Saturday Sayings: Not One to Surrender

I once heard about a conversation between a secondary and elementary teacher.  In awe, the secondary teacher made a comment about all the things an elementary teacher is responsible to teach in a day, to which the elementary teacher responded with, "That's what scripted programs are for."  That response both dumbfounds and saddens me.  Indeed I have a mountain-load of material to daily teach my first graders, but I don't believe that's reason enough to hand over the professional decision-making process in my classroom to a collection of strangers who have scripted my teaching for me.  Even after starting my 20th year of teaching, I don't claim to be an expert at creative and authentic lesson planning, but I know the struggle and challenge is worth it.  I'm not one to surrender when I know what's right for my kids.  If I find myself in a conversation with someone who is in awe of how much I teach in a day, I'll smile, shrug, and say, "It's just what I do."

P.S.  I do use Lucy Calkin's Units of Study.  She's definitely onto something.  I don't use them verbatim though.  I tweak and use them as a guide just as she would want me to.

Can't is Illegal

I'm fairly certain in the six days that I've had my new crew that I've asked them to do things some of them weren't quite on board with.  The thing is, I'm not going to stop nudging.  We've got nine more months of nudges to experience.  Well, just in case anyone ever thinks of verbally backing out, we made a little poster for our room this week.
    

My inspiration was the version below that I found on Pinterest.  Click on the picture to visit its owner. 

So sure there are non-verbal ways of saying "can't" but my hope is that the reminder on our wall sends the message that at least speaking the word is illegal.

Two for the Price of One

I love a good, cheap composition book, but I still don't like buying more of them than I have to.  I've seen how some teachers who need more than one per child cut theirs in half, which seems like a creative solution.  I've chosen though to use sides ends.  With a simple flip, one composition book can be both a math journal and science journal all in one.  I'll show you what I mean.

front

back

Voila!  Two for the price of one.

Saturday Sayings: Surrounded by Greatness

After two long days of introducing 24 first graders disguised as kindergartners into my world, I must admit that my brain is feeling the weight of tiredness more than anything else, but my goal is to eventually fill it with each one's special uniqueness.  Donald Graves has given me something to look forward to.

When my little crew arrived two days ago, I looked at all of them, borrowed a line from my pastor, and said, "I'm surrounded by greatness."  Even with my short explanation, I imagine the statement sailed over most of their heads, but I've come back to it since and plan on repeatedly revisiting the idea over the next nine months.  I seriously meant what I said to them that morning, but is it okay to admit that after two long, long days I might have to dig a little to find the greatness in some more than others?  I wish I could see it more easily.  I think I'm just distracted by other stuff, and I'm not looking in the right places yet.  As their teacher, I owe it to them to give it my best though.  I pray they give me a chance to find it.  I know the greatness is there.  I look forward to the day, soon, when I can carry the uniqueness of each child in my head.

An Apple for the Teacher

I stole this very sweet idea from McKensie, who is a new teacher from my church.  

She posted it on Facebook, and I couldn't resist borrowing it.  Of course I asked for permission and told her I'd give her all the credit.  Not surprisingly, she found it on Pinterest.  Gotta love that place.  (Sorry, I don't know the original source.  If anyone does, let me know.)

Anyway, my parents are showing up tonight.  I'm looking forward to letting them know that they are their child's first and most important teacher.  That's a message I tell them throughout the year, but this apple is a perfect way to let them know right off the bat.  

Here's my version of the apple.  I changed it up ever so slightly.

Thanks again sweet McKensie for the idea  My parents will appreciate it!

Calling All Tweeters

I've officially crossed over to the dark side.  I'm now on Twitter.  I'm not entirely sure how to use it, but I'm there.  You can find me if you'd like.

(Click on my picture to visit.)

My plan is to use Twitter for professional development.  So here's my question for all you veteran Tweeters.  Who would you recommend I follow?  Who are you favorite educational Twitter hot spots?  Thanks for the tweet tips.

Saturday Sayings: A Fan of Independence

Three years ago one of my boys dropped his whiteboard marker under his desk and didn't know what to do about it.  Needless to say, I didn't recover it for him.  I'm such a fan of independent first graders and have been for years.  Janice Sullivan, one of my favorite mentors, told me ages ago never to do something for a child that they could do for themselves.  It's almost like she and Regie were comparing notes.

Unfortunately, I've noticed an increase in the number of helpless little ones who don't know how to do things for themselves.  I'm guessing they've been hanging out with well-meaning adults who do most everything for them.  The lunchroom alone is proof that this problem is on the rise. Not a day goes by that I don't see several milk bottles, bags of chips, and other miscellaneous items being held in the air, waiting for an adult to come to their rescue.  There are adults who run to and fro doing just that, but I am not that adult.  I'll either say, "You give it a go" or show them how to get started and then expect them to take over.  "Aren't you glad I didn't do that for you?  You would have never found out the amazing things you can do all by yourself."  And of course their proud smile sends the message that I was right.  (When it comes to the small plastic cups of fruit, it's a different story.  Those are hard for even me!)  I could go on with examples of the ways adults teach children to be dependent on them (even in the classroom) but in the end, I believe it's a great disservice that can eventually leak into the way children approach learning.