That one kid. Every class has one (or five.) The kid that, even on the first day of school, is set that they simply do not want to be there and all of their actions are making sure that you know it.
Maybe they are excessively tardy on the first day, even though they have been at this school for three years. Maybe they sneak those head phones in every time you look away, sliding their cap back on for the fourth time this class period. Maybe they sleep through the syllabus you worked on all summer perfecting.
It happens. It's frustrating, but it happens.
These kids are the reason teachers are so important. You have a choice. Berate and tear them down on the first day? or Maybe smile and tell them how happy you are that they made it to class.
Maybe you'll be the reason they come back tomorrow.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Positivity: The main reason you shouldn't be negative.
With all of the excitement a new school year brings, it can also bring lots of intimidating changes. New administration, new co-teachers, new policies... All of which can be very scary, especially for more experienced teachers. There are really only two ways you can handle these changes: Positively or Negatively.
A positive attitude will render positive results. What is the worst that could happen? A negative attitude will ensure you are miserable as things around you evolve and change, and you, get left behind.
I am still a baby teacher. I am still learning and adjusting my practice and finding new ways to reach my little butterflies. But shouldn't we all be?
We preach to our kids about being eternal learners and always searching to be better students. When did teachers become exempt from that?
A positive attitude will render positive results. What is the worst that could happen? A negative attitude will ensure you are miserable as things around you evolve and change, and you, get left behind.
I am still a baby teacher. I am still learning and adjusting my practice and finding new ways to reach my little butterflies. But shouldn't we all be?
We preach to our kids about being eternal learners and always searching to be better students. When did teachers become exempt from that?
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Fresh and New!
The new school year is rapidly approaching, and as a teacher (and a dork) there is no more exciting feeling. I get to meet 120 (at least) bright and fresh new faces! I get to try out some new teaching techniques and perfect old ones. Construct new concepts to fresh, new minds. It is really just too exciting.
A new school year can also mean a fresh start, especially for students. Maybe some of our little butterflies are moving to a different campus, full of totally unfamiliar faces! Maybe they are adventuring into more advanced classes or looking to start fresh and improve on past performances?
The other Ag Teachers and I have decided to power wash and clean our almost 35 year old wood shop. After it is shiny and new, we are going to apply a fresh coat of paint, and display all of the awards our FFA chapter has accumulated over the past 87 years! Hopefully this will give a fresh new outlook and give that old shop some new opportunity!
As teachers, I hope sometimes we can look at our students in the same way we are looking at our Ag Shop. They are not always polished or pretty. They are NEVER without an imperfection (or many), but it is our job as EDUCATORS to scrub past the years of bad experiences or lack luster performance.
We must give them an opportunity to start all over.
After all, it is a New Year.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Online Professional Development (Two post in one day?! Whoa I am on a roll!)
I love the idea of teachers having access to professional development online. It is a way for teachers who want to reach out and LEARN to be able to! Today I watched to previously recorded sessions, and though I hate hate hate the boring slide format of both of them, I pulled tons of information from them.
The first online PD I participated in was How to Fund Your Classroom Projects. This webinar coached teachers on how to use DonorsChoose.org. I liked it so much that you can access my own donorschoose.org proposal here.
The second online PD I participated in was Breaking the Cycle of Underachievement, which is a topic near and dear to my heart. Because I teach in a school district who has lots of at risk or low SES kids, I found all of the information presented to be highly useful, and I recommend any teacher venturing into a title 1 School to look it up. I also recommend you read to completion Ruby Payne's book The Frame Work of Poverty. It really hits the nail on the head when it come to students from struggling backgrounds.
I accessed my online PD from searching Pinterest... but I will post links to these two awesome opportunities!
Breaking the Cycle of Underachievement and loads more...
Getting Money for Your Classroom Projects!
The first online PD I participated in was How to Fund Your Classroom Projects. This webinar coached teachers on how to use DonorsChoose.org. I liked it so much that you can access my own donorschoose.org proposal here.
The second online PD I participated in was Breaking the Cycle of Underachievement, which is a topic near and dear to my heart. Because I teach in a school district who has lots of at risk or low SES kids, I found all of the information presented to be highly useful, and I recommend any teacher venturing into a title 1 School to look it up. I also recommend you read to completion Ruby Payne's book The Frame Work of Poverty. It really hits the nail on the head when it come to students from struggling backgrounds.
I accessed my online PD from searching Pinterest... but I will post links to these two awesome opportunities!
Breaking the Cycle of Underachievement and loads more...
Getting Money for Your Classroom Projects!
PLN's and Why the Are SO Important
PLNs, or professional learning networks are one awesome tool for teachers, especially during those times of year where we begin feeling a little tired/burnout/undermotivated/overworked. This happens to even the best of us.
Sometimes teachers need a breath of fresh air. New Ideas. Some one else who understands! Professional learning networks can be all this and more. Now that summer has started, I am missing my classroom, my kids, and my routine. I am taking advantage of my awesome PLNs so I can begin planning out my next year. This helps build some excitement and can help ease the omg-so-much-to-do time of the beginning of August.
If you are wondering how to access a PLN, I can safely say you are already SURROUNDED! Twitter using the hashtag #educhat is a great way to start. Checking out blogs, (like this one) can also give you tons of new ideas!
Dive in, fear not, and build yourself and PLN!
Sometimes teachers need a breath of fresh air. New Ideas. Some one else who understands! Professional learning networks can be all this and more. Now that summer has started, I am missing my classroom, my kids, and my routine. I am taking advantage of my awesome PLNs so I can begin planning out my next year. This helps build some excitement and can help ease the omg-so-much-to-do time of the beginning of August.
If you are wondering how to access a PLN, I can safely say you are already SURROUNDED! Twitter using the hashtag #educhat is a great way to start. Checking out blogs, (like this one) can also give you tons of new ideas!
Dive in, fear not, and build yourself and PLN!
Friday, June 7, 2013
What Teachers Learn.....
Teachers learn some of the strangest lessons.
This year, I have learned more from my students than I ever thought was possible! I have learned that students, no matter how they feel about school, will respond positively if you show them love and give them some where to belong! I have learned that if you have a rubber snake hidden in your desk, they will eventually stop opening your desk drawers! I learned if you give students a chance to help you decorate your room, they are less likely to help destroy it! I learned students love to surprise their teachers, like the time one of my boys hid in my cabinet before class. He then preceded to make me think they had hidden a squirrel in my room, because he was SO very good at mimicking one!
If you give students ownership of their school they will have more pride. If you let students help choose what they learn, they get to learn they will be more likely to stay engaged. They want to feel responsible for their own futures, and they want to feel respected!
They just want to belong. They want to have purpose.
I also learned how to sound exactly like a squirrel.
This year, I have learned more from my students than I ever thought was possible! I have learned that students, no matter how they feel about school, will respond positively if you show them love and give them some where to belong! I have learned that if you have a rubber snake hidden in your desk, they will eventually stop opening your desk drawers! I learned if you give students a chance to help you decorate your room, they are less likely to help destroy it! I learned students love to surprise their teachers, like the time one of my boys hid in my cabinet before class. He then preceded to make me think they had hidden a squirrel in my room, because he was SO very good at mimicking one!
If you give students ownership of their school they will have more pride. If you let students help choose what they learn, they get to learn they will be more likely to stay engaged. They want to feel responsible for their own futures, and they want to feel respected!
They just want to belong. They want to have purpose.
I also learned how to sound exactly like a squirrel.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)