Learning Schedules

What does good learning require?

It requires plenty of uninterrupted, well organized, and focused, thoughtful time on task.

The math learning in the past two weeks was interrupted by a number of important efforts and issues. Then when students took a recent test, it was clear that the interruptions affected the steady learning. That propelled me to clear the path for a few uninterrupted weeks of steady math teaching and learning.

The interruptions were due to illness, special events, and other important matters. For example we stopped the learning at one point to focus on social issues which were very important to moving forward with care and attention.

As I think ahead, I want to think about the following focus areas:

• The Curriculum Map: It's very important to think through the curriculum map realistically and thoughtfully. Front loading good teaching is one way to meet all standards since the start of the year typically has less interruptions than the end of the year.
• Special Events: It's important to carefully schedule special events. For the most part, we've done that and that has helped.
• Room for Error: Illness, interruptions, and error will occur. Mostly sticking to the teaching/learning schedule creates room for that error or lost time. 

This summer, I'll carefully re-look at the math teaching year scope and sequence. I'll embed a number of concepts within other concepts so we have a good amount of repetition of concept throughout the year to help students solidify concept, knowledge, and skill. 

Anticipating Twists and Turns int he Teaching Road

You can't anticipate every change and upset in the classroom. Often a challenge appears, and that's when those with flexible, positive mindsets do well--the kind of people that roll with it as they say. The end of the year brings many unexpected moments, and this year I don't want to forget that as we navigate the dense schedule ahead.

To prepare for this, I'll make time to clean up, sort, discard, and rearrange. So many of the materials around the room are no longer needed at this time of the year and some well filed materials are needed so it's very important make the switch between what we no longer need and what's needed now.

There's lots of decisions to be made with the team as we navigate the end of the year with our new shared teaching model--how and who will lead each initiative? That will impact the clean up too. I suspect that we'll divide and conquer the schedule since there is not a lot of open time slots to complete all the tasks.

How will testing affect our shared model too? With nine days of standardized testing and one day for a system-wide math test, will we decide to rotate or will we spend the afternoons working as a team on play practice, the biography projects, and STEAM events? It's likely that we won't rotate on these days given the fact that our typical supports are not available on testing days and the tech is also not available which compromises our typical rotation. Also, after a morning of testing, students are usually not that open minded to the typical routine.

The first step of this end-of-year journey is to meet with my colleagues and work together to make a good plan. Hopefully we'll be able to do that on Monday!

Friday Musings: April 2016

Today was like six days rolled into one and I could have even extended it to the evening talent show, but I needed to tend to family and home. School can be a never ending job.

Yet, the issues on the kickball field actually translated into some great new goals for our class, one that everyone supports so there's some good team building ahead and that's great.

Also a close look at the tight schedule moving forward has laid the foundation for a worthwhile team meeting next week.

What's most important is our intent is well grounded which is to truly serve students well. Our resources are abundant and accessible, and our goals good.

As we move forward, there's the need to slow it down, pay close attention to the individuals we work with, and continue a positive momentum with regard to good teaching.

Supporting and working towards good communication and efficient, streamlined paperwork and processes is also a goal at this time because we don't want to waste time with matters that are unnecessary or problem creating rather than problem solving.

Onward.

Building Team: Lessons from the Kickball Field

In an effort to build better team, we planned a fair game of kickball. I dressed for the game, and I thought I had anticipated all the potential issues, but an important issue arose and we had to end the game. Students and I discussed the issue and we made some decisions about how to play better next time. So we'll try again on Monday.

A lot of good came out of this game however.

First, students who are reluctant to play these playground games, joined in and had fun.

Next, our Open Circle that followed the game was much better as students were very invested in how the Open Circle focus matched the game issue. I think I'll start to match the use of a team game to Open Circle as it seems like a great partnership.

Finally, the game reawakened in me the fact that students have a tremendous desire to work and play with one another. Young children are mostly relationship driven--they mainly want to be parts of wonderful teams that work and play together.

Every year, at this time of year, the need to quiet it down and focus on team more happens. I've talked to a number of teachers this week at my school and elsewhere who have noted that need. This is due, in part, to the better weather which creates a desire for greater play, upcoming test stress and efforts, and end-of-year events and transitions. And as I've mentioned so often, every year it comes as a surprise when it occurs. We're rolling along and then there's an event that awakens this.

Kickball will help us this year to build that team and smooth the path to the year's end. Onward.

Planning for End of Year Complexity

The PARCC tests and fifth grade play rehearsal schedule signal the beginning of the end-of-year complexity. With many special events planned, resources and rooms are shared differently which requires a lot of coordination among multiple parties in a school. Google calendar definitely helps in this regard.

This morning I took a few minutes to look closely at the calendar and plan for these events. What does this include?

PARCC Practice Test
I'll lead my homeroom students through a practice test as described in the test prep materials. This dry run is important to test success and comfort.

PARCC Practice Math Test
I'll lead all students through paper and online practice math tests to familiarize students with the format and give them an opportunity to review all the questions and standards. At one time or another we've reviewed all the standards for this test, so now it's a time to apply that learning for test success.

Complementary Teaching and Learning
To keep a sense of organization, we'll work to compliment big, active, whole class events such as a grade-level play rehearsal with quiet, focused research, writing, and reading.

Room Organization
I need to revisit the STEAM supplies that fill half my room and make space for serious attention to the tests and a number of upcoming presentations. I'll give the room a big makeover someday next week to prepare for this.

Student Supply Check and Clean-Up
It's time to take a first cut at student supply clean-up. Time to clean desks, drawers, and other supply bins.

STEAM Projects
We have a large number of STEAM projects planned, and I want to work with my team to think carefully about how we might use time and staffing creatively to support these projects in the days ahead.

Expert Visitors and Special Events
We have a long list of expert visitors and special events in the weeks ahead. We have to make sure the schedules, spaces, and necessary prep including CORI forms, permission slip/money collection, and other matters are completed to support that.

Fortunately April vacation will give us some time to plan for this with greater attention before the true complexity begins and leads the final eventful days during the last six weeks of school.