Thank you, J.K. Rowling! and Lauren Hua

Yesterday, a student in my class cried because she was frustrated at not understanding a concept. I took her outside and talked to her one-on-one for about 10 minutes to calm and reassure her that I would 100% get her through this, that she was NOT letting her mom down, that she was NOT the only one struggling to understand the concept, that her feelings of frustration were VALID, that she needed to herself with the same kindness and compassion that she brings to everyone else. And then we fixed the problem with Harry Potter!!! Prisoner of Azkaban is her FAVORITE book, so I grabbed a copy off the shelf, and with one quick conversation- talking about a thing she loved- she grasped the concept that had been eluding her <3! This is the kind of attention every single student deserves, but I could only provide that because I have an amazing student teacher in my classroom, Lauren Hua from UCLB. If I had been alone in a class of 40 12 year olds, this could have gone very differently! Go to your local school board meetings; support your local teachers, support lower class sizes. It cost more, but building teaching/learning relationships is key to EVERYTHING!

We spend more on interest on debt than we do on our nation's education... and almost twice as much on "defense" as we spend on "safety net" programs. Here's a brilliant idea... 

why don't we spend our money to educate our students the way an industrialized world power can and should, build an economy where they can have jobs that provide retirement and health benefits, and then we wouldn't need so many "safety nets" and social security?

 We could save about half of what we're spending now. Spending 2% on education is a disgrace!
 

Dear Democrats- if you want to help people, EDUCATE THEM!
 

Dear Republicans- if you want to stop supporting people, EDUCATE THEM!

Thank you for your time- rant over.

Oh, so you think books are boring?

I teach a remediation class called EAP (English for academic purposes) to students who are reading 1-4 grades below level.  This is my favorite course to teach; it's where I can make the most difference.

To say that these kids are reluctant readers is an understatement- they HATE reading, at least they say they do... so my first job is to show them they are wrong! (And I LOVE that!)

Let me share one strategy I use-

Speed Dating Book Style!

Here's how it works:
I have tables in my room and a pretty sizable classroom library, but if you don't have those two things, you can set this up in the library with your librarian's help.

Step 1- I have 9 tables in my room instead of desks which is perfect. Before students arrive, I go through my class library and pull some of my personal favorites, former student favorites, new and "hot" titles, and put them out on the group tables-  about 12-15 books per table.

Step 2- When students arrive, I tell them not to unpack their backpack, all they need for this activity is a their notebook and a pen or pencil. We're going to be moving around and I don't want the backpacks
in the way.

Step 3- the directions are simple: students will visit each table, preview the books, ask me questions, talk to each other, and write the titles and authors on the last page of their notebook.  We call that page the "shopping list".  Here's the catch: They only get to spend 3 minutes per table!
                Limiting the time they can spend at each station, builds a sense of urgency and  excitement!

Continue until every group has visited every table. I takes 30-33 minutes. By the end of the activity students have a list of books they are interested in and list of authors they can look for when we go to the school library.  They're also learning about what genres they might like and the variety that books offer. Most of my students create a list of around 15-20 books that they're intrigued by :)

Invariably they want to borrow books right then and there, but I explain I have to use the books all day for the activity... but if they come after school they can certainly check them out! And they do.  We did this activity yesterday, and after school 18 students showed up to check out books, and I'm sure many more will get their books Monday.

I hope you and your students enjoy this activity :)


In case you're interested, the image is on a t-shirt I bought from threadless.com

EduWINNING!

There are days when you're slogging away, trying your best, and not knowing if anything you do makes a difference....

And then there are days like today! Last year I took part in a research project created by Carol Booth Olson at UCI.  I spent my 23rd year of teaching feeling like a first year teacher all over again. It was messy, uncomfortable, and way outside of my comfort zone.... but it was worth it!

Today we got the results of our year's work, and they were GOOD! My students' growth was so rewarding; I felt both grateful to have been included in this project and proud of the work my students did.

My students learned to be better readers and writers, (and I am thrilled about that) but I think they learned even more important lessons: I think they learned how to struggle through something difficult and not give up; I hope they learned that nobody, not even the teacher, is done learning; and I believe that they learned the struggle and completion of a task is worth more than a grade.

So here's my advice to anyone who wants to teach- to be a teacher, you have to be willing to be a public learner. And don't hide your struggle; share it so your students can learn to deal with their own difficulties. Shine a light on what happens when things don't work out the first time, let them see you stumble, pick yourself up, and then get it right!

You're not just teaching content, you're teaching how to learn!

Thanks for sharing my joy today :)

 Every new school year starts with the same bright hope... that this year will be THE year- the year that I will touch the minds and hearts of ALL my students-  that I will be able to help my students find the strength to earn wisdom and discover the wonder that is inside each and every one of them.  This may sound like the unrealistic dreams of a starry eyed ingenue, but it's not! It's the completely heartfelt wish of a seasoned professional (in the classroom for 23 years:)! So join me, my fellow dreamers, on my quest to TEACH ALL THE KIDS ALL THE THINGS! We'll rant; we'll rave; we'll laugh; we'll cry, and in the end we'll learn and grow and be better than we were before.   And.... we even have a theme song~ sing it loud with me now!     

To dream the impossible dream 

(to teach ALL the kids ALL the things!)
To fight the unbeatable foe 

(This era of TESTING really must GO!)
To bear the unbearable sorrow 

(This era of TESTING really really must GO!) Is it cheating to use that twice? NO!
To run where the brave dare not go 

(the teacher's restroom by room 19)

To right the unrightable wrong

(the use of textspeak in essays)
To love pure and chaste from afar

(all the new pedagogy books we don't have time to read)
To try when your arms are too weary

(from hauling boxes of papers home to grade)
To reach the unreachable star

(that student so beaten down by 5th grade that he/she has already capitulated)

This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far

To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell

(and staff meetings and parent conferences)
For a heavenly cause

(to be my students' advocate)

And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest

(no one can doubt that I've given my best)
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest

(rest???  what rest?)

And the world will be better for this
(I really really hope!)

That one [teacher], scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage [character, communication, criticqal thinking, and creativity]
To teach the unteachable standard

Some other neato blogs

for your consideration

Blogging Through The Fourth Dimension

Education Rethink

iLearn Technology

Integrating Technology in the Primary Classroom

Langwitches

Will