thinkbrit
including, but not limited to:
education, teaching, learning, motivation, expeditionary learning, literature, television, movies, art, photos, etc.
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How teachers unite when we feel we are being attacked by bureaucrats
The tumblr #Education community in a GIF.
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One more update.
Thanks again for everyone who donated to my students. I couldn’t be more grateful and have never been more moved by the generosity...
Today, I was a part of something amazing at my school. I am the happiest, proudest teacher you could imagine tonight. My students (every single one of them) spoke eloquently and thoughtfully about their learning and growth to panels of adults this afternoon.
In the expeditionary learning model, students create portfolios of their work over the course of their school careers. They present these portfolios to panels of adults (teachers and members of the community) in third grade and sixth grade. It is an opportunity for students to reflect on their strengths, look back on their learning, and see where they can go next. Reflection is where much learning and growth happens, so it is an extremely valuable process for our students to go through. They have to articulate what they have learned, how they have grown, and what their goals are. After they present, the panel fills out a rubric for their portfolio and presentation. They also write a letter to each student, detailing what they noticed about their presentation and naming their areas of strength.
Over the last few weeks, we have spent a lot of time in our classroom practicing for these showcases. We practiced greeting the panelists, shaking hands, making eye contact, and reflecting aloud on their work and the culture of our school. This afternoon, between 1:45 and 4, all 70-some third grade students presented their portfolios to panels of 2-3 adults.
Some students were nervous; some were excited. Some had trouble preparing and weren’t sure they could do it. Today, every single one of my students had their moment to shine in front of a panel. They spoke eloquently about their work, answered reflective questions, and held their own in a situation many adults I know would panic over. Each of my students came out of their panel excited, happy, relieved… some were bouncing off the walls and others had a quieter aura of accomplishment. It was a true celebration of the students’ learning.
Everyone was smiling. Parents were cheerful; kids were beaming. Teachers, parents, and other panelists were complimenting the third grade teachers and our students. I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate students this way. It is rare for students to have so much individual attention, or so much time to reflect and grow.
In a few weeks, I will have the chance to sit on the panels for our sixth graders, and I could not be more thrilled. I wish more schools valued this kind of experience and built in time for it.
In short, I am so, so proud today.
Great little article on how the world views teachers. What does a teacher look like to you?
Interesting read. I’ve been told I look like a teacher for most of my life. Even when I was in middle school and said I wanted to be a teacher, friends and adults alike would tell me that I should— that I looked like I should be a teacher.
Even now, I’m very conscious of how I’m viewed. I take pride in saying that I’m a teacher, but I also say it with some trepidation. Everyone has an opinion about my job and how I should do it… even though I’m the professional and went to school for this stuff. Does anyone else feel this way? Proud- incredibly proud and gratified- to say that you teach, but also wary of admitting such a thing for fear of inciting the dreaded education discussion? Or people’s assumptions about teaching?
(via dietcokeporfavor)
Talks about using what you know about yourself as a reader and what you DO as a reader to inform and develop reading curriculum. Bookmarking for this summer, when I (hopefully) backward plan reading for the year.
Love the instructional points that are bulleted here.
Too tired to elaborate anymore tonight, but you should check it out.
Buttladder.
Yeah, I don’t know either.Someone? Anyone? Googled (not dirty!)
To add to this, I had a first today too.
My work roommate called me a “Butthole Weinerface”
Jbizzle, I love that you googled it. I want to know more creative insults teachers have heard! Maybe ones that are completely ridiculous?
A few weeks ago, one of my students told me that someone had called her a “boogerbutt.” I asked her what that meant (“It means I have boogers in my butt…?”) and we both agreed it was a stupid thing to say.
(Sidenote: I don’t want this to glorify or encourage bullying or cruelty in any way; really I’m amused by the creativity these kids have. I also know that this child did not mean it in an actually offensive or harmful way.)
Buttladder.
Yeah, I don’t know either.
Every teacher I know is going through this lull and blah period that started at the end of January or beginning of February, and is hitting its low right about now.
Including me. I have actually counted how many school days until spring break, which is very uncharacteristic of me. (Incidentally, there are 15 school days left. I can make it.) I’m feeling a definite lack of motivation and drive, and I see it in my dear teacher friends.
We can get through this stretch! I am going to try to be as positive as I can this week, in spite of our strange schedule and standardized testing (yuck). I think I will take a few minutes tonight to write a few kind notes to my some of colleagues to let them know they’re appreciated.
What are you going to do this week (and in the weeks remaining until the much-anticipated spring break) to improve your mood and pick yourself up out of this late-winter rut?
This in particular had me nodding:
The truth is, teachers don’t need elected officials to motivate us. If our students are not learning, they let us know. They put their heads down or they pass notes. They raise their hands and ask for clarification. Sometimes, they just stare at us like zombies. Few things are more excruciating for a teacher than leading a class that’s not learning. Good administrators use the evaluation processes to support teachers and help them avoid those painful classroom moments — not to weed out the teachers who don’t produce good test scores or adhere to their pedagogical beliefs.
Worst of all, the more intense the pressure gets, the worse we teach.
This sums everything up so well that it makes me want to cry.
moveherfeet Asks:
thinkbrit Said:
Thanks for this nice message. I ended up having a meeting with those parents on Friday afternoon, and all was okay in the end. I knew my principal would support me, and the parents were far more rational in person than they were in that email.
Just goes to show- when you have a potentially irritable/angry parent, it’s far better to call than email. They’re less likely to be irrationally angry when there is an actual person attached to the message, rather than just letters on a screen. Considering this a lesson learned.
What is your favorite to-do list app? I need one. I’ve tried Toodledo and did not like it. I have Evernote, but I’m not in love with it as a to-do list option. I’ve scoured the web for recommendations, and the only thing I’ve really taken away from it is that there are SO MANY APPS.
So I want to know from people who probably have to-do lists like mine (read: that never go away). What is your favorite to-do list (or similar) app? Why?
I am bawling over a parent email. It wasn’t even an email that personally attacked me, but it seemed to imply that I am, somehow, inadequate. That maybe I’m not managing my class well, or challenging a student enough. I feel sad and defensive and incredibly upset.
I think part of it may be that in this email, which was a response to an email about this student’s poor behavior today, the parent revealed she had been to see the principal about her child. I know my principal has my back and will support me, but I am still extremely upset.
Bah. Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday. I can’t handle any more days this week.
Gotta love teaching third grade.
Hey teachers! Check this out… different and healthy sandwich ideas!
(via onlyslightly)
I’m on a one year contract that can be non-renewed for any reason.
I agree. This has been a major stressor for me this year. I’m also on a one-year that can be non-renewed for any reason. It sucks. In spite of the fact that my principal told me a couple of weeks ago that she would like to re-hire me next year, I still have a lot of stress. Many things could go wrong between that desire to have me return and actually doing it, what with budget issues & hoops to jump through for the district.
This, from a child who has made me want to tear out my hair, has told me he hates me and I’m a bad teacher; a child who has thrown pencils at me and broken rulers because “I’m mean.” From a child I have spent nights and weekends wondering and worrying over.
This:
I don’t want to change the class room. Other kids mite want to turn it to a kid paradise (I sorta do to) but Ms. B’s room is great. With all the great books and soo much room for indoor recaess. I’ll tell ya that if your come’n to Ms. Brittany’s room your in for a wander. And that’s why I don’t want to change Ms. B’s room.
This is what makes it worth it.
