If Students Ran The Classroom

Wow!  With less than six days left in this school year, things are definitely a bit c-r-a-z-y around school.  The kids are trying to be good.  They are trying to do their assignments.  They are trying to remain calm.  But, geez, summer is just around the corner. It's so close you can almost taste it.  Sleeping in.  Staying up late.  Hanging out with Mom (or Dad). Playing with friends, neighbors, brothers and sisters.   Swimming. Playing. And a lot of the "F" word ----- FUN!  Believe me, the teachers are not immune to this either.  There's a lot of eye-rolling and hands thrown up in the air.   We are completely and officially worn out every day by noon with all the anticipation.

Today was our last day with our kindergarten buddies.  Now, kindergarten buddy day is right up there with Halloween or Valentine's Day. It's exciting.  It's fun.  And the third graders love seeing their little friends.  So, as I reviewed our daily schedule with the kids as I do every morning, when I came to "Kindergarten Buddies", they all squealed and clapped their hands in excitement.   The problem was we had six hours and ten minutes until we got to that point in the schedule.  They must have asked me seventy-five times today about buddies.  

"When are we going?"  [I point to schedule on board]

"Are we gonna see our buddies today?"  [Nod.  Frown.  Point to schedule on board]

"Is this our last time to see our buddies?"  [Nod.  Make sad face in agreement]

Now repeat the above over and over and over and over and over......

Finally, 3:10 arrives.  I pick the little ones up from gym and we head to the kindergarten hallway.  It's so cute to see them interact with their little friends.  They hold hands and hug and laugh.  The third graders help their little kindergarten friends color and read to them and play games with them.   Today, I brought in some Popsicles to celebrate our last time together.   They were all so polite. 

"Thank you Mrs. Jeppson,"  I heard over and over.   And then I watched the third graders open the Popsicle for their little buddy.  The big kids and the little kids licked their Popsicles and their tongues and lips turned red and purple and blue.   They giggled as they stuck their tongues out at one another and made funny faces. 

Next we headed outside to play.  Now this is always a treat for the third graders because they get to play on the "little kids side" of the playground.  Of course when you are on the "little kids side" all you want to do is make it to the "big kids side" of the playground, but once there, you only want to go back.  It's a vicious cycle.   So, my kids were happy to be back playing with their buddies.  I watched as they ran and chased one another and climbed and jumped and pushed each other on the swings and had the time of their life.  

Before long, it was time to go and we bid our little buddies good-bye.  We headed back to our classroom and it seemed everything was in chaos. I stopped at least five times on our way back and even used my sternest glare to try and get them to stop chatting so much. When we got back to our room, they were all over the classroom. They were to the right of me. They were to the left of me.  I looked across the room and saw one student on the floor.  Two were trying to get a drink from the drinking fountain at the same time.  At least five were trying to get my attention to relay their "cute buddy story" to me.   With only eight minutes until the bell rang, to get us one more day closer to summer, I gave up.  Three kids had been poking my arm and trying to get my attention to ask if they could play 'Seven Up'.  

"Yes.  Yes.  Play away," I said, in a rather loud voice.  "But you can decide who is supposed to be up and run the game.  I'm tired."  I threw in a yawn for added effect.

They looked at me and looked at each other.  And then, rather silently, seven students (who were "up" the last time we played") lined up at the back of the room.  One of them announced in a clear, firm voice:

"OK.  If you want to play, close your eyes and put your thumb up.  And don't peek!"  

And with that, fourteen little heads went down and fourteen little thumbs went up and the seven students walked around, sneaking up on kids to gently tap their thumb and then race back to their spot at the back of the room.    I stood over by the door.  Silent.  Watching.  Could they do it?  Could they run the game by themselves without problems, arguments, etc.??  

And then one of the seven said, "OK.  Eyes open.  Raise your hand if you were tapped." 

And I'll be darned.  Seven hands went into the air.  They were running the game all by themselves.  And they were doing a pretty good job so far.  

Another one of the seven began.  "[student name], who do you think tapped you?"  

The game went on and I watched in amusement.   The words they used were exactly the words I use when we play the game.  They were being the teacher.  They were running their own game.  They were following the rules and playing the game.  They were running the classroom.  And they were doing a really good job.  I honestly think I could have left and they would have called the game, lined up, waited for the bell, and walked themselves out.  There is something to be said for routines. 

I'm thinking tomorrow I'll toss them the social studies lesson and see how they do.  

It's Not Rocket Science

I'm not gonna lie to you.  This time of year, with only eight days remaining, can be some of the toughest times of the whole year.  It can also be some of the best.  It's tough because the kids can't sit still.  It's tough because the weather is beautiful.  It's tough because the kids are staying up later and getting into "summer mode".  It's tough because we teachers are completely and utterly exhausted.  It is the best part of the year because I know the kids so well.  It's the best part of the year because some of the pressure is off as we wind down the year, and we can stray from our tight schedules to relax a bit.  It's the best time of the year because the students have grown and changed right before my eyes. 

Today, the kids and I went outside as they tested their straw rockets.  This is a part of our Force & Motion unit and the kids love it.  They build, test, adjust, explain, and have fun creating rockets made from straws.  They figure out items to add to their rocket for weight and learn some scientific concepts as they "play".  Today was the day where we had the "Rocket Races" and each student had a chance to try to blow their rocket and hit a target at a 5 meter distance.  The weather was perfect and the kids were excited.  

I lined up a student to help record distances.  I lined up a student to measure out and mark the test track.  I lined up a student to monitor the box of supplies.  I got to sit back, listen, and watch the students.  One of my favorite things to do.   

"Hey!  Mrs. Jeppson!" yelled one little boy as he ran toward me, straw in hand.  

"Hey! What?" I replied, as he skidded to a stop right up against my arm.

"We are doing rocket science!"  He laughed and said it several other times in case students in the vicinity had not heard it the first time.   It received numerous chuckles and giggles.

"There is no such thing as rocket science," countered another little student.  "My Dad said so," he added for extra oomph.   

And then they looked at me, since I'm the resident expert when Dads are no where to be found.

"My Dad said it's engineering.  For space.  And making space shuttles.  But it's not called Rocket Science," he explained further.  

The boy who had originally ran to me looked a bit deflated.  He wanted to be a rocket scientist.  He wore his safety glasses atop his head, so serious and intent on his rocket building.  The fact that they were using plastic straws, clay, and paper had not deterred him one bit.  I wanted to make sure he continued to feel very important.  

"I think we can call it whatever we want.  And we can be whatever we want," I told them.  "I like the sound of "Rocket Scientist".  It sounds more official.  And way more fun," I smiled at them.  "Now, be off, rocket scientists!  Go build, test, and try!" 
They gleefully returned back to the testing area with their straws. 

As each student blew their rocket, the kids oohed and ahhed and encouraged one another.  When one of the straw rockets traveled an amazing 6 meters, it earned a round of applause from the watching scientists.  Soon, we headed inside, the races over.

Now, it's hard to top playing with straw rockets outside on a perfect, 72 degree sunny day, but I tried.  We gathered at the back carpet and I began reading them an article about polar bears and global warming.  They stretched out and wrote down questions and wonders.  They talked with their reading partner and shared their thinking with the class.  I even dare say, they were quite engaged as they learned about the polar bears losing their habitat due to global warming.   

Near the end of the discussion, one of the little ones began talking in a funny voice and announcing that he was a polar bear. I believe he was talking about not finding enough seals for his dinner.  It instantly reminded me of the A T & T commercials where the guy is talking to little kids.  I started to laugh.  The kids started to laugh but they had no idea why they were laughing.  But if I was laughing, they figured it was time to laugh.

"Hey.. have you guys seen the A T & T commercials with the little kids and the man?" I asked them, still laughing.  "Well [insert student name] reminds me of the little girl who talks like a werewolf...." 
Watch ATT Commercial

Before I could finish, several kids were laughing and adding more specific details from the commercial.  They began sharing the other commercials with each other and soon we were all laughing.  I told them that sometimes the commercials remind me of when I talk to them and we have discussions.  I told them I meant it as a compliment.  That laughing is good for you and sometimes they say really funny things.  

And although it might not have been rocket science, we ended the day, one of our last together, learning, discovering, and doing what we do every day.    

Guest Blog

Today is my first official guest blog post!   It comes from a fellow teacher in the district who volunteered a few weeks ago when I posted my blog: Help Wanted.  Unfortunately for me, I didn't get quite the response I had hoped for, but fortunately for me, a this teacher stepped up.  

 I had the pleasure of working in the same school as the guest blogger a few years ago when I was teaching ESL at her school.  My tiny office was located between two classrooms and hers was one of them.  I was always so amazed when I would hear all the excited kids in her classroom.  It was a vibrant room full of learning and thinking.   I was always impressed with her dedication as a teacher.  She's also a real "techie" and I have learned a lot from her over the years.  I can honestly say that I never see her without a bright smile and a positive attitude, so it's only fitting that she's my guest blogger.   So, without further ado, may I present today's guest blogger -----



First, I have to say that I’ve loved reading this blog all year long!  I don’t know if I could have kept up on writing the way Dianne has – and the laughs?!  It’s been the perfect place to pop in when I need a giggle!

It’s so hard to think of one thing to focus on for this guest post.  I mean, teaching is all over the place – just today I was at a soccer game watching a bunch of my girls play.  They, of course, were more interested in my dog than the game once I arrived.  Thankfully, the offer to stay till games end as long as they stayed focused worked like a charm!  (And their coach said that he had been using me coming to the game as encouragement for them to play their best!)  After the fun of the soccer game, I came home to the rather un-fun task of report card writing.  The best thing I like about this last report card is the POSITIVE comments I get to leave after spending a year watching these kids grow!

Oh, yeah, I forgot to introduce myself.  I teach fourth grade at Conant Elementary, another school in the district.  I’ve been there for my whole teaching career, though I bounce between third and fourth grade as needed.  I like both grades – the age of third graders is like no other, and well, fourth graders?  They’re quite entertaining, to say the least!  I used to think third grade was my favorite to teach, but after this year?  I’m not sure… might be a tie.

Since it’s going to be impossible to sum up an entire school year in a few paragraphs, I’m gonna try to use the POSITIVITY thread to weave everything together.  Cause it’s a pretty easy thing to think about positivity in my classroom.  For one, I’m POSITIVE I love my job.  There are so many positive aspects

to teaching, which I like to think they outweigh the less-than-positive moments.  I have a mantra when it comes to teaching that falls very nicely into the positive position.  In fact, this positive mantra is positioned above the doorway in my classroom.  It says “Attitude is everything.”  And yes, even the sign has attitude.  It refuses to hang straight.  It’s got a bit of a personality.
 
My class this year is quite an enthusiastic group of kids.  Thinkers, they’re called.  Ms. Diem’s Thinkers.  And boy do they think.  They make me think, too, with all the questions they have!  I don’t have the answers to many of their questions, but that’s ok.  I’m pretty positive they’ll be able find the answers in their own time, and will learn more because of that self-motivated process of inquiry.

Fourth graders have such a unique way of seeing things.  They’re on the cusp of that “I’m too cool for that!” mentality, but still have the “my teacher is the coolest!” mindset.  They still love stickers.  And stuffed animals.  They take things very literal, which in turn, leads to some very laughable conversations!  It’s really hard to keep a straight face sometimes.
 
The most positive thing from the school year?  It has to be watching these Thinkers grow.  They came in as enthusiastic, somewhat boisterous third graders, lapping up all support and guidance they could get.  They sit before me now, more confident, more independent, more knowledgeable, more able to satisfy their curiosities with their newfound ability to research and interact with their world in a positive, meaningful way.  I couldn’t be prouder!

Funny tidbits from 4th graders…
They are endlessly entertained by the fact that when you type an “r” and an “n” next to each other, it looks like an “m” (this always brings out a fit of giggles!)
4th graders like to invent new words, like the fact that the entire class says “present-tat-ing” instead of “presenting”
No matter what book you’re reading aloud, when you get to a cliff hanger, they simultaneously yell “noooooooo!” when you start to close the book. (They simultaneously cheer when you continue reading, too.)
Extra recess is still the best bribe.  Period.
iPads make everything more fun.  Even taking tests.  And writing.

And my favorite?
They’re never too old for a handshake, high-five, or even a hug as we say farewell on Fridays.

By the way, I’m pretty positive you’ll enjoy meeting my class, too.  Check out their blog at tweetwrite.blogspot.com.  You can follow them on twitter too @MsDiemsThinkers