True Collaboration

In many classrooms, the first week is dedicated to getting to know you activities and then teachers dive into the curriculum that needs to be taught. This year, I did things a little differently than I normally do. Each day, I focused on a different essential question that would help our classroom develop as a community.Day one's question was "Who Am I?" Each activity we completed allowed students to learn abouot themselves as an individual. Students participated in games that allowed themselves to express their emotions, project their voices, and gave them the opportunity to share their personalities.

Day two's focus question was "Who am I as a learner?" We spent a great deal of time discovering what our strengths and weaknesses were as learners in our classroom, what stresses us out as learners, what do we need as learners.Day three's focus was "What is my role in a team?" The day consisted of MANY team building activities that forced students into roles they may have been uncomfortable with so I could see their leadership capabilities.
Day four and five focused on leadership and communication. We played games again and discussed what type of leaders are easiest to follow and how we communicated with one another.
The nature of my classroom is different than the way that I was taught in the 80s and 90s. At that time, students didn't have much of a voice in the way they learned. In my classroom, there are many times where I am a facilitator in the learning and my students are driving our lessons. It is an amazing thing to watch and to listen to. My students know exactly what they need in order to succeed. Some teachers are uncomfortable with this type of structure, but it has freed me up to really work with my students in more depth. I know exactly what they struggle with because they share that and recognize the challenges they are facing.

Collaboration is huge in my room. Students are ALWAYS working in groups, discussing with one another, and creating projects together. I feel that when true collaboration is taking place, the product or learning should be greater than what one person can create alone. This week we discussed this concept and my students now agree. We all feel that the work generated by a group should be far better.

I am so excited to see the end results of spending a week focusing on these team building concepts. I have an amazing group of students that I believe will rise to the challenge. Check back to see how things turn out.

2010-11 Classroom Photos

My dear friend, Laura Sorochak, introduced me to Erik Jensen's work when we both moved to our school 4 years ago. Somewhere in his work and in our conversation we discussed how a brain under stress cannot learn. In the past 3 years, I've worked tirelessly to provide a comfortable environment for my students to learn in without stress. My Teacher of the Year video allowed me to share this with LOTS of people. In my video I talked about how my students come to school and kick their shoes off, find a comfortable spot - which may or may not be at a table - eat whenever they are hungry, drink water when they need it, and approach learning stress free. Here are a few pictures of what our classroom looks like this year.

And the winner is....

Me!! Me!! Me!!

However, I did not win the top prize in the county teacher of the year contest. I did win 1st runner up - which to me was the best of both worlds. I still get prize money - Woo Hoo! for that - but, I will not be pulled out of my classroom as often as the winner.

Honestly, I was a bit disappointed, but I am honored to have been in the #2 spot out of about 4,000 teachers. Not bad at all!

The only downfall was not being able to give my speech - NOT!!! Not sure how I could have made it through without falling apart. This was the most nerve racking, emotional day. I'm glad that I can sleep, eat, and breathe.

Going through this process, I was reminded of how much I value the collaborative process. When true collaboration takes place, the result is greater than any one individual can achieve alone. Today was a perfect example of true collaboration. While I was the 1st runner up, I did not do anything alone. I have a FANTASTIC team behind me. We support each other 100%, play together during school and outside of school, bounce ideas off of one another, and generally like one another.

I don't know if I would have been at another school I would have had the same results. My school is AMAZING!!! It is truly a place where students can explore and determine their strengths and weaknesses and build upon those. But, it is also that same environment for the people who work there. I was encouraged to explore technology - and if it didn't work, there was someone there to help me figure the kinks out and try again. It is such a comfortable environment that you can't help but take risks because you know that you will be supported through the entire process.

Thank you TES and friends for the amazing place you have ALLOWED me to work. And, a shout out to REC for taking a chance on me in 2006 and going with your gut to give me a place in the county and releasing me to TEC.

First Day Back

Today was the first day for teachers to report to school for the 2010-11 academic year. I was excited to return to visit with those I had not seen for the entire summer and ready to get the year started on the right foot.

I really am fortunate to work in a place that values play and fun as much as we value hard work and dedication to our students. Without the play portion of our day, our jobs would be much more difficult than they already are.

This year will not be absent of difficulties and challenges - the biggest one being a lack of instructional funds. This means that it will be difficult to supply much of what I do in the classroom on a regular basis. I'm fortunate that I have a few willing donors who support my students with a financial donation on regular basis. Without them, I'm not sure how I would be able to do what I do.

So far, I've purchased the following:

1. 25 composition notebooks
2. 50 spiral notebooks
3. 200 pencils
4. 5 packs of colored pencils
5. 10 packs of crayons
6. 25 glue sticks
7. 100 pocket folders
8. 25 dry erase markers
9. a set of multi-colored Sharpie markers
10. 2 reams of copy paper
11. 1 ream of card stock

This is just the beginning of a long list of supplies through the year. I do a lot of non-traditional teaching, so there will be cooking supplies to purchase, costumes, and of course, books. We are very limited on our copies this year, so I'll be purchasing copies and copy paper as well. $13 will buy me 1,000. I don't do much copying, but there are essentials (newsletters, parent letters, assessments, rubrics, etc.) that MUST be printed.

I'll make it through the year, and I'll succeed, but for once, I'd like to not have to spend a fortune out of my pocket. But, I will do what needs to be done for the success of my students.

Nervous Jitters

It's midnight on the night before my school year starts. Technically, it's the first day of my new year, but I can't sleep. You would think I would want to be well rested and refreshed for the first day I'm due back on campus. And I do! But, weeks of irresponsible sleep habits, Coca-Cola late at night, and no work obligations have taken it's toll on me. I'm a night owl.

However, even when I am responsible with my bed time, I still get the nervous jitters at the start of a new year. This year is no exception. This will be my 11th year in the classroom and it still feels like the first year.

That may be because I recreate myself and my teaching every single year. I'm one of the few teachers (at least I think we are in a small minority) who does not keep a file cabinet full of ideas that I use from year to year just because I did it before. Each year looks completely different than the one before. I do this for several reasons:

1. I tend to get bored quite easily. If I continually did the same thing from year to year, I would feel trapped in Bill Murray's "Groundhog Day." And that my friends is one of my least favorite movies.

2. Honestly, it is rare that I teach the same grade more than 2 years in a row. This would drive others completely insane I'm sure, but I love it for the before said reason. And, it keeps me fresh and on my toes.

3. My kids are NEVER the same! Just because something worked with another group doesn't mean it will for the next one. And to top it all off, each student learns differently than the ones before.

This year I do have an added nerve tingling, stomach turning experience to add to the mix. This year, I was honored to be chosen as my school's Teacher of the Year (TOY). Once chosen as the school TOY, I then competed against the other TOYS of my county. In April, I found out I was in the Top 10 TOYs for the county. Talk about overwhelming. That meant that I would compete for the County TOY. I went through a week of interviews, videos, and observations and have waited ALL summer for the final results. I didn't think about it until recently when I had to write a speech in the chance I would be selected. I find out Wednesday and boy am I nervous! Every time I think about it, my stomach flips. I haven't slept well the last few nights because when I find myself drifting off to sleep, I begin to think about my "speech." Then, I rewrite it. I've rewritten it about 5 times now.

Anyhow, chosen or not, I'm still just as nervous as many of my students that will come to me on the 15th. Thank goodness this week consists of meetings, working in my room, planning, and socializing with my teacher friends.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

I know, I know...summer is supposed to be where I take time to relax and recharge my batteries before a new school year begins, but for some reason, I cannot do that. Right after school lets out in June, I spend a few weeks in my pajamas, drinking coffee at a leisurely pace instead of guzzling it before kiddos arrive, read a few books, and spend quality time with my husband and furry critters. But, as soon as the first Back-to-School supplies arrive in the aisles of Wal-Mart, I start making my list and checking it twice.

The brightly colored backpacks, fancy folders and pencils to match, and composition notebooks make my heart skip a beat. However, there is nothing that affects me more than a new box of crayons or markers. The sweet aroma that a box of Crayola crayons exude, takes me back to my first box of 64 count - the one with the little sharpener that didn't work very well. There is nothing in the world like having 8 blues to choose from. Forget the 8 count box. Those are for amateurs. Honestly, if that smell doesn't send you into heaven, then I think you need to check your teaching certificate at the door.

I spend the better part of July planning out my classroom on paper first and making an exhausting to-do list that will keep me on track once the day arrives when I am actually required to work. About midway through the month though, I find myself drifting into school to check things out, to just begin organizing books or supplies, to shop without care for those basic supplies.

This year I spent more time than typical, but I did have to move classrooms, but I've finally arranged things the way that I wanted. After 10 years you would think that this would be old hat, but get me into an empty classroom that needs decorating and I'm a kid in a candy store. I worked at a more leisurely pace this year because I was being very thoughtful of what I already had in my closet instead of running to The School Spot for new borders and decor. What I've ended up with is an inviting classroom that feels a bit like home (I hope) to my students. Now all I have to do is actually plan the first week and I'm good to go.

Look for pictures soon.