Who Doesn't Love a Rapping Camel?

Greetings Apples,

Want to get your kids to not only understand but remember information?? Teach them a song! I showed my kiddos this hilarious adaptation Youtube video last week, and they are still singing it back to me. I can't wait to teach them the Figurative Language Rap I have up my sleeve for later in the year...

(Warning: The following video is highly addictive...)

Miss H.

Halloween Hoopla!

Greetings Apples,

I know we're way past Halloween and rapidly chugging toward Thanksgiving, but I had to share some photos from our costume parade. This is the first year the entire school dressed up and held a parade for the parents. The teachers went all out and coordinated "Super Teacher" costumes. We had a total blast, and I look forward to doing it again next year! (Have I mentioned I love the people I work with??)

Miss H.

The "D" Word

Greetings Apples,

I've got a confession to make...

I didn't always love school.  I was a relatively bright kid who teachers would probably say didn't work to her "full potential." I loved (and still love) the idea of school - the structure, the routine, the familiarity - but I didn't always dive into my work for the pure joy of learning. I did what was asked of me, with the minimal effort required to get the job done. I was a B student, though I was capable of more. This is not to say that I didn't have some exceptional teachers along the way who challenged me, let me be creative, made me think and work harder, and make me want to learn. (Shout out to Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Cooley and Mrs. Fleishman!) But overall, my experiences and memories of school are of the end destination, not the journey.

Looking back now, I realize that in general when I was a student, my teachers weren't differentiating to meet the need of all their students. (One of the many glorious buzz words we teachers hear and use constantly...) I wasn't being challenged or pushed to rise to my full potential. Even in college, when I got to choose my  course of study (English!), I still found myself bored in certain classes that I was required to take to earn my degree. I loved The History of Shakespeare, but had to choke down Chaucer, too, if I wanted that coveted diploma.  Much like my students today, if I couldn't find the relevance or the purpose in what I was asked to do, I wasn't engaged.

It wasn't until I entered my credential program that I became self-motivated and saw the worth in what I was doing. Yes, I was focused on the end goal of earning my teaching credential, but I also wanted to soak up every tiny lesson or bit of advice along the way to be the best teacher I could possibly be. I did all of my assigned work, and I didn't take shortcuts. I asked questions, I researched, I practiced. I wanted, and still want, to be one of the teachers I had along the way that made me feel smart and creative, and most importantly, made me want to learn. I know I am in the right profession (or at least in the right field) because I still want to learn. I want to know more and do things better each time I try them in my classroom.

I attended a GATE conference this morning (voluntarily...on a Saturday...). This is the first year that I have (what I feel is) a large cluster of GATE students in my classroom. Just like any other student in my classroom, I want to do right by them, but I am still feeling shaky on best practices. The conference this morning was just what I needed. I walked away with a ton of ideas to test out and a little bit more confidence that I can teach gifted children just as well as I can teach special needs children, English language learners or any other student that passes through my classroom.

I wanted to share with you some of the things I learned this morning that I am going to try to implement this year in my classroom. Hopefully the things I am trying will not only benefit my GATE children, but also set the bar higher for all of the students in my class.

1. Friday Math Challenge
Fridays tend to be a pretty lax day in my classroom. We are winding down from the week, and this is typically the day where I will assess, especially in Language Arts, whatever skills we were working on Monday-Thursday. This is also a big review day to reinforce whatever I think we need more of before I send the kids away for the weekend.

I typically don't introduce a new math concept on Fridays, but we may play a math game or do independent practice to reinforce skills. One of the presenters this morning talked a lot about Math Challenges that require and build problem solving skills and showed how easy it can be to differentiate.

So, my new plan is to do a weekly Math Challenge time on Friday mornings. I will have three leveled challenge problems that students can work on with a partner. Once they have solved their problem, they will need to be able to articulate what they did to get the answer.

Some recommended resources for GATE challenge activities were:

Websites

• http://www.world-english.org/puzzles.htm
• http://expandyourmind.com/logicproblems/logic_puzzles.shtml
• http://www.techinterviews.com/google-interview-questions
• http://www.onlinemathlearning.com/math-puzzles.html
• http://thomer.com/riddles/
• http://www.justriddlesandmore.com/Brainbusters/BB%20archive%201-25.html
• http://puzzles.nigelcoldwell.co.uk/
• http://www.mystfx.ca/special/mathproblems/
• http://www.syvum.com/teasers/

Books

• Creative Problem Solving in School Mathematics by George Lenchner
• Math Olympiad Contest Problems for Elementary and Middle School Students by George Lenchner
• Challenge Math for the Elementary or Middle School Student by Edward Zacarro
• Become a Problem-Solving Genius by Edward Zacarro

I'd also recommend Marilyn Burns books for great problem-based math challenges and Marcy Cook math puzzles if you haven't already looked into these resources.

2. GATE Icons

I have seen the GATE icons around several times, but have been too intimidated to learn more about them or even try them out. I learned a great deal about them today and feel confident implementing one or two of the symbols in my classroom to get my feet wet. (If you haven't seen/experienced the GATE icons, you can look here to get started.)

My class already writes in their Creative Writing Journal on Fridays, but I think I am going to switch it out to every other Friday and alternate with an ethical dilemma. As one of the presenters demonstrated today, she effortlessly implements the GATE icons for every student across the curriculum. One of the things she does is an "Ethical Envelope" where she pulls a card out with an ethical dilemma on it and asks students to respond in a journal about what they would do based on the given prompt (i.e. You see that your best friends cheats on a test in class. What would you do? Why?) I think this is a great way get kids thinking. Things aren't always black or white, there isn't always one clear-cut answer to a problem. 

The other thing this presenter did that I really like was to give groups of students a poster with one of the GATE icons on it while watching a video in class. Each group was responsible for reporting back on what they noted in regards to their specific focus while watching the video. I think it's a great way to keep kids engaged when watching a video and hold them responsible for being an active-participant in their leaning.

I heard so many other great things today, but these are going to be my focuses for now. One of the best pieces of advice I've ever gotten from a fellow educator was when trying something new in your classroom, focus on one or two things until you're comfortable with them, and they've become routine.

Do you have GATE students in your classrooms? What are some of the things you've done to keep them challenged and engaged?

Miss H.

Teachers Are People, Too...

Greetings Apples,

Tomorrow marks my four year anniversary of being cancer free.

When I was first diagnosed, I was in the middle of student teaching and had to withdraw from school in order to undergo surgery and a few months of recovery. After sitting out for a semester, I was able to return to the credential program, and finish one semester behind what I had initially anticipated. In a beautiful twist of fate, that one semester delay enabled me to be placed as a student teacher at a school in the district where I was desperate to get a job. I was very fortunate, especially with the current lack of jobs in education, to be hired on immediately at that same school, and I have been working there ever since. (Talk about a silver lining!)

A dear friend of mine, who is also a teacher and a cancer survivor, once told me that a parent put in a request not to have her child placed in that class in case the teacher got cancer again and had to go on leave. She didn't want her child to have a long-term sub.

I was shocked.

Our jobs as teachers are important, and the work we do in the classroom each day is crucial to the success of our students, but teachers are people, too. We have families and obligations and hobbies like you do. We get married like you do. We have babies like you do. We get sick like you do, too.

Our job is to teach your child, but we are also real people with real lives, just like you.

After hearing my friend's story, I was very careful never to make mention of my cancer history at school. I never wanted it to be something that overshadowed my work or reputation as a teacher.

As the years have passed, I've become less tight-lipped about that time in my life. I have realized that what I went through has not only made me a better person, but a better teacher, too. I believe I am more compassionate and understanding than I was before. I am able to more easily sympathize if a child has a major life event causing them stress at home. I believe I am more patient, and I am able to not take things (including myself!) so seriously.

What I have been through at a relatively early age in life has helped shape the teacher I am today, and that's something worth sharing and celebrating.

Happy Anniversary to me!
Miss H.

"Tummy Time" with my nephew in the hospital.

#ootd

Greetings Apples,

When I was student teaching in Kindergarten, I used to have to choose my clothes carefully. Could they withstand gluesticks? Dirty hands? Fingerpaint?

Now that I have older kids, I look forward to getting dressed each morning. Here are some of my recent outfits now that the weather is cooling down (finally!)

What are your work wardrobe essentials?

Miss H.

Over the Hump

Greetings Apples,

While I love the start of a new school year for its fresh-start-feeling (who doesn't love pristine notebooks and newly-sharpened pencils?), it is also the most strenuous time of year, in my opinion.

First, you have a group of new students to learn about and "train" in the routines of your classroom. On top of that, there are meetings and district trainings galore. Before you know it, your first set of progress reports are due and it's time to set up parent/teacher conferences.

Parent/Teacher conferences, in theory, should be pretty simple. You have a 20-minute chat with each child's parents about his or her progress in class. The kids have minimum days, so you are only teaching until 12:30 each day.

Simple, right?

In reality, I find parent/teacher conferences exhausting and my least favorite time of year. Yes, the kids leave at 12:30, but starting at 12:40 you begin back-to-back 20 minute sessions with a revolving door of parents. There are translators to be scheduled, talking points to be written, data samples to be copied for each parent, and a tight schedule to be made that is nearly impossible to stick to. Talking for two hours straight is even more exhausting than teaching! Plus, to accommodate working parents, I offer two morning slots beginning at 7:30. Which means that this not-a-morning girl had to get herself up between 5 and 5:30 each day to get to work in enough time for my 7:30 meetings.

This year, I completed 34 conferences. I averaged between 6-7 conferences a day, and found myself working until 5:30ish each night to get caught up on all of the mundane clerical-type tasks I had been putting off in recent weeks.

While I do feel caught up after this past week, I am mostly relieved conferences are over (with the exception of the two that I have to re-do this week).

Now I feel like I cam just solely focus on the kids and their learning needs. (Until it's time to write report cards, of course...)

What is your least favorite time of the school year?

Miss H.

Full Plate

Greetings Apples,

School is in full swing, and I am already feeling the pressure of due dates and career demands. As I mentioned in a previous post, I have returned to graduate school this year to finish my Master's degree.  In addition to tackling that beast, I have a career full of demands and time commitments. On top of the actual "teaching" part of my job, I run our school's recycling program and sit on the RTI and Technology committees. (I swear I scaled back this year...) Those things alone keep me busy from Monday to Friday (and if we're honest, at least one day of the weekend, too.) Add on to my plate 31 progress reports due on Wednesday; scheduling and attending about 35 parent/teacher conferences in the coming weeks; SST, 504, and IEP meetings I am required to attend early in the mornings before work actually begins; and the first chapter of my thesis due in a week...

I am one frazzled girl in fancy ballet flats.

To offset the stress, I am trying hard to get enough sleep each night. I am also trying to do little things to treat myself when I can, like putting fresh flowers in my bathroom to enjoy while I am getting ready in the morning or getting a manicure so I have something pretty to stare at while I am typing my thesis.

I keep trying to remind myself that this level of stress I am feeling will only last for a short period of time. If everything goes as planned (which my dad has emphatically told me IT WILL!), I will be donning my cap and gown in May of 2013. Eye on the prize, right?

What things do you do to help yourself manage stress?

Miss H.

The Germ Factor

Greetings Apples,

One of the worst parts of teaching (Yes, we get summers off, but there are downsides to the job, too...) are the constant germs floating around in the classroom. I hear veteran teachers talking about having built an "immunity" to cold viruses over the years, but that has yet to happen for me. I certainly get sick fewer times throughout the year than when I began teaching, but I do definitely still get taken down by the little green Mucinex man every now and again.

We're barely into the start of the school year, and I already have my first cold. Surprisingly though, I can't blame my students for this one...I caught this bug from cuddling with my sweet (and sick) nephews on Friday afternoon. It was too hard to turn down pjs, Toy Story 2, and a cuddle after a long week, and now I'm paying for it!

So, for now, I continue to live on a diet of Vitamin C, Advil and water until I'm back on my feet again.

Miss H.

Devouring Books

Greetings Apples,

One of my goals this year is to be better about incorporating art projects into my monthly schedule. Not only does it give the kids a good "brain break" and creative outlet, but it also provides me with instant classroom decor!

I spent a lot of my Pinterest time this summer scouting out art project ideas. Below is a clever bookmark my kids and I made on Friday afternoon.

I ran templates of the different pieces (monster body, outer eye, inner eye) on various cardstock colors for the kids to choose from. As one student shouted enthusiastically, "That is the coolest thing I have ever seen!"

Miss H.

Welcome to Room 18!

Greetings Apples,

If you're a teacher who is anything like me, setting up your classroom is your guilty pleasure! Even though I love summer vacation, I always secretly look forward to August when I can head back into my classroom, crank up some music, and get everything organized for the upcoming school year. After all, I spend so much time in my classroom, I want it to be a place that makes me feel happy and inspired.

When I began in fourth grade a few years ago, I loosely decided on a California theme for my classroom.  California history is a major focus of the fourth grade curriculum, and I thought it would work well as a unifying theme for my bulletin boards. I also chose to invest in fabric for my bulletin boards that year after learning of its wonder from my first master teacher, Mrs. Hardin. Though it was pricey at the time (but do-able with strategic JoAnn coupon usage and teacher discount), this fabric is going on its third year and still looks as good as new. Unlike butcher paper, when you remove staples or push pins, there is hardly any sign of damage. (Thank you, Mrs. Hardin!)

Here's a look around my "office" ... 

Welcome to Room 18!

View from the front door

I have always put up the kids' pictures on the door, but this year 

I adapted these awesome posters that I saw here on Pinterest to add to the mix.

Just inside the door, is my Twitter board, student mailboxes (courtesy of my handy dad), and class pet. On the "Voracious Vocab" board, I post our weekly vocabulary words on index cards. By the end of the year, the students are amazed to see the amount of new words they have learned!

A peek at our class pet, Zeke, an eyelash crested gecko donated by a former student.

Inside the door to the right is my information bulletin board.
This is where I post birthdays, student awards, weekly jobs, and our daily schedule.
It is also where the students take lunch count in the mornings.

This is my desk area. It took me two years to work our a configuration that I liked, but now I'm a happy camper! Did you spot my pup, Duke, peeking out of the corner? When I have to catch up on work on the weekends, he comes and keeps me company (and by "company" I mean, sleeps in the corner...)

This if the front of my classroom. I am fortunate enough to have a Smartboard in my room (thank you, PTA!) The shelf under the whiteboard houses dictionaries, thesauruses, math reference books and math toolkits.

To the left of my Smartboard is my "teaching" area when I need to sit. Here I have my document camera, various remotes, my copies of textbooks and workbooks, fair sticks, etc. Please note my adorable skunk air freshener from Bath & Body Works. He is one of many around the room who combat the "after recess" smell...

My day of the week buckets hold papers and handouts that I will need throughout the week.

This little bookshelf is new this year. It holds things I need to access while teaching at the front of the room, near the Smartboard and document camera. The Kindness Jar, Brain Breaks, and Help! bucket are all fabulous ideas I found on Pinterest this summer.

Problem of the Week board with a weekly math challenge

My Accelerated Reader "Walk of Fame" is where I keep track of students' total AR points each trimester. Above is my social studies timeline, which is something new I am trying this year. I posted U.S. history events that are relevant to things we talk about in 4th grade. As we progress in social studies, the kids and I will add the California history dates as we learn them.

The California Dreaming board houses miscellaneous work throughout the year.

I have 5 student computers, and each has its own posted list of "approved websites"
and hints for navigating around a computer.



My classroom library, extra storage, and small group workspace

Passport to Reading is my independent reading program for the kids.
To the right is the All-Finished station (thank you, again, Mrs. Hardin!) where kids
can find approved activities if they finish all of their work early.

This is the student supply station and homework board. 

On the very back wall is my writing bulletin board.
Each student has a designated space to hang their work.

Well, there you have it! I really do enjoy being inside my classroom, and I try to always make sure that it is a space that is inviting and inspiring to my students, too. 

Miss H.

Troubleshooting

Greetings Apples,

Last school year I put up a small board in my room called the "Problem of the Week." I posted a math problem there every Friday morning, and students had until the following Thursday to attempt the problem if they wanted a math challenge.  I even offered raffle tickets as an incentive to those students who solved the problem correctly.

No one was really interested.

A student or two tried it at first, but even their interest slowly waned, until I was left with a single challenge problem, posted for several months with no takers, and a board overrun by a lonely cobweb in the corner of my room.

I was thinking about my "Problem of the Week" board today because for my current class, I can't post these challenge problems fast enough.  These kids love the idea of a math problem that they can solve when they have a free moment.

I have begun to notice that there are one or two specific academic-related memories that I have had with each of my classes so far. My first class, when I was a long-term substitute in the third grade, wrote the most hilarious Mad Libs together - to the point where, years later, they would see me on campus and repeat a hilarious line from one of our ad-libbed gems, and we'd crack up together all over again.

My first fourth grade class loved figurative language.  From the day I taught my first simile lesson, their little hands would shoot into the air any time they heard a metaphor, idiom or hyperbole. They couldn't wait to share with me what they had heard. Last year's class was enthralled with our creative writing journals. They would literally cheer when I pulled out the creative writing jar and asked them to take out their journals and pencils.

Each of these special memories is unique to the group of kids that I had in my class that year, and I treasure each one.  (We've been in school for two weeks, and I am already wondering what is going to be my special memory of this class!)

Which brings me to the point of my blog...

Children are different. There are books and classes to teach you how to be a teacher, but there is no user manual to figure out what any one child needs. What has worked for one child or group of children in my classroom before won't necessarily work the following year.  As I learn and grow in my experiences as a teacher, I am beginning to develop quite the "bag of tricks," but my job still requires me to know each little mind that enters my room and learn what makes them tick.

And not only is each child individual and unique, but each combination of children that makes up my classroom each year is special. Their personalities feed off of each other, and I can already see that no two classes will ever be quite the same.

How cool is my job? I get to do something everyday that will never quite be the same day to day, and I get to work with children - unpredictable, hilarious little beings - that always seem to keep me on my toes.

Would it be easier to work at a job where everything was predicable, and I always knew how to solve the problem? Probably.

But how boring would that be?

Miss H.

Tweet, Tweet

Greetings Apples,

One of my favorite things in my classroom this year is the Twitter board. I fell in love with the idea on Pinterest and knew I had to replicate it for the upcoming school year. Many of my students had heard of Twitter, and all of the kids shared a giggle when I said "tweet."

After our first week back, we ended Friday by "tweeting" about something new we learned...

Miss H.

First Day Jitters

Greetings Apples,

If only kids knew that their teachers are just as nervous the night before school starts ...

I always know summer is officially over when I begin having school nightmares. Teachers know which ones I'm talking about - the ones where you show up on the first day and nothing is planned, your room is a disaster and you have absolutely no control of your class when they arrive.

My school nightmare this year was a little different. In my back-to-school dreams, my teeth began falling out, and I had no way to get to the dentist in time. So, like any dedicated teacher, I attempted to teach my first day with my mouth shut.

Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep the night before the big day.

Despite all of my worrying, I had a great first week back. My class has been delightful so far, and I am looking forward to a really fun year in fourth grade!

Miss H.

The Teacher Becomes the Student...

Greetings Apples,

I have spent so much of my summer reading teaching blogs and exploring ideas on Pinterest that I began to think I should document my own teaching experiences.

I'm in a unique position this year. Now that I have finished clearing my credential through BTSA, and I've gotten a few years of classroom experience under my belt, I am going back to graduate school to finish my Master's degree. So this school year, the teacher becomes the student... (My class thinks this is hilarious and wants me to bring in my homework so they can check that I am, in fact, completing my assignments.)

It's going to be a crazy, but rewarding year - stay tuned for many more adventures in education!

Miss H.