Monday, December 13, 2010

Yet another reason why being a teacher rocks:

SNOW DAYS!

Here in Da Ville - we got between 1-3 inches of snow over the weekend and so school is out. This week before Christmas break will surely prove to be trying as the students already have Santa and stockings on the brain so to have the day off and avoid the craziness outside, my feelings aren't hurt one bit!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

10 years ago, I believed...

Copying one of my favorite teacher blogs, I present my list of things I thought about education 10 years ago:

1. That good manners/behavior could be taught by modeling them alone.
2. That private school parents would be uber-involved in their child's education.
3. Centers were awesome.
4. That pencil & paper work was over-rated.
5. That all cooperative groups should be mixed as far as levels - to "track" students is unfair and unwise.

Now that I am in my 6th year of full-time teaching, I believe.

1. Good manners/behavior must be explicitly taught. Yes, modeling should occur but kids just aren't perspective enough to pick up on your saying "yes ma'am" and "thank you" means they should - you must tell them.
2. I have some WONDERFULLY involved parents at my private school and I have some that aren't. Parents are parents, regardless of where their children attend school.
3. Centers can be awesome, but they take a lot of accountability - kids will "play" and not follow center directions if allowed.
4. Pencil & paper work are not over-rated. Now, pencil and paper still isn't my go-to teaching technique, but sometimes they just need to practice and that's perfectly acceptable.
5. I had bought into the untruth that all cooperative learning groups should be mixed level; believing that students wouldn't be able to discern academic level that way, that students would be able to help each other, etc... Yes some cooperative learning groups should be multi-level. But honestly kids know who can and who can't so don't do multi-level grouping on that basis. Second, yes students can help each other, but higher level students will easily either become arrogant or annoyed if they are always called upon to assist others. I try to do several different grouping techniques - multi-level and homogeneous levels to best benefit the students.


Wonder what I'll learn by 2020?

Friday, December 3, 2010

Praying for Wisdom

From 1 Kings 3

At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, "Ask what I shall give you." And Solomon said, "You have great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and him a son to sit on his throne this day. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?"

I desperately need wisdom in my teaching.

Let me give an example: I am teaching math. A student (who is known for not paying attention) gets up from his desk and walks across the room. What should I do?
A) Rebuke: "Bobby! What are you doing? Get back in your desk, this is math time."
B) Keep on teaching but wait and watch.
You see, I don't know if Bobby is getting up to get a tissue or if he's getting up because he's avoiding the math lesson. If it's the first, I don't need to correct him. But if it's the latter, he needs to be reminded to sit.

This is a daily occurrence in my room. I sadly must admit that all too often I immediately respond with the A option and am immediately convicted of my impatience when the student is simply getting a tissue.

I hate overreacting. I hate when I chastise for no reason. I have to chastise enough already for valid reasons - I hate adding to it.

I so need wisdom.
I need wisdom to discern motives. I need wisdom to discern the truth. I need wisdom to discern actions. I need wisdom to help them learn. I need wisdom to teach them to be wise. I need wisdom to point them to the one who gives wisdom - Jesus Christ.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Laughter...

At one point today, had you walked by my classroom door you would have heard 14 little 2nd graders laughing gut-busting laughs. I don't remember what was so funny, but knowing them - it was probably something silly and/or stupid. But it got me thinking about how thankful I am to teach in a classroom where there is more laughter than tears.