I've been sharing the teaching/learning journey.
I share so that others understand the many dimensions that exist in this professional path.
My share is about one individual's journey.
Many other educators blog and share their journey as well.
Our work holds great promise for good. Our honest share leads us forward. There is no one way to tell your tale and convey your passion. But for those of us who feel the share is important, we find a way and continually revise and refine as we move along the road.
We are witness to what the job demands and provokes.
Hopefully this honest share will help to move our teaching/learning systems and efforts forward with better service to students in systems that empower educators to do their best work.
Monday, February 02, 2015
What Matters to You?
We know what matters to some, and not for others.
Those who we understand well, tell their story and include us in their work.
They regularly update us with events completed, ongoing efforts, and future think and vision.
We often feel like part of their team, and when information or events come our way that match their quest, we readily share. "Here's something you might be interested in," we say as we send the information their way.
This is one reason why it's important to know our students and colleagues well. If we know them, we can make connections easily and support their interests and quest in life as they learn.
When we don't know what matters to another, connections are tough to make thus making depth and team elusive.
Therefore, in ways that work well, it's important to tell your story, share your focus, and invite us to team with you for your vision and quest. That helps us understand what matters to you, and lets us support your journey.
Those who we understand well, tell their story and include us in their work.
They regularly update us with events completed, ongoing efforts, and future think and vision.
We often feel like part of their team, and when information or events come our way that match their quest, we readily share. "Here's something you might be interested in," we say as we send the information their way.
This is one reason why it's important to know our students and colleagues well. If we know them, we can make connections easily and support their interests and quest in life as they learn.
When we don't know what matters to another, connections are tough to make thus making depth and team elusive.
Therefore, in ways that work well, it's important to tell your story, share your focus, and invite us to team with you for your vision and quest. That helps us understand what matters to you, and lets us support your journey.
Looking Ahead: Focus
A snow day prompts me to organize paperwork as I look ahead to the main events of the school year.
Some projects planned have been put on hold due to timing constraints, and other new and exciting presentations have been planned.
February
Some projects planned have been put on hold due to timing constraints, and other new and exciting presentations have been planned.
February
- Fractions Unit
- Math Learning Review
- Author Visit
- Wattsville Presentation
- Origami/Math Presentation
- Professional Learning: Teaching and Learning Conference, Math Conference
- Parent/Student Conferences
- Discovery Museum Science Presentations
- Performance Assessment/Problem Solving Math Focus
- Biography Project Begins
- Rube Goldberg Marble Maze Project
April
- PARCC Tests #1
- Math Review
- Hands-On Science Investigations
- Science Writing
- Biography Project Work
May/June
- Math MCAS Science Test
- PARCC Tests #2
- Fifth Grade Play
- Biography Project
- Special Fifth Grade Events
- Field Day
- Field Studies
- River Days Exploration
- Ordering/Prep for Next Year
Sunday, February 01, 2015
Teach Well: Put the Past Behind You
As a veteran teacher of 29 years, my practice has evolved considerably.
Sometimes I look back at past teaching efforts and cringe. I think, "How could I have done that or thought that." Teaching well is a continuous journey of practice, reflection, and change.
What worked 20 years ago, last month, or even yesterday, may be outdated or inappropriate today. On the other hand, there are practices which remain--timeless efforts that continue to hold value today.
As we become more attuned to the people around us and the changing world landscape, we better our craft to teach well.
There's a temptation to become discouraged with regard to past transgressions, choices, or efforts--to become mired in the past. This only serves to stall our growth and forward movement. There is no doubt that good teachers evolve over time, and embracing that notion moves us towards better service to children.
So consider the changes you've experienced, and reflect on the positive and not so positive aspects of your work. Then put the past behind you and move ahead to better practice and craft.
Also, make time to support those around you in that regard. We do best if we journey these paths together to teach children well.
Note:
My #oneword journey this year inspired this in part. Today's post led to this reflection.
Sometimes I look back at past teaching efforts and cringe. I think, "How could I have done that or thought that." Teaching well is a continuous journey of practice, reflection, and change.
What worked 20 years ago, last month, or even yesterday, may be outdated or inappropriate today. On the other hand, there are practices which remain--timeless efforts that continue to hold value today.
As we become more attuned to the people around us and the changing world landscape, we better our craft to teach well.
There's a temptation to become discouraged with regard to past transgressions, choices, or efforts--to become mired in the past. This only serves to stall our growth and forward movement. There is no doubt that good teachers evolve over time, and embracing that notion moves us towards better service to children.
So consider the changes you've experienced, and reflect on the positive and not so positive aspects of your work. Then put the past behind you and move ahead to better practice and craft.
Also, make time to support those around you in that regard. We do best if we journey these paths together to teach children well.
Note:
My #oneword journey this year inspired this in part. Today's post led to this reflection.
How Do You Coach Your Learning Team?
Who do you define as your "team" at school?
Who makes up the coaching team?
My team is the 44 fifth graders I teach every day with a partner teacher.
The coaching team includes educators, specialists, assistants, family members, and students too.
As we move into the second half of the teaching year, how can I strengthen the coaching efforts and result?
Set the Stage for Learning
This effort never ends as the "stage," classroom, changes continuously to respond to the learning at hand, however the main objectives remain the same:
Who makes up the coaching team?
My team is the 44 fifth graders I teach every day with a partner teacher.
The coaching team includes educators, specialists, assistants, family members, and students too.
As we move into the second half of the teaching year, how can I strengthen the coaching efforts and result?
Set the Stage for Learning
This effort never ends as the "stage," classroom, changes continuously to respond to the learning at hand, however the main objectives remain the same:
- "Everything in its place, a place for everything."
- Time for students to know how to use and access important learning tools. Time to play with the tools to in order to "get to know" those tools well.
- A good variety of spaces for student choice and learning:
- Cozy corner
- Tables for project work, coaching.
- "Amphitheater" space for whole class instruction, listening, and presentation.
- Supply areas.
- Book corner(s) or classroom library(s).
- Tech supply area(s).
- Teacher area.
Learning Routines
Create routines that give students the time and support to ask questions and advocate for their learning. These routines should also support students' readiness for learning and ability to access multiple learning venues.
- Post daily schedule.
- Communicate to learning team via a weekly newsletter.
- Online learning resources updated regularly to support student learning.
- Supply spaces, organization.
- Listening and speaking routines.
- Collaboration and team routines.
- Share and question protocols.
24-7 Online Classroom
Create an online classroom resource that students are able to access 24-7 for homework help, learning resources, review modules, and more.
Engaging Learning Experiences
Design learning experiences that include meaningful introductions, engaging project work, and summary/share time. Introduce the learning structure and rationale to students to gain their investment. Design learning so that there is significant time for teacher-student coaching as well as student-student coaching.
Project Presentation and Share
Make time for student presentation and share on a regular basis. Give students the tools and time they need to share and lead classroom learning efforts.
Assessment, Reflection, Revision, and Feedback
Make time to assess the learning efforts in both formal and informal ways. Reflect on that success, then revise as needed to improve the learning/teaching menu. Provide regular, effective feedback to inspire students' efforts in multiple ways to develop their confidence, learning mindset/behaviors, and education.
Collaborate with the Learning Team
Communicate with the learning team with transparency, regularity, and an open mind. Work with the entire team including family members, students, colleagues, leaders, and the community to develop the best possible teaching/learning program for students. Make time to create, implement, assess, reflect, and revise learning programs together. Maximize each others' strengths and acknowledge challenges in order to teach all students well.
The work we do each day matters, and the way we structure and carry out that work matters too. The guidelines above offer a map to good work and a structure to follow as we work well to teach all in the second half of the year.
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Addition: What does this post look like in real time, right now?
Set the Stage:
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Addition: What does this post look like in real time, right now?
Set the Stage:
- continued work on STEAM center organization, supplies, and projects
- completed grant paperwork to access additional materials
- math materials/tools reorganization
- cubbies for math materials
- general clean-up, organization.
Learning Routines
- review of routines and rationale for routines with students.
- simplifying routines and making routines more consistent.
- becoming a "star classroom" using new student leaders as point collectors
Online Classroom
- continual update, revision, enrichment, and streamlining of online websites and resources.
- continued routine of weekly newsletter, home study page update and share.
Engaging Learning Experiences
- continued research, assessment, reflection, revision, and review of all learning experiences.
- continued design and professional learning.
- continued trying out new ideas and including students in the learning design process.
Project Presentation and Share
- Focusing on this with greater strength during performance assessment time of year (March-April) and PBL time (April-June)
Assessment, Reflection, Revision and Feedback/Collegial Collaboration
- Continued RTI/PLC work that focuses on this effort.
- Improving feedback loop w/revised organization, student showcase portfolio creation, and more.
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