Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Nerd and Proud!
Make your own Post-Its?!
Again, found the greatest thing on Pinterest...Elmer's Repositionable Glue Stick. Pretty much, you make your own Post-It Notes from anything! I was kinda unsure about this but decided to try it out. So I dropped by Office Max, picked it up for under $5 and tested it out in my classroom. You swipe it on just like a regular glue stick but instead let it dry and then post it anywhere you want! I stuck great and when I wanted to move my heavy construction paper Word Wall somewhere else...it came off great and stuck perfectly! I LOVE THIS STUFF! Get some if you don't have it yet!
Good rules for New-be Teachers :)
Pinterest is one of my favorite things to do, not only because I find crafts, what my future home will look like, hilarious sayings, but also great teacher ideas, tricks and tips! Here was one that I found recently but just for us new-be teachers :)
http://teachyoualesson.blogspot.com/2007/08/ten-rookie-mistakes-of-first-year.html
2. I was a rube and offered seemingly boundless extrinsic rewards (otherwise known as bribery) From day one I handed out Tootsie Rolls to students who filled in their blue identification cards correctly. By the end of the year, not only was I out tons of cash in which I bought bribes, but I found that my kids were now trained to only do work if a reward was involved. Even worse, I only gave treats out for good work or behavior; however my para just gave gum and candy out to whomever asked…so ultimately they treated her with more respect.
3. I crossed the line from friendly to informal. Repeat after me: you are not your student’s pal. I found myself being way too open with my students, initially sharing a lot of info about myself…and that ended up being a bad idea as students took my informality as a welcome for disrespect. This year I plan to exercise kindness and warmth without being an open book for my kids. Oh, and know this: students will try to look up your MySpace page…so make it private or risk them bringing up that way-too-personal photo of you.
4. I would make empty threats. In September I was making five phone calls a night, on Fridays I called the families of students who were really good. I thought I was a rock star because I called whether students were good or bad. By November it was over. But if you tell a kid you’re going to call, and don’t make good on your threat…it’s pretty much over for you; the student will know that they can get over on you with no sweat. Be consistent and follow up your threats! You’re only as good as your word.
5. I let my paraprofessionals run the show. I was 23, my paras were in their 30’s and 40’s…and I was shaking in my shoes when it came to asserting myself in the classroom. The result was that they didn’t do their job, left me with tons of extra work, and often left alone in my classroom. If you’re like me, you’re not too keen on confrontation, but realize that if your paraprofessionals mess up it’s still your ass/job on the line. Just like with the students, make your preferences and expectations known from the beginning.
6. I made two many calls to School Security each day. I was so freaked out by my student’s misbehavior that I was calling school safety nearly every day, and it got to the point where they wouldn’t answer. The realization that I was leaning on security too heavily came the day that the officer came into my room, saw the student laying over my desk casually tossing my belongings into the trash bin, and promptly walked out shaking her head. When you rely too much on administration and security for classroom management you give up your own power as a teacher and disciplinarian, not to mention you look like a wuss, not to mention you are viewed as an annoyance.
7. My classroom routines were established too late. It was December before I had all my routines posted and in place. By then it was hard to make students truly adhere to the rituals of the classroom. When they didn’t follow the routine, they didn’t do the work and they acted up considerably. By May they followed the routine pretty well…but all that wasted time haunts me. This year I will be all about the routine from the get go, and my classroom should work like a well oiled machine. (Ha!)
8. I engaged in arguments with students (and I let them see me sweat!) Little known fact: students test boundaries and want to see if you’ll take the bait. Each time they insult your shoes, tell you that you’re a bad teacher, or say their mom is going to slap you they are testing whether they can get under your skin. When you snap back at them, or get into a verbal battle…they win. And it’s fun for them. Seriously, many of my students can’t read and only are coming to school so they avoid truancy or their probation officer; if they can liven up their day by making the teacher scream and rip out her hair, all the better! Kids are so smart it’s scary, and they will act like an evil mirror reflecting your worst qualities; once they see what sort of comment or action provokes you, it’s all over. My example is my desk; all year I was vulnerable because the kids learned to pick the lock on my drawers and rifle through my belongs—this would drive me to shout and actually chase students around the room. To a student seeing a teacher actually run to a desk before a student got his hands inside must have been as entertaining as hell…Finally I had to face facts and just act like it was no big thing that the kids were stealing my post-it notes and making paper-clip necklaces. After I moved my valuables to my padlocked closet, of course. Once I didn’t care the students saw they couldn’t get a rise out of me and left my desk alone.
9. I retreated to my desk. Again with the desk! I often used my desk as a barrier between myself and students, and this negatively and unconsciously constructed a barrier between us. I’m not saying I sat at my desk all day, or never stood in front of the class while I instructed; but during down time it was my natural default to sit at my desk while I readied assignments or grade papers. This left me really isolated and created an air of inapproachability between me and my students. This year I’m moving my desk to the far corner of the room so I am forced to sit at the student table and be among my kids more.
10. I let people intrude upon my lunch break. New teachers: keep your lunch hour holy. This is the time for you to relax and unwind for 50 minutes before the screaming hordes of students return to class. Let’s be frank: I was a pushover for any administrator, counselor, or student who wanted to meet during my lunch…and often I didn’t face the afternoon as a refreshed and enthusiastic educator. If you have to leave the classroom or teacher lounge and get outside: do so. Don’t pick up your classroom phone, don’t commit to meetings, don’t let students “hang out” in your classroom. Maybe in a few years you can spread yourself thin and can teach well while tired, but for now I recommend taking some time for yourself because you’ll need all the energy you can muster.
Don’t despair, new teachers. The mistakes you’ll make will lead to a metamorphosis to an incredibly dynamic instructor. Hang on, don’t lose your excitement, and you’ll definitely survive the year.
http://teachyoualesson.blogspot.com/2007/08/ten-rookie-mistakes-of-first-year.html
Ten Rookie Mistakes of a First Year Teacher
The fact of the matter is, if you’re a new teacher—you’re going to screw up. The Teaching Fellows program and new teacher induction will tell you there’s a “learning curve” for new teachers, and this is a very nice way of explaining the numerous gross errors you will perpetrate in your classroom before you straighten up and learn your way.
But if you’re any good you’ll learn and you’ll easily avoid the gaffes in April that you blundered into in October.
Here are the top ten slip-ups, faux pas, bungles, and flounders I caught myself executing during my first year as an educator. Some are special ed. specific, but many are missteps that any new teacher could stumble through.
1. I spent three days of going over procedures and rules instead of three weeks. This was my main oversight for the year, I spent way too little time on classroom expectations and paid for it all year with an increasingly unruly class. The problem was that I didn’t know how to broach my expectations for students and consequences in a spiraling fashion, I just went over it once, posted the rules and dove right into academics.
But if you’re any good you’ll learn and you’ll easily avoid the gaffes in April that you blundered into in October.
Here are the top ten slip-ups, faux pas, bungles, and flounders I caught myself executing during my first year as an educator. Some are special ed. specific, but many are missteps that any new teacher could stumble through.
1. I spent three days of going over procedures and rules instead of three weeks. This was my main oversight for the year, I spent way too little time on classroom expectations and paid for it all year with an increasingly unruly class. The problem was that I didn’t know how to broach my expectations for students and consequences in a spiraling fashion, I just went over it once, posted the rules and dove right into academics.
2. I was a rube and offered seemingly boundless extrinsic rewards (otherwise known as bribery) From day one I handed out Tootsie Rolls to students who filled in their blue identification cards correctly. By the end of the year, not only was I out tons of cash in which I bought bribes, but I found that my kids were now trained to only do work if a reward was involved. Even worse, I only gave treats out for good work or behavior; however my para just gave gum and candy out to whomever asked…so ultimately they treated her with more respect.
3. I crossed the line from friendly to informal. Repeat after me: you are not your student’s pal. I found myself being way too open with my students, initially sharing a lot of info about myself…and that ended up being a bad idea as students took my informality as a welcome for disrespect. This year I plan to exercise kindness and warmth without being an open book for my kids. Oh, and know this: students will try to look up your MySpace page…so make it private or risk them bringing up that way-too-personal photo of you.
4. I would make empty threats. In September I was making five phone calls a night, on Fridays I called the families of students who were really good. I thought I was a rock star because I called whether students were good or bad. By November it was over. But if you tell a kid you’re going to call, and don’t make good on your threat…it’s pretty much over for you; the student will know that they can get over on you with no sweat. Be consistent and follow up your threats! You’re only as good as your word.
5. I let my paraprofessionals run the show. I was 23, my paras were in their 30’s and 40’s…and I was shaking in my shoes when it came to asserting myself in the classroom. The result was that they didn’t do their job, left me with tons of extra work, and often left alone in my classroom. If you’re like me, you’re not too keen on confrontation, but realize that if your paraprofessionals mess up it’s still your ass/job on the line. Just like with the students, make your preferences and expectations known from the beginning.
6. I made two many calls to School Security each day. I was so freaked out by my student’s misbehavior that I was calling school safety nearly every day, and it got to the point where they wouldn’t answer. The realization that I was leaning on security too heavily came the day that the officer came into my room, saw the student laying over my desk casually tossing my belongings into the trash bin, and promptly walked out shaking her head. When you rely too much on administration and security for classroom management you give up your own power as a teacher and disciplinarian, not to mention you look like a wuss, not to mention you are viewed as an annoyance.
7. My classroom routines were established too late. It was December before I had all my routines posted and in place. By then it was hard to make students truly adhere to the rituals of the classroom. When they didn’t follow the routine, they didn’t do the work and they acted up considerably. By May they followed the routine pretty well…but all that wasted time haunts me. This year I will be all about the routine from the get go, and my classroom should work like a well oiled machine. (Ha!)
8. I engaged in arguments with students (and I let them see me sweat!) Little known fact: students test boundaries and want to see if you’ll take the bait. Each time they insult your shoes, tell you that you’re a bad teacher, or say their mom is going to slap you they are testing whether they can get under your skin. When you snap back at them, or get into a verbal battle…they win. And it’s fun for them. Seriously, many of my students can’t read and only are coming to school so they avoid truancy or their probation officer; if they can liven up their day by making the teacher scream and rip out her hair, all the better! Kids are so smart it’s scary, and they will act like an evil mirror reflecting your worst qualities; once they see what sort of comment or action provokes you, it’s all over. My example is my desk; all year I was vulnerable because the kids learned to pick the lock on my drawers and rifle through my belongs—this would drive me to shout and actually chase students around the room. To a student seeing a teacher actually run to a desk before a student got his hands inside must have been as entertaining as hell…Finally I had to face facts and just act like it was no big thing that the kids were stealing my post-it notes and making paper-clip necklaces. After I moved my valuables to my padlocked closet, of course. Once I didn’t care the students saw they couldn’t get a rise out of me and left my desk alone.
9. I retreated to my desk. Again with the desk! I often used my desk as a barrier between myself and students, and this negatively and unconsciously constructed a barrier between us. I’m not saying I sat at my desk all day, or never stood in front of the class while I instructed; but during down time it was my natural default to sit at my desk while I readied assignments or grade papers. This left me really isolated and created an air of inapproachability between me and my students. This year I’m moving my desk to the far corner of the room so I am forced to sit at the student table and be among my kids more.
10. I let people intrude upon my lunch break. New teachers: keep your lunch hour holy. This is the time for you to relax and unwind for 50 minutes before the screaming hordes of students return to class. Let’s be frank: I was a pushover for any administrator, counselor, or student who wanted to meet during my lunch…and often I didn’t face the afternoon as a refreshed and enthusiastic educator. If you have to leave the classroom or teacher lounge and get outside: do so. Don’t pick up your classroom phone, don’t commit to meetings, don’t let students “hang out” in your classroom. Maybe in a few years you can spread yourself thin and can teach well while tired, but for now I recommend taking some time for yourself because you’ll need all the energy you can muster.
Don’t despair, new teachers. The mistakes you’ll make will lead to a metamorphosis to an incredibly dynamic instructor. Hang on, don’t lose your excitement, and you’ll definitely survive the year.
Friday, December 21, 2012
A Work-in-Progress...
Supply boxes
So in an attempt to save time and be cool with my organization skills, I decided to put together a supply box for each of my table groups. This way when we are doing art projects, illustrating images (notice how we do not ‘color’ in 6th grade, we ‘illustrate’ ;) and just anything besides using pencils and paper, it is easy to pass and quick to pass out materials. I bought the clear, plastic shoe box tubs when they were on sale during the beginning of the year and put in:
Colored Pencils
Makers
Crayons
Scissors
Glue Stick
Rulers
I am trying to still work the bugs out of a few things...either I did not set up my expectations for the supply boxes or my kids are not used to being as ‘incredibly organized’ as I am...the boxes have become messy after just one use...Any ideas on how to keep them neat and complete after each use?!
Pinterest Project done RIGHT! :)
Hand Made stamps
At my school each student has the same planner where they write down each subjects Language Objective and well as their homework in the class. Some teachers stamp the students planners when they have written in it so give the students a positive reenforcement for writing and so that the teacher knows who has written in the planner. From the wonderful website of Pinterest, I found how to make my own stamps from a pink eraser...by kids LOVE the Mustache Stamp and Beaker Stamp! It gives a fun change to the boring old stamps :)
10...9...8...7...
Timing students to get things done
Students can sometimes think the beginning of class is a time gifted to them from their teachers as a time to see who is dating who, what the latest fashion is, and the other important things in an 11-12 year olds life…
Obviously, teachers/parents/anybody older than 18, knows that is not the case...So introduce the smart thinking of Miss Frizzle…
What can make today’s kids more excited than to see an iPhone being used in the classroom! Instead of a boring old timer...I whip out my iPhone, set the timer to countdown 5 minutes and quietly show the students who are off task what they should be doing. It is “awesome” to see some students mini-panic faces as the time grows increasingly closer to zero!
It is a quiet, non-verbal reminder of my expectation! And Lord knows, I need more non-verbal reminders!
Once the duck quacks (the signal that time is up) I say, “Alright class, Quack Quack, in your seat!”
Works so well :)
Not only that, but what kiddo doesn’t want to be the special chosen student to get to hold the teacher’s iPhone?! So the first student to finish writing in their planner and done with their Entry Task, gets to hold the phone :)
Not only that, but what kiddo doesn’t want to be the special chosen student to get to hold the teacher’s iPhone?! So the first student to finish writing in their planner and done with their Entry Task, gets to hold the phone :)
Miss Robertson: 3
Middle Schoolers: 0
Can I borrow a....
My Vice Principal once told me, find the most frustrating part of your day and make a procedure for it...well kids asking for pencils every class multiple times was my most frustrating part of my day! I personally can’t believe you come to any class without something to write with! I mean really, what do you expect to do in class that will not require some form of a writing utensil?!?!?!?! So I bought dollar store baskets (5 baskets for $1), $1 for a pencil sharpener, and two pencils. Each group has to have two pencils and a sharpener everyday, and no group can be dismissed from class until I check that they are there. So if a pencil goes missing, then someone has to donate one to my basket. I at first was really disappointed about the fact that my brand new pencils kept being….well ‘traded’ for short crappy pencils but then I was like, ‘whateves!!!’ So now I put whatever pencils I find in on the floor or anything. If a kid complains about the fact that they do not want to use a short pencil I casually will say to them, “bring your own pencil then!” I love it when I would hear them say “can I borrow a pencil” and their group member is like ‘we have them at our table!”
Miss Robertson: 2
Middle Schoolers: 0
The Perennial Lost Papers...
“What We Did This Week…”
When I was in middle school, heck when I was a student (and even now a grown up) I was amazingly organized to the point of OCD...so this means that I NEVER lost my homework, worksheets, notes, or any papers my amazing teachers gifted to us students. Therefore I did not need new copies of anything.
*flash forward to my student teaching
Student: “I need another copy of these 4 worksheets Miss Robertson”
Me: “Where did the first copy I gave you go?”
Student: “I don’t know, maybe in my room, my backpack, my dog ate it…?”
Me: “Okay, give me a second, I need to find it in my file cabinet…”
*mega frustration on my part, searching for said copies for not just one student but MANY students!
So born the idea of my weekly clipboards! I have 5 clipboards, with each day of the week typed out, laminated and taped to the clipboard. Now, when a student is gone, loses a copy or whatever today’s middle schoolers do with the papers I give them...I do not have to search through my files for extra copies...I casually point to the counter with the clipboards and say, “go find which one you need!”
PROBLEM SOLVED!!!
Miss Robertson: 1
Middle Schoolers: 0
Incentives for the Kiddos
Kolt Cash
During my AMAZING (I have to say it again) FREAKIN’ AMAZING student teaching practicum, my SUPER AWESOME Mentor Teacher came up with the idea of using ‘monopoly money’ as an incentive program in the classroom. Her husband is also crazy-awesome and graphically designed money in increments of $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 with the schools logo! When I got my own classroom, her graciously made me my own money and when I switched schools the next year, he made me new ones!!! Awesome guy :D
This program is awesome, it is a great way to reinforce positive behavior in the classroom. Walk around the classroom and flamboyantly give out “Kolt Cash” to the students who are working and the non-working students quickly get the hint :)
Students can earn Kolt Cash for:
Good work
Being on task
Awesome assignments/tests
Helping out
Students can spend Kolt Cash on:
Late Homework Pass
No Homework Pass
Sitting on the exercise ball as your chair
Candy
Sit by a friend
Sit at the teachers desk
Friday-Buy-Day (students can purchase things from a basket of stuff on Fridays)And so much more!
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