Happy Anniversary, Teachers!

Uncategorized

IMG_9481Today I am celebrating my 20th wedding anniversary, and I don’t want to spend it with this computer, so I’ll be brief.  Naturally my thoughts turn this week to the importance of anniversaries.  For many of us, like me today, we celebrate wedding anniversaries or other dates of significant importance in our lives.   It is the perfect time to stop, remember and reflect.  Today I am remembering why I chose to share my life with this wonderful man. He is the most patient, kind, gentle, intelligent and even-tempered man I know and I loved that about him.  I am reflecting on why we chose to build a life together.  I wanted someone to share my happiness and my sorrows.  I wanted to create a family filled with love and joy.  So today I don’t just remember those hopes, I reflect on how I am living them and keeping them as true today as they were 20 years ago.

This month, many teachers will be celebrating their “Teaching Anniversary “.   While some give this little thought, others will spend time remembering those first days, weeks and year(s) of teaching.   This anniversary is the perfect time to stop, remember and reflect.  We cannot possibly remember everything but each teacher can easily conjure up images of incredible highs and lows no matter how long their career.  Try to laugh at the gaffs and pause at the poignancy of those memories.  As Martina McBride sang, “Every laugh line on your face made you who you are today,” or Kelly Clarkson  mused, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!”

 

 

IMG_9490
My class 20 years ago!

 

So as you are preparing your rooms and yourselves to go back into the classroom, I encourage you to celebrate your anniversary.  Take time to remember the big and small moments that celebrate YOU as a teacher.  But also take time to reflect on why you chose teaching as a career.  What is it you wanted about teaching that would bring meaning to your life?  Then as you step back into the classroom, bring that with you.   Keep those hopes and dreams you had as a new teacher alive in your heart.  Maybe you’ll find that you worry less about those bulletin boards, name tags, desk arrangements and school supplies and you’ll look forward to those faces looking up to you and those hearts ready to love you.  You might embrace the challenge of those daring you to teach them or reach them. You might remember that making a difference requires making things different and that’s rarely easy.  If your preparation doesn’t bring some joy or excited anticipation the way that first year did, ask yourself why?  Anniversaries offer us opportunities to rekindle the magic. Life is too short to live without that magic.

IMG_9489
Ocean field trip with my first graders, 20 years ago.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

 

What’s on My Book Radar?

Not exactly a beach book, but this is a must read for anyone who’s “First World Problems” are causing them angst.  There are many books about the holocaust, most are not appropriate for school aged children to bear witness to, but The Boy on The Wooden Box is a powerful memoir about resilience, compassion and real heroes in life.  Leon Leyson’s remarkable memoir takes us from the ghettos of Krakow to Oskar Schindler’s factory, and introduces us to one of the biggest heroes of the Holocaust.

A better ‘beach book ‘ might be The Summer I Saved the World in 65 Days.  Nina Ross believes that simple kindness can change the world and she begins to live what she believes with subtle but profound results.  Wish I had started reading this one at the beginning of the summer!  Great read for ending a school year and launching kids into a summer of kindness.

 

HAPPY READING

Why Vacation Makes Me a Better Teacher

Uncategorized, , , , , ,
IMG_9011
Cappucino at Cafe Vittoria (North End of Boston)

I spent the past weekend (plus a day) in Boston with my sisters and a friend from college (Southern Illinois University) that I hadn’t seen in over 20 years.  When I first met Cheryl, she was a criminal justice major and I was a theater major.  I suppose it is somewhat ironic that it led us to jobs that are very similar in education-me as a literacy coach in Maine and Cheryl as director of instructional support at the Indian Community School in Milwaukee.

As we talked and shared some great times together I realized how important it is for teachers to LIVE life outside of school, to immerse themselves in the history, culture, geography, and people of the world around them.  This is the world we are trying to prepare our students for.  Our goal isn’t to create successful students that exists only within the four walls of the classroom, it is to create citizens who appreciate and contribute to their communities and society in ways that enhance us all. We can’t guide our students toward that which we do not appreciate, understand or experience for ourselves! In the information age with the internet and variety of  technology it is easy to forget how important first hand experiences are in shaping our understanding and appreciation of the world. I reflected on several examples this weekend which enhanced my life experience and in essence, will make me a better teacher.

IMG_9043
Boston Public Garden

HISTORY

Just mention the word Boston and images of colonial America and the American revolution come to mind.  It is one thing to read about history, it is another to walk the same steps, view the same documents and surround yourself with the artifacts that define our history.  We walked the Freedom Trail past the Old North Church, Paul Revere’s home, Faneuil Hall, the old state house (site of Boston Massacre) and through Boston Common.  The city is dripping with history that teachers can bring to life in their classrooms.

IMG_9065
Posing with the Magna Carta

We were also fortunate that one of the four surviving copies of the  Magna Carta  was on display at the Museum of Fine Arts, (along with two manuscript copies of the Declaration of Independence-one penned by Thomas Jefferson and one by John Adams, and the Sons of Liberty Bowl created by Paul Revere).  I contemplated more IMG_9062than once, the significance of these artifacts in advocating the rights of individuals, and how that relates to the advocacy of student rights teachers champion each day.  A teacher who can convey the relevance of historic documents and artifacts to our lives today, can help her students embrace their own role in the ongoing history of our society-to help them appreciate that our actions create the history for future generations.

CULTURE

IMG_9118
Close up of Van Gogh’s Houses at Auvers

While at the MFA, we also took in the incredible art on display.  We were mesmerized by the ancient cultures of Egypt with the ornate artwork accompanying the dead into the after life, by the icons of the Renaissance, the illuminating strokes of the impressionists, the intricate strokes of the realists, and the whimsical strokes of the abstract expressionists.   I was juxtaposing the interpretation of the world these artists displayed in their work, with the writing my students create to interpret and explain their world.  Each brush stroke is like a pencil stroke, resulting in the culmination of a ‘masterpiece’ when the creator is finished.  Each technique so different, each interpreted so differently, each awaiting the eye of the beholder.

GEOGRAPHY

Getting out and exploring the geography of your surroundings can not only be awe IMG_9197inspiring but eye opening.  I reflected on how small the known geography of my students’ world is for most of them and how important it is for teachers to broaden their horizons to create possibilities.  How would their thinking be different if they could envision the narrow cobblestone street of the North End of Boston while reading about immigrants, or hear the seagulls surrounding an incoming fishing boat heavy with the aroma of their catch as IMG_9132they study industry, or walk the varied coastlines of sand and rocky shores as they study weathering and geology.  I contemplated ways to bring those experiences into the classroom for our students who are limited in their direct observation of the world outside of their neighborhoods.  A teacher’s experiences shape the way they share, I want my own children’s teachers to share the world with them.

PEOPLE

IMG_9021
Haymarket in Boston

Probably one of the most important reasons teachers need a vacation from their schools, is to interact with people from varying professions, regions, cultures, etc.  The school year can keep us pretty insulated within the world of academia.  The opportunity to immerse ourselves in other regions or communities helps us develop empathy, compassion, understanding, and appreciation for people who do not necessarily think, believe or live the way we do.  We break down the walls of “otherness” when we meet and engage with a variety of people from different walks of life.  Surprisingly, you often don’t really need to travel too far to experience this variety. If teachers don’t expand their worldview, they are limiting the educational opportunities they could offer their students as well as their ability to appreciate the uniqueness of individuals as human beings and not just students.

IMG_9033
Make Way for Ducklings sculptures in Boston’s Public Garden

Now, I know a lot of people would argue that teachers could do this on weekends or on the week vacation many people get.  Some could, but most spend weekends regrouping, recuperating and refocusing on their families, personal needs and even more work.  It is only when those needs are met that teachers can engage in the ‘research’ of the world around them-can explore ways to bring the world into their classrooms.  If society saw education as an investment in the lives of our children and our future, they would encourage  their teachers to have as many rich experiences in life and as deep an understanding of the world as possible. They would honor the need for a break from the classroom for teachers AND students. (I will talk another time on why I think breaks from school are just as important for students.)

As Maya Angelou said, “You are the sum total of everything you’ve ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot – it’s all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.”  Everything I have done this summer, will influence how I teach the rest of my life.  My vacations make me a better teacher because I work hard, play hard and immerse myself in the “real world” that I am preparing my students to thrive in.

What’s on My Book Radar?

On my train ride home from Boston I devoured Neil Gaiman’s The Ocean at the End of the Lane.  I was totally absorbed by this mesmerizing tale of the adventurous friendship between a young boy and his neighbor, Lettie Hempstock, as they try to save their community from a supernatural being that has invaded the town.  I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, but fan’s of Gaiman’s fantasy style will LOVE this latest offering. Easily read in an afternoon, but will stay with you for much, much longer!

Also recommended is a series introduced to me by my longtime college friend, Cheryl Weber.  Welcome to the world of Aldo Zelnick!

1393724_10204554243435777_6493059217117274678_nhttp://www.aldozelnick.com/books

Aldo is a 10 year old boy who lives with his family in Colorado.  His story is told through a series of graphic novel books whose titles are presented in alphabetical order (Artsy Fartsy, Bogus, Cahoots…) The author, Karla Oceanak, also offers a glossary of words that correlate to that letter of the alphabet- a feature I thought would really turn kids onto vocabulary in a fun way.    This series would be the elementary age equivalent to Diary of a Wimpy Kid, but with a regional Rocky Mountain flare.  (Talk about bringing the world into your classroom!).

So if you are looking for a series to engage younger readers who aspire to read Diary of a Wimpy kid, but aren’t quite ready to comprehend the tragicomedy of middle school- you might want to check out this series.  You might have to do some searching though, as they are not on the shelves of many local libraries or bookstores just yet.

 

 

Slow Down, Look Around

Uncategorized, , ,

IMG_8840 - Version 2Many teachers I know are familiar with the analogy of summer vacation being like a weekend; June is the Friday, July is the Saturday and August is the Sunday.  We tend to respond the same way to our summers as we do to our weekends, often driven by the same thoughts and behaviors.  As I write this, on my “Saturday evening”, I am pausing IMG_8817to reflect and project on the time I call vacation.  As much as I try, I cannot slow time, but I know I can be more present in the moments I am given, and that is about as close as I can come to deceleration.

So yesterdaIMG_8814y I decided that I was going to slow down and really look around.  I wanted to try to be present in each moment I could, appreciate how beautiful my world is and be grateful for the life I have.  I tried not to worry about ‘to do’ lists, work awaiting me at home or school, curriculum, manuscripts, housework, etc.  Whatever I was doing, or wherever I was, I wanted to experience it fully.

As you can see, it did not stop time-the day passed, as all do.  But I can already IMG_8912see that parts of that day are going to travel forward with me.  Some of the images, some of the thoughts, some of the feelings I experienced made a strong enough impression that I hope will sustain me when life seems to be racing far too fast.  When I revisit these images on those crazy days to come, I hope some of that peace and gratitude will revisit my spirit.

Now I happen to think I am incredibly lucky to live in a breathtakingly beautiful place.  Maine has such diverse natural IMG_8869beauty that I can’t possibly  experience it all in a single day, so I chose a few of my favorites to savor for my day.  Wherever you live, you can  find beauty as well.  Let yourself be drawn to the places that fill you with awe and gratitude; a park, a cornfield, a stream, aIMG_8874 city skyline or your backyard.  When you find it, slow down.  Look around.  Tune out the rest of the world for just a few moments.  Become awash with the sounds, the smells, the spectacle of what is in front of you and around you.  Draw it, photograph it, write about it so that you can return to it when you need to.

We cannot slow or stop time, but we can capture moments with intention, focus and gratefulness.  We can share them or stash them away for future reminiscence.  Where will you slow down and look around and capture a moment?IMG_8823

May you savor your summer and replenish your spirit, wherever you are.

 

 

 

What’s on My Book Radar?

IMG_8915I just finished Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline.  I am not sure how this part of our nation’s history was something I knew almost nothing about.  From the 1850’s to the 1930’s children categorized as orphans from cities and towns on the east coast, boarded trains and were shipped west.  Though the benevolent intention was to find good homes for these unwanted children, that was not always the outcome.  Baker beautifully weaves the life of 90 year old Vivian, a former train rider, with Molly, a young foster child in Maine as the strike up an unlikely friendship.  You will truly appreciate how luck plays such a dramatic role in the fate of so many lives.  I couldn’t help but think of our modern day ‘orphan’ crisis on the southern borders of our country right now as I read about the disparate acts of kindness or contempt that these helpless children faced. History does have a way of repeating itself.

 

 

#TeachersWrite

Uncategorized, , , , , ,

10497946_876609592353825_1937506217078596531_o What are you doing this summer?  Want to participate in the hottest camp around? Teachers Write is a virtual camp for teachers to create, develop and share writing with published authors who donate their time to mentor, encourage and provide feedback to teachers . As founder Kate Messner describes it, “Teachers Write is a community of teachers and librarians who believe that people teaching writing should walk the walk.”

I’ve become more and more convinced that teachers of writing should be teachers who write.  That’s not to say we all need a goal to be a published author, but that we experience the highs and lows, the joys and the struggles of the writing process we are teaching our students. I first blogged (Teacher of Writing or Writing Teacher) about this in March after #Engchat on Twitter with Kelly Gallagher, Penny Kittle and Georgia Heard.  I was struck by a quote from Donald Graves…

“You can’t call yourself a writing teacher if you are not writing yourself. “

That became a call to action for me.  I needed to “Be the change I wished to see in the world.” (Gandhi)  I had already been journaling daily and blogging weekly, but I started trying out some of the assignments that kids were being asked to do, and not finding them easy!  I had a great deal more empathy for those novice writers and could better anticipate the supports that they may need to find success.  I could appreciate the commitment and stamina it took to stay with a piece of writing that you didn’t feel invested in.  One of the biggest perks that I hadn’t anticipated, was an even deeper appreciation for the books I was reading.  The turn of a phrase, the imagery, the word choice, or structure of a book suddenly tasted sweeter!

It also gave me the courage to try my hand at some professional writing.  I’ve immersed myself in reading, research and reflection on my teaching/coaching to help me compose some ideas around the teaching of writing.  I have made a commitment to this project for the summer that will be shared with precious little else (my family, #Teachers Write and my #BookaDay challenge!).

If you are looking for a challenge this summer to take your thinking and teaching to a whole new level, I would strongly encourage you to sign up for Teachers Write and visit Kate Messner’s webpage to get started.  You’ve only missed a few days as it runs July 7-August 15.  You can follow Kate on Twitter @KateMessner as well as fellow authors and mentors Gae Polisner @GaePo, Jo Knowles @JoKnowles, Jen Vincent @mentor texts.  There will also be guest authors throughout the ‘camp’ so you definitely do not want to miss out!

Kate asks that you support these authors by buying or checking out their books this summer.  It’s also a great way to appreciate the thinking of these mentors when you are familiar with their work!   So do yourself a favor this summer and join one of the BEST summer camps going!  You don’t have to post your work, but if you do you will receive encouragement and support from some of the best in the business!!

HAPPY WRITING!!

 

What’s on My Book Radar?

I just finished these two books for my #BookaDay Challenge and I am ready to dive into some #TeachersWrite author books.

18635089 18405537

Nothing like a bit of fantasy during those summer evenings reading on the deck or hammock.  These were amazingly quick reads as I was sucked right into the engaging plots.  Time travel in SLB and legends and lore in TNG!  LOVED them both!

TBR…

Now I need to check out the #Teachers Write guest author’s books!

YAY Books!  YAY Authors!!

9781416995005 9780763664558 9781250019332 9780375854118

wakeum

Happy Reading!

The Best PD of My Life!

Uncategorized, , ,

IMG_824616 Years ago today I began the best professional development of my life.  With the arrival of my 9lb 13oz daughter, Bailey,  I became a mother and from that day on I was changed for the better.  Now I don’t believe being a parent necessarily makes everyone a better teacher.  I have many teacher friends who are unbelievably talented educators who are not parents and I have met some less than effective teachers who have begotten children of their own.

It is not the circumstances of our life that is responsible for shaping us, it is our perception, appreciation and responses that fashion the people we become. Having my daughter did not bestow upon me any special teaching expertise.  What it did do was offer me the opportunity to experience the world through a child’s eyes again.  It constantly reminded me that children are far more than just students, they are human beings with lives outside of those classroom walls and dreams that extend beyond the goals of any curriculum.  It allowed me to empathize with the parents of my students in ways I could not have imagined.  It helped me to deeply understand the developmental, emotional, cognitive and social needs as my children passed through each stage of childhood.

When my son, Casey, arrived two years later my understanding and empathy for boys became an eye opening experience.  It helped me to appreciate children as individuals on a much deeper level-I could no longer think of siblings in schools the same way.  I began to look for the ‘specialness’ in each of them, because I knew it was there.  I began to challenge prejudices and assumptions based on gender, birth order, family history, etc.  I learned to accept my children for who they are and not just for the hopes I had for them as babies.  I’ve watched my daughter grow into an amazing dancer  and not the tom boy/athlete I was in my youth- and I am in awe of her.  They will have lives that I can not even imagine and yet it is my role to prepare them for it.  That is the same task we as teachers have for our students.

So I want to thank my children for the professional development you have offered me over IMG_8254the past 16 years.  You have challenged my thinking (and my authority!).  You have provided me with experiences I would never have chosen.  You have taught me patience, stamina and empathy for others on a daily basis.  You have compelled me to seek balance in my life as I juggle my needs with yours.  You have helped make me the person I am today-not perfect, but perceptive, patient and positive.  I can’t wait to see what lessons the next 16 years will offer me.

The best professional development we as educators can have is that which shapes our world view and not just our classroom practice.  It helps us to be better people so that we can be better teachers of people.  It breeds understanding and empathy and not just pedagogy.  We all should look for those opportunities in our lives and embrace them when they come along.  What’s the best PD that you have received in your life?

 

What’s on My Book Radar?

IMG_8097I didn’t want this book to end.  I loved Gae’s message of hope and redemption.  I cared so much about Francesca and Frankie that I didn’t want to leave them behind when I’d read the last pages.  These characters have flaws that we can all identify with and hearts that break and mend and forgive in ways that can help us reflect on our own relationships. I didn’t want to let go of The Summer of Letting Go!

 

HAPPY READING!

 

Book-A-Day 2014

Uncategorized, , ,

Hey All You Nerdy Book Club teachers or just Nerdy Readers…You are probably out of school by  now (even if you live in Maine)!  It’s time to think about the Sixth Annual Book-A-Day 1621704_667566729951571_1638043617_nChallenge!  

Established by Donalyn Miller (The Book Whisperer), it began as her public commitment to continue reading and sharing books with other readers all summer long.  The goal is to read one book a day, each day and post about it.  Sounds daunting at first, but her rules are simple…

  • You set your own start date and end date.
  • Read one book per day for each day of summer vacation. This is an average, so if you read three books in one day (I know you’ve done this!) and none the next two, it still counts.
  • Any book qualifies including picture books, nonfiction, professional books, audio books, graphic novels, poetry anthologies, or fiction—children’s, youth, or adult titles.
  • Keep a list of the books you read and share them often via a social networking site like Goodreads or Twitter (post using the #bookaday hashtag), a blog, or Facebook page. You do not have to post reviews, but you can if you wish. Titles will do.

 

So as you can see…ANY book qualifies.  I couldn’t possibly do it without a cache of picture books on hand, books I might not otherwise check out…  I learned some really fun things like:    Every major league baseball is treated with something very common yet very secretive!  10303374_10204293324792974_5521659285391223163_nOR  A major concert artist gave a performance at a D.C. metro stop and the reaction was surprising!10439432_10204252689937128_548567021298871530_n

I am savoring some YA books I’ve been waiting to read…

looking-for-alaska 18267071

And diving into an engaging “Not This, But That” series that includes titles such as:9780325049045 9780325051147 9780325049038

The only thing keeping the volume of reading down for me this summer, is a new goal of writing everyday.  Immersing myself in this new venture has been exciting, exhausting and sometimes frustrating.  Being able to relax and escape back into a book has taken on a whole new importance!

So I’ll throw down the gauntlet to my friends and followers.  Can YOU read a book a day?  Give it a try, it’s a challenge I think you’ll enjoy!  If you want to post, use the hashtag #BookaDay on your favorite social media site.

 

Happy Reading!!

Summer Kids

Uncategorized,

imagesThe end of a school year is a celebration for many, but for some it signals the loss of learning and relationships for the summer months. Not only do many kids stop reading, writing and computing, they stop connecting with others-especially adults outside of family.   Our schools have grappled with a variety of summer programs and incentives to keep kids reading and learning.  As I noted in my previous blog Summer Slip and Slide there is a mix of results, primarily because the onus is on the student and their family to maintain stamina and momentum over the summer months.  These students then often struggle to transition back into school routines and expectations.

One of our brilliant guidance counselors, Michelle Michaud, has watched this phenomenon over the years in her role as a building principal and counselor and felt compelled to address some of the aspects which cause students to struggle.  She noticed that it often took until October for some students to settle back in to routines and expectations.  She designed a SUMMER KIDS pilot for this year to address her biggest concerns.

“As I began to think about summer and all the kids who struggle with the transition out of school for the summer-that got me thinking about how students struggle to adjust back to the order of school after a summer off.  So I thought about how to keep a connection, a way for them to remember that we are still around and that school is still here while they are away.”- Michelle Michaud

SUMMER KIDSSummer-Reading-photo-Arden

Several students from each classroom were selected by teachers and parent opt out forms went to parents so they decide if they didn’t wanted their child to participate.  There are 4 basic components to the pilot

1. Personalized Postcards   Each Summer Kid will receive a post card EACH week of their summer vacation to let them know we are still here and thinking of them. Keeping the school connections strong over the summer months and providing encouragement and suggestions for learning and summer fun.

2. Popsicles on the Playground   Midway through the summer there is a scheduled play date at the school playground for the children and their families to come and connect with staff and enjoy a frozen treat. Staff can check in with kids and keep those relationships with students and families going strong.

3. Book Gifts  Each student will have books mailed to them 2 times during the summer to encourage reading and remind them that school is still here, waiting for their return.

4. Check In Check Out (CICO)  Each Summer Kid participant will have a staff member check in with them at the beginning and end of each day during the entire month of September to help the transition back into school. Teachers can praise and encourage the good work and effort of students and be available to process and problem solve any difficult situations.  Any student who continues to need help/support will continue to have CICO or we will design a more appropriate support.

free-summer-fantasy-landscape-for-desktop-wallpaper_640x480_80970Michelle purchased the postcards and the staff  who wished to participate could fill them out before the end of the school year.  She and our fantastic principal would send them out each week of the summer and plan the Popsicles on the Playground event.  The teachers were excited about helping out and connecting with kids, the students are going to be so thrilled to know that somebody is thinking about them and caring about them all summer long, and the parents will know that we are there for them and their child all year long.

I love that the focus isn’t about raising test scores or grades, but on supporting the student as a human being first.  Addressing their transition issues, strengthening relationships, building positive images of schools and education, and seeing the whole child would most likely lead to stronger achievement.  But showing kindness and caring will even more likely lead to healthier children-physically, intellectually and emotionally.  THAT is a greater mission.

Do YOU know a Summer Kid you could reach out to? 

 

What’s on My Book Radar?

This summer I want to participate in the 6th Annual Nerdy Book Club Bookaday Challenge. Since I am also going to try to Kate Messner’s #TeachersWrite challenge, my reading time will have to share the stage with my writing time.  To be able to read a Book a Day, I am going to seriously catch up on some picture book reading. I’ll start with Maine’s Chickadee Award Nominees for 2014

Here are a few of the books I am anxious to dive into:

9781402280139_p0_v1_s260x420 9780811866903_p0_v1_s260x420 9781847802187 9781600606595_p0_v1_s260x420

 

 

 

End of Year Overload

Uncategorized, ,

Another school year is winding down…or is it?

1912071_10204132270246711_2958971016698348674_n
10:45 on a Monday night

As I write this, it is approaching crazy o’clock at night and my 7th grade son is still up working on homework.  He’s been at it over 3 hours after spending the previous 3 hours working on a project for a Showcase this week at school.  I started to notice posts on Twitter and Facebook from other students and parents who were expressing stress and anxiety over the workloads and deadlines they were experiencing.  It got me wondering how much thought went into the assigning of these tasks during the last few weeks of school.   It made me wonder…

Are We Teachers Aware of Other Assignments Being Given?

When students begin to have multiple teachers, we need to find some way to increase communication regarding homework and assignments.  It can be difficult enough when one teacher assigns a large amount of work, but it is excruciating when several do at the same time.  The idea that “it’s just a few pages” only holds true for that one teacher,  and not so much for the student who has those pages multiplied times each class they take.

Are We Teachers Aware of Other Obligations Students Have?

Sure it would be nice if we teachers knew about our students’ dance recitals, ball games, tournaments, church events or summer jobs that require them to start already, and how they might impact a student’s ability to complete projects or assignments.  But students also have school based obligations and events that flood this time of the year that teachers should be aware of.  Our family had 3 band concerts in 3 weeks, we have school based athletic events, we have art shows and gifted and talented showcases, we have multiple award nights for music, academics and sports-all school related!!  We say we want well rounded children with multiple interests and talents, but many students are so stressed out by ‘celebrations’ and ‘culminating events’ that they do not feel like celebrating…they feel like crying.  It’s crazy how May and June evenings are packed with school-based events after a full day of school for these kids.

Are We Teachers Aware of How Much Time the Assignments Take to Complete?

10329209_10204132618855426_7745315506282421044_n
11:45 and we’re still not done…

When I asked a teacher recently how long she thought an assignment would take her students to complete one night she responded, “I don’t know. An hour?”  Now we all know that students DO NOT work at the same pace in school, so how would they possibly be expected to work at the same pace outside of school, where the distractions can be greater and the work environment may not be as friendly?    I wonder how many of us teachers actually complete the assignments ourselves occasionally, to gain some appreciation for the demands of the task.  If it takes us 15 minutes, we should double that for our better students, triple it for our average students and quadruple + it for our lower students to get a ballpark idea of the time commitment we are laying on these kids.

Do We Teachers Explain the Learning Target for the Assignment? Do We Know It?

Is the homework a series of tasks that seem like busy work to students or could students actually explain what the expected outcome for the assignment would be?  When I asked my son what he was learning in his ELA homework he said, “Just reading and answering questions.”   Now I wouldn’t take that answer as an indicator of the teacher’s competence or a complete accounting of the needed skills, but when I looked at the reading passages and the copious amount of questions that followed I had to wonder why he wasn’t reading a book!  We laughed at the ridiculousness of some of the questions and the tiny size of the boxes in which to ‘construct’ a response. My son reads all the time and has incredible comprehension as a result, what he was being asked was pure busy work, and when there are so many amazing books waiting to be read out there, I was frustrated that he needed to spend an hour with a worksheet and not diving into the pages of an amazing book!!

Do We Teachers Understand the Purpose for Homework?

These questions aren’t meant to be flip or disrespectful.  Do we as teachers ask ourselves, why would I give this assignment as homework?  Does this child need extra practice with this skill?  Does this child need to gain automaticity or fluency with some behavior?  Is this task best done without my help, supervision and feedback? Could this task confuse, frustrate or misguide the student? If so, what are the repercussions of that?  Does it matter if parents help (because some will and some won’t -or can’t)?  Can the child already do this? If they can’t, will sending it home be the best way to help them learn it?  Does this task have application to his/her real world skillset needs?  If not, would it be best done in school? What is the cost-benefit analysis for all of this work?

Screen Shot 2014-06-03 at 8.42.28 PM

Over the many years I’ve been teaching the issue of homework seems to boil down to:

If the student already knows how to do something, why does he need homework to do more of it?   

If the student doesn’t know how to do it, shouldn’t we be there to model, demonstrate, teach, guide and provide immediate feedback?

There are a few tasks that require subtle degrees of practice, such as reading, writing, computation that might benefit from additional practice, and some authentic practice could be accomplished as homework,  but we also need to consider:

Do Schools Have a Right to Dictate What Families Do In Their Own Homes?

IMG_3433
working on a research paper while ‘watching’ the ball game

We cringe sometimes when we are told how to do our jobs by those who do not reside in our schools and classrooms.  Yet we often have no problem telling children and parents what to do with their precious time together.  Are we robbing them of conversations around the dinner table, walks or bike rides together, family movie nights, read alouds of favorite books, hobbies or crafts they enjoy? Kids need unstructured time to explore, create, play, negotiate rules, solve boredom issues, get lost in a book,  nap, hang out with siblings, or do whatever THAT particular family values.

Does Homework Work?

Does anyone have any hard evidence that assigning homework statistically increases that student’s learning?  Are they thinking deeper?  Are they computing faster?  Are they problem solving more effectively? Are they more prolific writers?  I think it is time we looked at the efficacy of our policies around homework and in particular assignments and projects at the END of the learning year.  If we are cramming it in because we didn’t get something in the curriculum ‘covered’ or because we want them to ‘demonstrate’ a year’s worth of learning in a project are we fooling ourselves into thinking real learning is taking place?

What Are Some Alternatives?

As the year winds down, take time IN CLASS to reflect on the learning that has occurred.  It is a great time to examine a students’ learning history with samples of work that demonstrated his/her abilities.  It is a time for the students to reflect on themselves as learners.  What do they do well?  What do they enjoy learning?  What did they overcome? Instead of piling on more tasks, it is important to take time to savor the learning that happened, to appreciate all the effort and commitment the students have put in.  Recognizing achievements rather than cramming in more expectations will create a more satisfying ending to the school year.  If you REALLY want homework, encourage those conversations to happen at home.  Have them talk with their parents about their school year and reflect on how they have grown.  Sure, you could create a template…or not.

Create a plan for battling ‘Summer Slide’ WITH the students.  Have them take part in creating ideas, activities, book lists, games, etc that they might enjoy over the summer.  Share with them information on the benefits of reading over the summer.  SHOW, don’t TELL!   Help them set some goals and some methods for accountability.  If they don’t have ‘skin in the game’ there is very little chance they will follow through.

RELAX, REFLECT, REJOICE!    You don’t have to stop teaching and learning, just don’t feel the need to do it all in the last few weeks! It has been a learning-packed school year. Take time to appreciate it.  Take time to enjoy your students before they leave you.  Take time to leave a positive impression of your time together.  Your students will thank you.  Their parents will thank you.  You will thank yourself!!

 What’s On My Book Radar?

Unless you have been living under a rock, or have no teens in your life, you may be unaware of a HUGE event happening this weekend…

If you have not yet read John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, RUN, don’t walk to your nearest bookstore and get your hands on this brilliant book.  Then grab your tissues and a teen and head to the theaters.  It is not to be missed!

 

Summer Slip and Slide!

Uncategorized, , , ,

imagesSome of you, as you read this, may already be out on summer vacation, but those of us in Maine have a few weeks to go.  Most of us are busy gathering information and resources to address the inevitable summer slide that our students experience.  This week’s blog is dedicated to that focus.  I would really welcome any other ideas or resources, as I know they abound.

YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER…

We all know that idiom and how it ends.  Similar to how all of our hard work at gathering and dispersing resources tends to end when students do not read or write over the summer months.  Although it is frustrating, you still offer water to your horse!  You just don’t need to lug 50 gallons of Perrier, swirl it ice and lemon slices and serve it up with a silver straw!    We don’t need to spend hours and hours of work or hundreds of dollars for resources to satisfy the thirst of our summer readers.  We can instead try to connect them to the resources already available and ready.

DIGITAL DIVIDE AND CONQUER

Sadly we are all to aware of the haves and have nots in our school communities.  It is no coincidence that the have nots (as far as technology goes) are often our most struggling students.  The correlation between poverty and achievement becomes glaringly obvious when access to technology and online resources are a barrier for student learning.  We cannot make that an excuse for not integrating technology and 21st century skills into our teaching and learning, but we DO need to be aware of access issues and think outside of the box to address them.

summerreading-300x297Knowing our population is key.  Who has access to the internet?  Who has a smart phone or cell phone?  This information can guide the type and amount of work that will go into any summer literacy program you want to implement.  However, any initiative should include non-digital resources for families and students and an assumption that there will be those without access.

This is where the old-fashioned notes home come in.  Pamphlets and handouts with ideas, resources, book lists, etc abound.  Keep them simple.  Keep them user friendly.  They could include local library programs and hours, local bookstore events and information, free museum, films, concerts, or programs to build family experiences or information on local groups that put on family friendly events.    Many libraries set up reading incentive programs that do not require a computer or internet access.  Many bookstores have authors come to visit for free or have pajama nights and read alouds.  Sharing this information with parents is leading the horse to water.

Many schools get books in kids’ hands.  Purchasing inexpensive books, holding book drives for gently used books and setting up book swaps so students can get ‘new to you’ titles in their hands are great ways to promote reading and give your horse a sip!

THE WORLD AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

For those families who do have access to the internet, the world is a finger touch away.kids-computers   We can collect dozens and dozens of resources to share, but that can often overwhelm a parent.  By judiciously choosing some resources that you, or your school thinks are worthy, you can give those families a drink without drowning them.  It can take time to evaluate all of the resources out there, so I’ll share a few with you to get you started.  You may already have all you need, in which case you can tweet them out to me @LitCoachLady on Twitter or LitCoachCorner on Facebook!

BOOKLISTS-  I rarely read a book anymore unless it is recommended.  I just don’t have summer-reading-300x198time to read everything.  I rely on word of mouth or booklist recommendations from organizations I respect.  Now, I don’t always agree with their selections, but these books have been vetted by some pretty wise people and there is a good chance they will be well worth your time.

Here are the books students in Maine will be reading and voting on for the next school year:

Maine Student Book Award Nominees 2014-2015

Here are what students in all of the other states will be reading!

Cynthia Leitich Smith’s 50 State Book Awards Compilation

Here are some recommendations and resources from the Pragmatic Mom!

Pragmatic Mom’s Summer Reading

Recommendations by grade level from Education.com

http://www.education.com/seasonal/summer-reading/

REPRODUCIBLE READING LISTS

American Library Association (ALA)

Scholastic

SUMMER READING PROGRAMS

Scholastic “Keep Kids Reading All Summer-Long”

Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Challenge

Pottery Barn Summer Reading Challenge

ONLINE RESOURCES: Books

StarWalk Kids- Free Digital Library for the month of July

Storyline Online Have great books read aloud!

PBS Kids books, games, activities galore!

Starfall  online books

ONLINE RESOURCES: Magazines for kids

Time for Kids

National Geographic for Kids

Newsela   (news articles for middle elementary and up)

TEACHER RESOURCES for FAMILIES

Reading Rockets Family Ideas

Reading Logs

RIF=Reading is Fundamental

Read Write Think

PBS-“how to tackle school summer reading lists”

 KIDS BOOK REVIEWS

Spaghetti Book Club – book reviews BY kids, FOR kids

Kids’ Book Review

Kidsreads

Common Sense Media

 WRITING RESOURCES

Journal Buddies- Summer Writing Prompts

Boys To Books- Writing Ideas for Boys

Scholastic Summer Writing

SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter –  create a school hashtag ex. #LincolnSummerReaders to post ideas and keep in touch  Teachers can follow the hashtag #SummerReading

 Facebook- create a private group where you can send parents updates, reminders, event times, resources, etc.  Since students under 13 should not be on Facebook, I would promote this as a parent resource.

Edmodo- some teachers create Edmodo groups for their students to connect with their teacher and classmate about books and learning.  It is a free “Facebook-like” platform that ensures privacy for students to blog and connect.

 Kidblog- parents or teachers can set up kids on a safe blogging site to get them writing and blogging over the summer months and beyond

Texting- Remind 101- safe, one way texting application to stay in touch with parents about summer literacy books, events, ideas.

 

Whatever you or your school decides to do, keep it fun…keep it light…keep it simple.  Remember this IS a vacation for the kids, a time to be with family and make memories outside of school.  Ideally they would all read, write, compute, experiment and create all summer long.  We know that isn’t the reality for a lot of our kids, but all we can do is supply the water and then let the horses out to pasture!

540_293_resize_20131001_acdf114d7886f5ca3f7a737d6a3825d2_jpg

Whats On My Book Radar?

In case you didn’t notice all of the booklists above…THAT’S what’s on my radar! Checking though the lists, looking at recommendations from friends, lining up my personal summer reading lists.  Can’t wait to dig in!

 

 

What’s Your Metaphor?

Uncategorized, , , , , , , ,
images“The unexamined life is not worth living.”  -Socrates

I’m not exactly as bold as Socrates with my desire for self-reflection.  My life is still worth living, even as I stumble through it mindlessly on many a day.  But I do find deeper meaning in life when I take some time to reflect, examine and learn using some of the same principles and ideas that I embrace in my work with my other experiences.  So what in my day to day life would benefit from some of this reflection? How can I integrate my goal of reframing  into this process?

One way is to think more metaphorically, to help me make some meaningful connections and revelations.  Metaphors are powerful tools.  They help us to think about something familiar from a different angle, perhaps to gain a deeper perspective.  We can often discover new meaning in the common experiences -making the ordinary, more extraordinary.  How can I learn some deeper lessons and create more meaning from the ordinary in my life?

541563_4354260774408_1957174005_n
Starting line with my son in Boston.

It hit me when I was out for a run this past weekend.  (Now, I should probably clarify my definition of ‘run’.  For those who know me, I am the fabled tortoise of the classic tale.) I took the winter off from running, in Maine snowshoeing and cross country skiing are more efficient modes of bipedal transportation.  So this spring I am in the process of getting my running groove back. It could be a bit  frustrating to start from the beginning, but I decided I would focus on the process and reflect on my progress.  So I thought…

Running is a metaphor.

217379_10200839939813460_1105979158_n
Miles for Mills 5K in Augusta, ME

There are dozens of running philosophers you can follow, but  for me I’ve contemplated a few ideas that shed some light on deeper truths for me in life.  How is running like teaching and learning (life)? Here are a few thoughts.

“You get out of it what you put into it.” This is so true.  My results are tied directly to my efforts, there are no cheats or ways around it.  I can’t look for a quick fix.  Teaching and learning is the same way-our results correlate with our efforts.  There are no easy answers for education reform, we know it is a lot of hard work over time that will yield results. To get stronger and better you need to push yourself, out of your comfort zone.  This isn’t always pleasant, but when you can see the results and understand their direct link, the process becomes a welcome challenge. We can help our students see the reward and benefit of moving out of that comfort zone when they can see results. There is no progress without effort.

1509253_10203702591345007_7132437575831244755_n
My one and only marathon!

“Do the best with what you’ve got.”- I do not have the body of Joan Benoit Samuelson, but I did run a marathon once.  She could have run several marathons in the time it took me to run mine-but it was my best and I did it with what I had.  The pride she felt when she was the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the event must have been comparable to  the sense of accomplishment and pride I experienced crossing that finish line.  When we know we have done our best, THAT should be our measure of success.  Not all of our students will cross the finish line of their education at the same pace, but if we help them to do their very best with what they have-we will have been successful.

404513_10100241272749329_1678537916_n
Companionship trumps conditions!

 “If you wait for perfect conditions, you’ll never get anything done.”- We can always find excuses to avoid the hard work we need to put in.  For running, it is weather or aches or road conditions.  For education it might be kids who aren’t ready, curriculum that isn’t great, books that are outdated, students who are unmotivated, parents who don’t care, etc.  We need to realize the conditions for what they are and then do our jobs in light of those factors.  Face the conditions, prepare for the conditions and then (sorry Nike)  JUST DO IT.  We’ll never get the perfect class, the perfect assessment system, the perfect standards-they are mythical. Stop waiting, start doing.

1170912_10201951619451804_488821943_n
Finishing is fun!

It never gets easier, you just get better. Sorry, for those of you who are waiting for the day when teaching becomes easier.  If you want to be the best  you can be, you never settle for easy.  To continue to grow you need to push yourself, try new things, face new challenges.  In running you move faster or run further or try new courses.  In teaching you read more books, take more classes, try new lessons-you become a leader.  Now don’t get disheartened-it shouldn’t be HARD all the time in life or in running.  But if you get to the point that you can just ‘phone it in’, you might want to hang up!

IMG_6602
Buddies help you create good habits!

Motivation is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you going.  Lots of people jump off the couch and lace up their shoes, determined that this is the year they are getting into shape.  The motivation is invigorating and exhilarating.  Sadly, motivation isn’t enough to sustain the hard work, tough conditions, injuries, setbacks and strain that can come with running. The school year is like that.  We all begin so excited with possibilities and motivation.  It’s hard, but we have the energy and we are determined to build stamina.  As the newness wears off and the year moves on, we need to draw on more than motivation to sustain us.  That’s when the strong habits we have built kick in and keep us on track.  We set ourselves up for success.  We prioritize our time and energy to make it easy to work out or create those lessons.  Creating the conditions that fosters success is critical, because we will all face setbacks, fatigue and disappointment that will zap our motivation.  I remember a quote I once heard that nails it, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”  It’s as true for running as it is for life.

470672_2859115456645_749763786_o
Yeah, I just make it look easy! (haaa)

Nothing worth having comes easy.  If running were easy, we wouldn’t see so many cars on the way to work. Everyone can appreciate the effort it takes to run, whether it is a mile or a marathon. We are  in awe of those who make it look so easy.  We wouldn’t be in awe if it WERE so easy.  That’s what makes it special.  That’s what brings about an incredible sense of accomplishment when you simply finish a race and not just if you win it.  We don’t pat ourselves on the back for sitting in a chair, it’s not an achievement we take satisfaction in.  It’s the choices we make that require effort that provides us with a sense of pride and accomplishment.  Remember that when it gets hard, and take time afterward to appreciate that effort before moving onto the next thing in your busy life.

401905_4149001603057_467602120_n
Being in the moment with my son!

Step. Breathe. Step. Breathe…  Every run is a series of steps.  You can increase your pace, but you can never take more than one at a time.  That’s why there are moments when running is meditative (not to be confused with relaxing).  Runners can focus in on their breath, and the beat of a footstep to create a zen-like state.  You can focus your energy inward and truly be ‘in the moment’ at times.  Your life may seem to move fast, but it’s never more than one step at a time.  When we find opportunities to focus our attention to the step we are taking,  tasks seem more manageable, stress seems less intense, pain seems more tolerable. We don’t have to carry the burden of the entire journey in that moment. We can breathe in new air to refresh the oxygen supply to our cells.  We can breathe new ideas, energy and life into our tired bodies as well.  We can breathe out the carbon dioxide the way we can we can breathe out toxic thoughts, anxieties and perceptions.  Each breath we take refreshes and cleanses our bodies.   Don’t forget to breathe!

548194_4354263054465_337006337_n
Life is RAD!

I’m sure I could think of many more analogies for running and life/learning.  The idea isn’t to overload, but to offer up some food for thought.  Maybe your aren’t a runner.  It might not be your thing.  My point is that we often go through life without much thought on the lessons waiting for us to notice.  Running may not offer you lessons,  but there are choices you make in your life and things that you do that are waiting to teach you- to help you grow.

So to you I would ask, what IS your thing?  What is YOUR metaphor?

What’s On My Book Radar?

51wv0POg6lL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-v3-big,TopRight,0,-55_SX278_SY278_PIkin4,BottomRight,1,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_For anyone who has contemplated running, but didn’t think it was your thing.  You might want to check out “The Penguin” (John Bingham)’s book The Courage To Start.  He writes a monthly column in Runner’s World and has been a huge inspiration for many Couch to 5K enthusiasts.  He took up running at age 43 with a simple jog down his driveway.  This book might be just the inspiration you need to try something new in life.  It could be YOUR new metaphor!