When In Doubt, Throw It Out

One of the best parts of being a teacher, is the beginning of every year when you get to meet and know a bunch of new little kids. And, even though you miss the ones from the previous year, it's quite refreshing to acquire a whole new batch of personalities. Challenging, but in a very good way. 

So, here it is, the 2nd day of school and I'm getting to know the kids little by little.  The shy ones.  The sensitive ones.  The bold ones and the social ones.  The perfectionists and the silly ones.  The nervous ones and the self-assured ones. 

On the other hand, they are also getting to know me.  I tell the kids right off the bat, that I am three things:  Friendly, fair, and firm.  And definitely not in that order!  They look at me funny when I try to make silly jokes.  They laugh when I laugh and quickly get back to business when I frown.  They try very hard to live up to my expectations, be it challenging them to follow three directions in a row without a reminder, or asking them to spend some more time thinking and wondering.  So far, I'm quite impressed with these little ones. 

Today was our first full day back in school.   There was some more time spent with procedures and what not, but the majority of the day was spent on digging into some of the curriculum with a sprinkle of getting to know each other better by having a little fun.

The morning flew by and I was proud of myself for successfully being able to identify each new face with the correct name (sometimes this can take several days).  After lunch we headed to computer lab, where they settled in and, with very minimal help, got busy. I was seriously impressed.  It felt as if we had been in school for months (in a good way!)

After an uneventful recess, which in 3rd grade, at the beginning of the year, is a small victory in itself, I paired the students up for Think-Pair-Share and we gathered on the back carpet.  I asked the students to form a circle and watched as they worked together to organize.  

"Hmmmm..." I started.  "Great job on the circle, or oval, or whatever shape you made."  They giggled.  I sat down between two boys.  "OK if I sit between you?"  

At this, several others moaned and sighed and said they wanted me to sit next to them.  Talk about a boost to my ego!  So sweet!

"Well, we have a long year ahead of us, so not to worry - I'll sit next to each of you at some point, I promise," I assured them.  And we carried on.

One of the things I like to do in the beginning of the year is let students practice listening skills.  So I gave them a question and instructed them to ask their partner and then listen carefully to the answer.  If I called on them, they had to tell what their partner said.  Trust me, it's harder than it seems.  I'm sure many adults would be incapable of doing this same activity.   I also ask them to always use their partner's name or the name of any person they are referring to or agreeing with.  Usually within a few months, they are all joining in and having some great discussions.    

After calling on a few students, who successfully repeated in great detail what their partner had said, I called on one of my quieter students.   He cleared his throat.

"Well, my friend, [student name], explained to me that he would like to travel to Hawaii because he would like to learn to surf and he likes warm weather."

Wow.  Just wow.  Did I tell you it's the second day of school?  And instead of using the words, "My partner [student name] said", as I had modeled, he ad-libbed with "My friend explained"  .....  wow.  

So, naturally, I complimented him and all the other kids on their turn used the phrase, "My friend" because they thought he had just discovered the magic words to make your teacher happy for the whole year. (smile)

Shortly after, I had the students work on a reading survey.  I told them they could sit anywhere around the room and to think about the questions, and take their time.   Of course, within five minutes, the inevitable "I'm done!" rang out across the classroom.  Even though I have already asked multiple times that students not declare to the world, "I'm done!" when they are finished with something, it's a hard nut to crack.   It's like it's built into their little school brain that they must announce the words, "I'm done!" and then, if possible, follow their teacher around the room shaking the paper/assignment at them for emphasis.  I like to call it the "I'm Done Dance!"  

I casually walked over to the "done" student and pulled up a chair next to him.  He looked up at me over his glasses and pushed his paper over to me. His reading inventory was, indeed, neatly filled in with pencil. 

"My!  You are really quick with your answers," I told him.  "Let me see what your thoughts are about reading." 

"OK," he answered. "You can read it, cuz it's done." 

Great.  That's when I prefer to read things.  When they are done. 

I read each question aloud and probed further.  For example, when he wrote that his favorite place to read was "on an airplane" I asked him how often he reads on an airplane.  He countered with the fact that he reads every time he is on an airplane.  I smiled.   

But the best part was when we got to one of the last questions, which read, "When you don't understand something when you are reading, what do you do?"

I read his response: I look it up in the dictionary.

I asked him if it helped to look up a word in the dictionary.  

"Well, it's supposed to.  So I guess it does," he told me. 

He looked at me and I looked at him.  I arched my eyebrows.  "Well, can you think of anything else that might help you when you don't understand what you are reading?" I prompted.

"I could throw it in the garbage!" he announced.  

I couldn't help it.  I LOL-ed. Then he LOL-ed.  Every head in the room turned our way.  

I leaned in closer to him.  "That's an interesting approach," I told him.  "And you have a great sense of humor!  But, you don't really throw the book in the garbage do you?"

He laughed and smiled and his eyes crinkled when he smiled. I knew that instant that I was really going to enjoy this kid and I looked forward to more conversations to come.

I had noticed on his reading survey that he liked to read about hurricanes, so I went over to my classroom library and retrieved two books I have about hurricanes.  I approached his desk. 

"I saw that you like reading about hurricanes," I said.  "Here.  I think you might like these books I have about hurricanes.  But you have to promise me one thing."

I paused for effect.  

"If you come to a part you don't understand, please don't throw my book in the garbage!" I told him.  

He smiled, but he was already engrossed in one of the hurricane books, no doubt wishing he was on an airplane.

Doing My Rounds

Well, after many days of work and preparation, I am ready for the big day!  The first day of the 2013-2014 school year.  This Tuesday, all the little darlings will arrive and see their classroom for the first time and meet their teacher (many for the first time.)  It is always a very exciting and emotional day.  It is one I look forward to every year.  Like many of the students, I'm nervous, can't sleep much the night before, and am extremely excited to see my friends.

My amazing dry erase kidney table for group work

New tables!

This year I have made a drastic change in my classroom.  I got rid of my desks and went to circle tables.  The fact that my desks were always arranged in table groups got me to thinking of how much easier it would be just to have tables. It also would be great for group work and for students to have flexibility to move and learn around the classroom.  So, last April, I put on my brightest smile and approached my principal to see if he would be as enthused with my idea as I was.  Luckily he was supportive and told me he'd see what he could do.  So, I pushed my luck and I also asked for a kidney shaped dry erase table.

As you can see from my classroom pictures - I got what I asked for!  I have spent lots of time making sure the room looks its best.  I know this change will be different for both me and my kids.  But I'm confident it will be a positive change in my classroom.

  

So there I was, last Thursday, mumbling to myself (any teacher knows what I'm talking about here), amidst a pile of books as I organized my classroom library, with Pandora blasting through the sound system, when I looked up to find a hesitant mom and darling little girl peeking into my classroom. 

"Are you Mrs. Jeppson?" the mother shouted in order to be heard over the music.

"Yes! I am!" I replied as they stepped tentatively into the room and I headed towards the door to greet them.

The mother introduced her daughter, one of my new students for the upcoming year.  I smiled at her, shook her little hand, and asked her what she thought of the classroom.  I waved my arm channelling Vanna White in a broad sweep of the classroom.  She smiled brightly as her mother nodded her head. I told her I had made lots of big changes over the summer.

"It looks so warm and inviting," began the mother. "I love the tables."

  

"It's pretty!" added the sweetie.  I could see her eyes darting around, trying to take in the new things and relaxing a bit as she seemed to like the room.

"Thank you," I told them.  "I've been really working on making some changes so that all my students can have space and comfort to learn and think."

"It's so bright," continued the mother, eyes still taking in the room. 

I looked at the little girl, who no doubt was worried and nervous about the upcoming year.  I think seeing the room and meeting me was helping a bit.  But she still seemed to have doubts as to whether I was the "crazy teacher".

I bent down a bit in front of her.  "I love your hair," I told her, smiling. Her thick, curly hair was tied back in a hair band, and humidity was pulling strands here and there.  "You have wonderful curls!" 

She couldn't stop the big smile from spreading, as she touched her hair.  She looked me right in the eye as I touched my curly, but rather frizzy and no doubt frazzled hair.  

"Don't worry," I added.  "My hair isn't usually this funny looking!"  

They both laughed and politely excused themselves so I could get back to my preparations.  

"See you soon!" I told them both as the little girl waved and smiled.

Just meeting one of my incoming students put me in a terrific mood the rest of the day.  It reminded me of all the new little faces I will see arrive in my room, tentative and hopeful for a great school year.  It reminded me of the excitement of a new year and all its promise. 

So, although I'm certainly no doctor, I will be 'doing my rounds' as I get to know my students in the next few weeks, and as we learn together this year.  

I even organized my books this year!

Another view of my classroom table groups

B Positive: Guest Blogger

It's only our fifth day back to school and already a teacher friend asked me if I was interested in her as a guest blogger.  The fact that I have been practically shouting from the rooftops, "Does anybody want to help me out this year and guest blog?" probably hasn't hurt.  So, thank you, teacher friend for being brave and stepping up. 

This guest blogger is one of the most positive people I know, always greeting everyone with an exuberant smile.  After I read this story, I realized that it really is true.  You can help people be more positive by simply being more positive yourself.  Even in the face of death, this woman chose to not let things bring her down; instead she clung to the positive.  I wonder how many of us could do the same.

B Positive

To some of you, this will be a very strange blog post on positivity, but I urge you to keep reading, hang in there, and you will see the light at the end of the tunnel.

This is a picture of my friend and I on her wedding day.  What a wonderful day filled with love, laughter, family, and friends.  Sadly, she recently passed away from breast cancer at the age of 43.  What could this possibly have to do with positivity?  Positivity is what enabled this young woman to live much longer than expected, to see her kids accomplish goals, snuggle them in bed at night, to enjoy her parents, to hug and hold her husband, to have lunch with her girlfriends, to fight with her sister, to laugh and be laughed at, to love life.

My friend was always positive; always the glass is half full kind of girl.  We used to tease her because she was a Gold Tour Guide, leading nervous freshmen and easily as nervous parents around the campus of Western Michigan, never ceasing to smile, laugh and put them at ease.

My little, Italian friend (as we often called her) was very strong in her faith in God and the promise of eternal life.  It was this belief that gave her strength in accepting what was to come next and I daresay, looking forward to it.  Her positive outlook on life and death has been inspirational.  You see, I could never wrap my head around the words, "at peace".  It just seemed like something you say when someone dies, something to make the event seem more bearable. My dear friend exemplified  at peace, and in turn made everyone who loved her feel at peace.

On one visit to the hospital, shortly before her passing, I asked her blood type.  She said, "What do you think?"
As I contemplated, she replied, "B Positive, of course."

Of course - her mantra!