One of the many things I wish I figured out earlier in my career is how important parental involvement is. I don't usually get all technical, but I have done a lot of research in this area. Children are more likely to succeed academically and are less likely to engage in violent behaviors if their families are involved in their education.
The problem is many parents feel that they are unwelcome in their children's schools and some teachers, myself included, feel like they are under attack when parents want to come into their classroom.
So how can we bridge this gap? The first, and one of the most important things to remember, is to not only contact parents when their child does something negatively. You should also contact them when you have celebrations, even small ones. I make it a point at the beginning of each year to get all of my parent's email addresses. Some people are reluctant at first, but they usually give in after I keep sending home the paper asking for it over and over. I like to email my parents each time I see any improvement in their child in class. Be it academic, social or emotional, all are important. Parents love to get good emails about their children. Plus, it makes them realize that you actually care about their child.
There are a few things to remember when conferencing with parents to make sure they stay on your side. The first thing is to try your best to accommodate their work schedules when scheduling a conference. I know it stinks to have to stay until 5:30 on a Friday afternoon, but if a parent knows you are willing to do that then it let's them know that you really care. Another thing to remember is that you are not speaking to another teacher. You would not like your doctor speaking to you using technical terms, so please remember that when talking to parents. Don't treat them like they are dumb, just be straightforward and explain things using "people" terms. The last important conferencing tip is to ask parents for their concerns and suggestions. Let them know that what they think matters too.
Keeping parents up-to-date is super important. Some teachers send out newsletters on a regular basis. I wish I could say that I did that. I've never been good at remembering to write them. Instead I rely on technology. I keep my website updated and when something important is coming up, I send out emails and texts. I am in love with Remind101. It is a web-based program that sends out mass texts to parents when you need to let them know something. It uses a random phone number so that parents can't see your actual number. To learn more about it you can download the app or visit the website at https://www.remind101.com/.
It is also important to keep your parents updated on their children's grades. Now that many schools allow their parents to check their students' grades on-line, this is a lot easier. Many of my parents don't have time to do this though. To solve this problem, I send home Monday Folders. Each Monday, the students bring home a folder of all of their corrected work from the week before. Parents expect it to come home each Monday so this fixes the problem of students throwing all of their work into the bottom of their book bag and never showing it to their parents. The other important piece that I include in the folder is a grade sheet. It contains all of the child's current grades up to that day. Parents are required to sign it and write back if they have any questions or concerns. This also solves the problem that all teachers have right after report cards go home and parents try to say that they had no idea that their child was failing.
One more thing that you can do is invite parents to come in and help. Many teachers don't like to do this though because they feel like they are being watched. The key to this is to keep the parents busy. Make the parents let you know before they come in so that you can prepare work for them to do. The busier they are, the less likely they will be scrutinizing you.
And last, but certainly not least, don't forget to thank your parents. Parenting, just like teaching, is a hard job. Just like we love parents thanking us for working so hard with their children, they love to hear it too.
Keeping that strong relationship with your parents will make your year 100 times smoother!
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Lights, Camera, Action!
A few years ago I was taking classes to earn my reading endorsement. One of the final requirements was to film myself teaching each of the 5 components of reading. I dreaded doing this because of my fear of the camera. After I was all done filming, I breathed a sigh of relief because I though the worst was over. Boy, was I wrong! The next part of the assignment was to critique those 5 lessons. That meant I had to sit there for 2 and a half hours and watch myself. Ick!
After about 30 minutes I was finally over how horrible I looked on the camera and I was able to focus on my teaching. I had never seen myself as a teacher. I knew what I sounded like in my head, but it was much different in real life. I realized that I said "Okay, guys?" about a million times, that I clarified myself a little too much instead of giving my students wait time, and that sometimes I read a little bit too loudly. If I had another teacher come in my room to observe me, I'm not sure they would have told me these things. You see, as teachers we don't like to hurt people's feelings. We are our own best (and worst) critics.
Since then, I make it a point to film myself at least once each year. My students love being filmed; they feel like real movie stars! While reviewing the film, I try to find at least one thing I can focus on fixing. I don't have to admit my weaknesses to anyone else, I just need to make it a personal goal to fix them.
I highly recommend that all teachers, especially new ones, try this. After you get over the initial shock of having to watch yourself, you can really dig deep into improving your practice.
It's pretty simple to do. All you have to do is set up the camera and go on with your business. Last year I even forgot that the camera was rolling and didn't stop it until a few hours later. It was really beneficial to see myself when I forgot I was being recorded.
I challenge you to try it. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you might even get a little mad at yourself. Just remember that no one is perfect and you are only doing it to make yourself a better teacher.
After about 30 minutes I was finally over how horrible I looked on the camera and I was able to focus on my teaching. I had never seen myself as a teacher. I knew what I sounded like in my head, but it was much different in real life. I realized that I said "Okay, guys?" about a million times, that I clarified myself a little too much instead of giving my students wait time, and that sometimes I read a little bit too loudly. If I had another teacher come in my room to observe me, I'm not sure they would have told me these things. You see, as teachers we don't like to hurt people's feelings. We are our own best (and worst) critics.
Since then, I make it a point to film myself at least once each year. My students love being filmed; they feel like real movie stars! While reviewing the film, I try to find at least one thing I can focus on fixing. I don't have to admit my weaknesses to anyone else, I just need to make it a personal goal to fix them.
I highly recommend that all teachers, especially new ones, try this. After you get over the initial shock of having to watch yourself, you can really dig deep into improving your practice.
It's pretty simple to do. All you have to do is set up the camera and go on with your business. Last year I even forgot that the camera was rolling and didn't stop it until a few hours later. It was really beneficial to see myself when I forgot I was being recorded.
I challenge you to try it. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you might even get a little mad at yourself. Just remember that no one is perfect and you are only doing it to make yourself a better teacher.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Me Time
My alarm goes off at 5:00 AM. I press snooze until 5:45 and then I jump in the shower. I dry my hair put my makeup on and then I wake up my two kids. Luckily, Nic gets himself ready, but Hollie is only 4 and still requires a lot of help. I leave the house, or at least we try to leave, at 7:00. I have to drop both kids off and make my 15 minute commute. I get to school around 7:30. I work non-stop all day until around 4:30 when I decide I've had enough and just need to go home. I pick up both kids and then make my way home. I argue with my son about his homework and I correct papers and then I make dinner. We eat and then I play with Hollie while Nic finishes his homework. I give Hollie a bath and put her to bed. I say goodnight to Nic and finish correcting papers and writing lesson plans. Somewhere before I finally go to bed I search Pinterest for new things to do with my students.
That's my day. How have I gone nonstop for 12 years and still survived? The answer is simple. I save at least an hour each day for "me time". This is my husband's least favorite time of the day. I disappear completely. I usually go work out in solitude. It's quiet. It's peaceful. And best of all, it's away from everything that stresses me out.
Teachers often are very busy on the weekends. Between plans, correcting, housecleaning, grocery shopping and errand running we barely have time to relax. My first few years of teaching I tried to do all of my schoolwork on Saturdays and all of my other chores and errands on Sundays. I felt like I was burning out. A close teacher gave me a hint. Spend one entire weekend day getting everything done. Wake up early if you have to and try to go nonstop until everything is done. I wake up and go to the grocery store. When I come home, I clean the house. When I'm done with that I get all of my schoolwork done. I usually end up spending the whole day working, but it's worth it. The next day, I can relax all day. It's a designated work-free day. Sometimes I flip-flop which day I work. I love spending Saturdays in my sweats not worrying about my hair or makeup watching family movies with my kids.
I think a lot of teachers burn out because they don't set aside any "me time". They focus so much on their work and end up too stressed out to continue. Teachers are people too and all people deserve to live with as less stress as possible. Don't forget to relax!
Teachers often are very busy on the weekends. Between plans, correcting, housecleaning, grocery shopping and errand running we barely have time to relax. My first few years of teaching I tried to do all of my schoolwork on Saturdays and all of my other chores and errands on Sundays. I felt like I was burning out. A close teacher gave me a hint. Spend one entire weekend day getting everything done. Wake up early if you have to and try to go nonstop until everything is done. I wake up and go to the grocery store. When I come home, I clean the house. When I'm done with that I get all of my schoolwork done. I usually end up spending the whole day working, but it's worth it. The next day, I can relax all day. It's a designated work-free day. Sometimes I flip-flop which day I work. I love spending Saturdays in my sweats not worrying about my hair or makeup watching family movies with my kids.
I think a lot of teachers burn out because they don't set aside any "me time". They focus so much on their work and end up too stressed out to continue. Teachers are people too and all people deserve to live with as less stress as possible. Don't forget to relax!
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
I'm Talking to the Man, er, Woman in the Mirror . . .
Today was the dreaded picture day. It's no secret that I hate having my picture taken. My friends always tell me I will regret it someday when I look back with my kids and not have any pictures of myself to help them remember the old me. That's okay though, I know the tricks the camera plays - adding on 10 pounds, making my blemishes look bigger than they really are - and I'm not going to fall victim to them.
So why then do I love mirrors? I love taking a deep look at myself. When I look in a mirror, I see something only I can see. Everyone else's view is opposite of what I see in the mirror. That is my time to decide if I like the person staring back at me and if I decide I don't, then I need to figure out what changes need to be made.
Reflection journals are so important to teachers for the same reason. Students watch teachers all day long, but teachers often forget to examine their own teaching. Journaling enables me to become aware of what I do, how I do it and even why I do it.
Every year I start a new journal. Of course, at the beginning of the year I am so good at sitting down everyday and writing an entry, but by November it ends up being about once a week unless something noteworthy comes up.
During my first hectic year, I realized that at some point I had to stop blaming my anxiety on the kids. It wasn't that I had a bad class, it was that I wasn't using the right methods to get to them. Reflecting helps me get to the bottom of things.
Constructive criticism is sometimes hard to handle. I often find myself trying to defend myself when I know someone is just trying to offer up suggestions. With journaling, you have no one to face but yourself. You can leave your feelings and emotions out of it and just think about things.
Here are a few of the questions that I like to focus on when reflecting:
- What am I doing?
- Why am I doing it?
- How effective is it?
- How are the students responding?
- How can I do it better?
I also try to add in funny things my students said or even praise they gave me. That way when I am reading through my entries later on I can always end with a smile on my face. Happy journaling!
So why then do I love mirrors? I love taking a deep look at myself. When I look in a mirror, I see something only I can see. Everyone else's view is opposite of what I see in the mirror. That is my time to decide if I like the person staring back at me and if I decide I don't, then I need to figure out what changes need to be made.
Reflection journals are so important to teachers for the same reason. Students watch teachers all day long, but teachers often forget to examine their own teaching. Journaling enables me to become aware of what I do, how I do it and even why I do it.
Every year I start a new journal. Of course, at the beginning of the year I am so good at sitting down everyday and writing an entry, but by November it ends up being about once a week unless something noteworthy comes up.
During my first hectic year, I realized that at some point I had to stop blaming my anxiety on the kids. It wasn't that I had a bad class, it was that I wasn't using the right methods to get to them. Reflecting helps me get to the bottom of things.
Constructive criticism is sometimes hard to handle. I often find myself trying to defend myself when I know someone is just trying to offer up suggestions. With journaling, you have no one to face but yourself. You can leave your feelings and emotions out of it and just think about things.
Here are a few of the questions that I like to focus on when reflecting:
- What am I doing?
- Why am I doing it?
- How effective is it?
- How are the students responding?
- How can I do it better?
I also try to add in funny things my students said or even praise they gave me. That way when I am reading through my entries later on I can always end with a smile on my face. Happy journaling!
Friday, October 4, 2013
Whole Brain, Half a Brain - What Does it Matter?
I'm going to tell you a secret, but please don't tell my students. Here goes, I don't know everything. The truth is I'm really good at faking it. Once my beloved class walked in my room last year, I knew it was going to be an interesting year, to say the least. I had a lot of very strong personalities who thought that they could run my class. Sure I had been teaching for like a decade or something, but after having two "perfect" classes for the previous two years, my behavior management skills had gotten a little rusty.
That's when I turned to my trusted friend, The Internet. I'm not quite sure what I was searching for that day in August, all I know is that it felt like I won the lottery when I ran into Whole Brain Teaching. I don't think I went to bed at all that night because I was so busy trying to take in all the videos and resources. If you have never heard of Whole Brain Teaching, then please go visit their website (right after you finish reading this post, of course!) http://www.wholebrainteaching.com/. Basically, Whole Brain is a method that really engages the students and actually brings back the fun in teaching. The best thing about it is that everything on the website is totally free!
I'll admit it though, the first time I saw the videos with all of the chanting, mirroring and movements, I thought it was a little too juvenile for my "way too cool" second graders. Boy, was I completely wrong! I went in the next day and really pumped it up. We started with a brand new set of Whole Brain Rules. I hung up my rule posters and taught them the movements for each rule. They were so excited and actually asked to say them several times that day. It actually gave them a sense of ownership - ownership of a unique brand new set of rules. (I didn't have the heart to tell them that Whole Brain classrooms all over the country share these same rules!)
So what are these totally awesome rules?
Rule # 1 Follow Directions Quickly and Quietly (children put their hands together and move them around like a swimming fish)
Rule # 2 Raise Your Hand for Permission to Speak (children raise their hand then pull it down and put it next to their mouth and make a talking motion)
Rule # 3 Raise Your Hand for Permission to Leave Your Seat (children raise their hand then pull it down and make a walking motion with their index and middle finger on their other hand)
Rule # 4 Make Smart Choices (children tap their head with one finger as they say each word)
Rule # 5 Keep Your Dear Teacher Happy (children make an L's with their index fingers and thumbs, hold them up to their cheeks, smile really big and bob their head back and forth while they say it)
Rule # 6 (My original rule so you won't find this on the WBT website) Act Like You Would if Your Mama Was Here (Children wag their index finger up and down)
I wondered about rule # 5 at first. Then I thought about something that my own mama always said. "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!" It's true in the classroom too. As teachers, we have the humongous responsibility of teaching all of our students lists and lists of standards. It is virtually impossible to teach to our fullest if we aren't happy. If they expect me to teach like my "hair is on fire" then they better keep me happy!
So, a year later, how is it going? Well, we start everyday off with reciting the rules. If I notice someone is breaking a rule during the day (rule # 2 is the most widely broken), I just have to say, "Rule # 2" and the class will recite that rule. The person breaking the rule will quickly fix it. They are not called out and embarrassed, they are just given a gentle reminder. If they continue to break it, I will walk over to them and show the number rule they are breaking on my fingers. For example, if they are talking out, I will put up two fingers. They are not getting any unnecessary attention and they are not wasting any of my precious time.
I presented this to a few coworkers at the beginning of this school year. I remember one person looked at me weird and reminded me that I am teaching 3rd grade this year and that there was no way 3rd graders would do that. Of course, I had to invite her in last week to let her see my group of tough 3rd graders actively reciting the rules ;)
I truly think that I have found the first puzzle piece to the makings of a stress-free classroom. Now I'm off to go search for some more pieces!
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Free Help!
If you walked into the supermarket and saw a sign that said "Free chocolate for a year - no gimmicks", could you turn it down? Well, if you are anything like me, you would be first in line. Having a mentor is like getting free chocolate for a year, maybe even better. Let me explain:
Ms. VanGorder was assigned to be my mentor. I'm not sure she knew what she was getting into when she agreed to do that. I got very lucky because she was the reading coach as well as the Reading Recovery specialist at my school. In other words, she had an incredible bank of reading knowledge. Her office was located conveniently across the hall from my classroom and I spent most of my year in there picking her brain.
Looking back, I know I probably didn't need to go see Ms. VanGorder everyday. By my third year of teaching I already had enough tools in my toolbox to get by. However, she wasn't just physically supporting me, she was there for me mentally as well. She was there when I just needed to be reassured that I was doing the right thing. She was there when I needed to vent about my life outside of school so that I wouldn't bring it into my classroom. She was there to bring me chocolate when she knew I had a bad day and to bring me coffee in the morning after she saw my email to her at 1:00 AM. Basically, she was just there for me.
Ms. VanGorder passed away a few years ago. I never really got to thank her for all she did for me. Don't take your mentors for granted. Accept all of the help they have to offer and don't be afraid to ask for more. If you find yourself not working well with your mentor, ask for a new one. Your mentor should be your go-to person at all times and the best part is that they are free!
Don't ever feel guilty about asking for help either. I have had the opportunity to mentor several teachers myself. Last year I was able to mentor one of the most talented teachers I know. She was on top of everything! I loved when she came to me for help because brainstorming ideas with her often enabled me to bring new ideas back into my own classroom as well.
Teaching is a sink or swim career. You can either prepare to be gobbled up by the sharks or be floating peacefully in your bikini on the top of the waves. (And, if you have a really good mentor, maybe they can even help keep you motivated to eat healthy so that you can look good in that bikini - just sayin'. . .)
Teaching is a sink or swim career. You can either prepare to be gobbled up by the sharks or be floating peacefully in your bikini on the top of the waves. (And, if you have a really good mentor, maybe they can even help keep you motivated to eat healthy so that you can look good in that bikini - just sayin'. . .)
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