward to the longer days to come, I have recognized some drawbacks to the spring-forward time change. First of all, losing that precious hour of sleep has really hit me hard this time. I just feel so dang tired! Second, there is more evening light to play with which means I am going to bed later than usual...which adds to that precious lost hour of sleep. Third, the longer days give me the feeling that summer is coming, which makes me want to play more than work....and we know how that story ends for the procrastinating grasshopper!

But the good outweighs the bad when it comes to the time change. Once this week is over and I get a good FULL night's sleep, I will be rested and back on schedule with my daily routine (including my blog) and, hopefully, my bedtime! After all, I have to make sure I am well rested so I can fully enjoy my spring vacation!

--Thanks for reading my blog! Sorry I have been rather inconsistent for the last week. With a busy schedule and spring vacation coming up, I have struggled to get it all done! I plan to be back to my regular blogging schedule soon!

Fifth Grade Drama

3/5/2013

One of the self-imposed jobs that I have at my school is that I am the Skit Director for the fifth graders during the March, April and May character trait assemblies. In these months, the teachers take a rest and the fifth graders are in charge of performing the character trait skits. They write the lines and create the props needed....my job is to help them pull it all together!

Although being Skit Director takes away from my prep time and is not a required activity, I continue to do it every year because of the positive impact it has on kids. Here is my list of six reasons why fifth grade skits are a great addition to your school program:

#1--Overcome the fear of public speaking
Students who participate in the skits have to overcome their fear of public speaking. How many adults do we know that would never get up in front of 500 people and perform a skit? And yet I am asking fifth graders to do just that. The students must focus on clarity, projection, volume and tone. It does not come easily for all of the them, but they begin to understand why those things are important.

#2--Get out of your comfort zone
The skits challenge the students to push the boundaries of their comfort zones. On a normal day, they want to appear older and cool, but during a skit, I am asking them to act silly and loud in front of their peers. They play outrageous characters, create funny costumes and act in ridiculous ways all in the name of teaching the character traits. They learn that playing characters can be fun and the more they commit to their character, the better the skit!

#3--Build new friendships
When a skit is over, there is a sense of comraderie and friendship on a classroom level that usually wasn't there before. The bond (and relief!) that a class feels after they have completed their skit can bring them together for their last few months as elementary school students. They have participated in this shared experience that can build friendships between students that might not have become friends otherwise, and which they will remember for many years.

#4--Inspire a hidden talent
After a skit is over, I encourage the fifth graders to pursue drama in middle school if they enjoyed the process of practicing and performing. I believe that it can be a great benefit to students in their lives if they can feel comfortable speaking in front of others and drama is a great way to hone those speaking skills. Plus, some kids are just plain GOOD! They should definitely keep it up so we can enjoy their performances in the years to come.

#5--Become a positive role model
Fifth graders are the leaders in the school. As the skits are performed, the rest of the student body is watching. They see their older brothers and sisters, neighbors and friends performing and teaching about the character traits, which sets an example for everyone. They show the younger students that this is important which adds to the positive school climate.

#6--Embody the character traits that we teach
Students who perform in these skits are the living proof that character education is important in our daily lives. The students show Respect and Cooperation as they work together to produce the skit. They are Responsible when they learn their lines and remember to bring props. They show Self-Discipline and Perseverance when they come to practices and work hard instead of playing around. These are the qualities that make a person successful and they are learning them at an early age.

This is not to say that doing the skits is EASY! There are some days when I go back to their teacher and say, "I'm worried! We need more time!" During some of the practices, I throw my hands up and shout, "Seriously? Will you please stop talking offstage?" and "Do you even care about this?" (After all, we ARE talking about fifth graders--the crossed arms, eye rolling and bored looks seem to be unique character traits of the pre-teen fifth grader!) Yes, the frustration level can be high!

But it is all worth it. As we nervously wring our hands before the skit begins and I whisper encouragement and last minute reminders in their ears, I have yet to be disappointed. Every time, they pull it off and create a fabulous performance!! As I think back to the shaky first skit rehearsal and then watch the live performance, all I feel is pride at their accomplishment. It was a success! Sign me up for more!!

--If you are interested in starting a fifth grade drama program at your school, please visit the Character Education tab on my website or contact me for more information. Please leave a comment!

The Homework Museum

3/4/2013

Thanks to the new Homework Plan, my class has been collecting some awesome homework projects that need to be displayed! I appealed to my students to come up with a name for the space on the wall that would display the homework and then told them that THEY were in charge of it. Well, ask a 3rd or 4th grader to be in charge of something and WOW--check out our "Homework Museum," created and maintained by the 3rd and 4th graders in C5. This week's homework was Non-fiction Animal Reports.

On Fridays the students are in charge of taking the homework down from the previous week and putting up the new presentations. They do all the arranging and organizing of the projects. I love that my students are involved in the whole process! It saves me so much time and energy! They do all the work and I just get to enjoy it at the end!!

How do you display student work? Leave your comments here!!

Rows for the Lady?

3/1/2013

This week I decided to make a bold move: I arranged the student desks into rows. This seems to go against all that I believe in--student collaboration, group projects, working in teams--but actually, I think this was a change that we all needed so that we could refocus on learning.

One of the things I don't like about having desks is that they are perfect for hiding little trinkets and doo-dads out of sight of the teacher. The narrow opening is just perfect for placing one's hands in to build origami stars, for cutting the paint off a pencil with scissors or for opening up a red pen to put the ink all over one's hands and pretend to be bleeding.

Yes. These are all things that can be done inside of a student desk.

With the students in rows, though, I can see their cute faces! I can see when they are looking at me or when they are preoccupied with other activities. And, they still have the opportunity to work in groups. They have a partner to work with (we have double desks) which wasn't affected by being in rows, and when they need to be in small groups, rows 1 and 3 turn around to partner up with rows 2 and 4. It actually works perfectly!

Funny enough, most of the kids like being in rows. Probably because it is a different look and it does give a different feeling to the classroom. A few students remarked that it was just like being in high school and they liked the opportunity to be treated like older students.

I won't keep the desks like this forever. One drawback to rows is that they tend to drift into one another and that is kind of annoying. They also seem to take up more space--and with a large class, I want my room to feel open. As we move into spring, though, I will have to pull out all the little tricks to keep my students focused and energized for learning.

So, will being in rows stop students from fiddling in their desks? Of course not. But it does make it easier to catch them!

What do you think about desks being in rows? Are you for or against it? Share your opinions here!

We All Need Some A.I.R.

2/27/2013

A couple of days ago, I was listening to Dave Ramsey's EntreLeadership podcast. The day's lesson was how important it is for leaders to recognize and appreciate their team members and employees. The guest speaker, Chris Hogan, suggested that the best way to increase productivity, loyalty and postive attitudes is to encourage and inspire employees, recognizing them for the work they do. He quoted that "encouragement is the oxygen for the soul" and it is as important to our well being as the air we breathe. He introduced the acronym: AIR which stands for Appreciation, Inspiration and Recognition. Now, he was aiming his podcast toward small and large business owners, but I found that this idea could also be used in the classroom.

Appreciation
It is very easy for a teacher to feel under-appreciated. With the overload of planning, grading, standards, testing and more, sometimes we just need a hug! But what about our students? Shouldn't we thank them for getting up and coming to school each day? For completing their homework? For sharing ideas during a class discussion? For helping out in the classroom? Sometimes teachers (myself included) feel like WE are the ones who need the thank you, but we can't forget to also thank our students. They need to know that WE appreciate THEM! How are you showing appreciation for the students in your classroom?

Inspiration
Our students need to be inspired. They need to know that the reason they come to school everyday serves a higher purpose in their lives. As teachers, we get to be that inspiration! We are the ones who can inspire and encourage our students to do great things and become great adults. What are you doing in your classroom that is inspiring children?

Recognition
Everyone needs to be recognized for the work they do and we need to recognize our students for the growth they make each year. Some students will not pass the state testing, but does that mean they are failures? No way! They may not have reached the goal set by the state, but chances are they HAVE made progess and are working hard in the classroom. We can recognize students for where they are and the progress they have made. We can let them know that hard work, and not just a test score, is also a measure of success. How will you recognize your students each day?

As my blog title suggests, we all need some AIR, so don't forget to appreciate, inspire and recognize the people who work with you. Your grade level teams, PLCs, co-workers and office staff all contribute to a well-functioning school. By increasing the AIR in your school environment, you might just make it a better place!

Share the ways in which you appreciate, inspire and recognize students and staff at your school! I'd love to have this conversation with you!

*To hear more business lessons from Dave Ramsey and his team, click here.

The Homework Plan 2

2/24/2013

The first week of the New Homework Plan was a success! Students did the homework each night and presented their projects on Friday. I was so proud of them!! Everyone had projects to share (except for two boys who left them at home and will present on Monday) and were very excited to do so! Before we shared our experiences, the students finished filling in the template rating their work habits and explaining what they learned. I guided the whole process and explained why we were doing each step. For this first week, I accepted whatever they turned in. I wanted my students to feel successful and encouraged to continue with the process. However, they know that as the weeks go on, the expectations will increase as to the quality of the work they bring in.

The presentations also went way better than I could have imagined! I divided students into small groups of 4-5 kids and each student had to present what they did and what they learned. After each student presented, he/she had to pass the plan to a friend and the friend gave him/her a score for the work. The students were very kind to one another. I heard lots of positive comments and encouraging statements. When students saw the work that their peers had done, some comments I heard were I'm going to do that next time, I need to add more color to my poster and Your story is really good!

Here is the Homework Plan template I created. Just click on the file and a link will take you to my store! The template comes in English and Spanish.

Here are some photos from Friday's presentations:

Here are pictures of the students' plans. This template was the originial one I made. The one above is the new version. I asked students to help me re-design the original but they liked it as-is so we only made a few changes. If you read Spanish, some of their responses are pretty funny!

Here are pictures of the actual presentations that students turned in:

The next step is to keep going with this New Homework Plan. This next week we will all do reading for the homework so I can give students some more direction on what I expect to see. I have a list of activities they can choose from for their Friday Presentation. Also we decided, as a class, to mount the homework projects each week on a section of the wall in the hallway called the "Homework Museum." The students thought that maybe if students around the school saw the projects, they might be inspired to do more homework too!

I will keep you posted on any more excitement around the homework plan. Soon I hope to have a booklet ready with different homework ideas to inspire students!

Thanks for reading!!

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