That is the definition of schema from a first grader. That is one lesson I learned tonight at Haley's Meet and Greet. Eight teachers took the time, after a busy day full of children just itching to get out for a long weekend, to share with each other. These teachers came from two different schools to gather for a few minutes...well, over an hour...to tell about exciting things that had been working for them.
They shared books, lessons, games, and stories...lots of stories. Did I say there was food? Oh, yes, teachers love food! Jen started with some books she loved. Then Angie shared some poetry ideas, Karen had an amazing center idea and Sarah shared the reading journal that held the quote about schema! Did I say there were two principals there, too? Did I say none of them got paid? Did I say it was the day before a three-day vacation?
After a full day of scanning Acuity tests and feeling stressed to the max, I got to sit back and watch and listen to these fantastic educators share. Again, I just have to say I am truly blessed to be able to work along side these people who so obviously love their cherubs!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
My Teaching Passion
I got a meme from Jen. The meme was to post a picture that shows your passion for teaching. Now to look at the one I posted you might think: But wait a minute those aren't kids. You would be right. However, my passion has become the teachers I work with. When I see these amazing people get excited about helping their kiddos become better readers and writers and then let me come into their rooms to work right along side them, that is my passion! I am so proud of ALL the fellow teachers I work along side. They are all making this journey at their own speed, but they are making the journey. They love those babies and they show it by their dedication and enthusiasm. So, here is a picture of a group that shows my passion!I am going to meme Annie's Attic. You are to post a picture of something that shows your passion in teaching!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
What a Wonderful Day!
Today was one of those days where you just sit back and say: "Yes, this is why I do what I do!" It was such a wonderful day of coaching teachers. I was booked solid and almost forgot to eat lunch. I did say ALMOST!
I had two collaborations with teacher groups, one with fourth and one with first. That is always interesting because I can talk to more people that way and we all end up sharing and learning from each other. The fourth grade group talked about response to literature. One of the teachers has had great success with some of her lessons. We started them last week and she has been still working with her kiddos to make them even better. I couldn't believe the long pieces that had from just short text by Cynthia Rylant.
I worked with one second grade today. That teacher had gone to the Debbie Miller workshop and we decided to try something that we heard from Debbie. We tried out the Big Idea in reading. I read the book The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson. After reading a few pages I would stop and have them turn and talk. They were to talk about what they thought the big idea was for that section. After a group discussion we would add something to the chart called Big Ideas. It was so exciting to see these kids actually get it. The teacher was amazed. I told her, "Do you see what they are doing? They are synthesizing!" She said, "But I haven't taught them that word yet." "Too bad," I said, "Because they are doing it anyway!" How cool.
I did poetry with first grade and also with third. In third grade several other teachers popped in to watch the lesson. The kids were delightful. They told the teachers were poetry hides for them. One boy wrote about poetry hiding in the halls of the school. He went on to write about the noise and the teachers yelling at the kids. I think the teachers all learned more than just about poetry today.
Even though I had to about slide all the way home from all the ice and sleet, it was a wonderful day. It is so exciting to see kids get excited about their work and teachers light up when their cherubs turn out such fantastic work!
I had two collaborations with teacher groups, one with fourth and one with first. That is always interesting because I can talk to more people that way and we all end up sharing and learning from each other. The fourth grade group talked about response to literature. One of the teachers has had great success with some of her lessons. We started them last week and she has been still working with her kiddos to make them even better. I couldn't believe the long pieces that had from just short text by Cynthia Rylant.
I worked with one second grade today. That teacher had gone to the Debbie Miller workshop and we decided to try something that we heard from Debbie. We tried out the Big Idea in reading. I read the book The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson. After reading a few pages I would stop and have them turn and talk. They were to talk about what they thought the big idea was for that section. After a group discussion we would add something to the chart called Big Ideas. It was so exciting to see these kids actually get it. The teacher was amazed. I told her, "Do you see what they are doing? They are synthesizing!" She said, "But I haven't taught them that word yet." "Too bad," I said, "Because they are doing it anyway!" How cool.
I did poetry with first grade and also with third. In third grade several other teachers popped in to watch the lesson. The kids were delightful. They told the teachers were poetry hides for them. One boy wrote about poetry hiding in the halls of the school. He went on to write about the noise and the teachers yelling at the kids. I think the teachers all learned more than just about poetry today.
Even though I had to about slide all the way home from all the ice and sleet, it was a wonderful day. It is so exciting to see kids get excited about their work and teachers light up when their cherubs turn out such fantastic work!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Learning With Debbie
Last week the facilitators had the chance to listen to the wisdom of Debbie Miller. We had all read her book: Reading For Meaning. The two days we spent with her were so enlightening. It made me want to go back and reread the book. I was fortunate to have five of the teachers I work with there at the conference. They were from three different schools. Now I get the chance to work with them in their rooms to make their new ideas happen. Tomorrow I will be collaborating with three of the teachers at Glenwood Park. Next week I am going to slip into the kindergarten class at Whitney Young to see how those kiddos work on inferring. Who would have thought five year olds knew how to infer? What an exciting chance I have to work with classrooms that are ready to do whatever it takes to make learning fun and exciting for their babies!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Teacher Pride
In the life of a teacher one of the greatest rewards is to see the students they work with or have worked with be successful. It is like a parent seeing their son or daughter make the winning shot to a basketball game, or a son or daughter take a bow after a wonderful piano recital. A smile forms and a heart is full to bursting. That is how I felt this week on two different occasions.
First, I got the chance to see one of my former second graders and high school helpers come back into town. The occasion was not the best. Her mother had passed away and she was home for the activities surrounding that event. Still, I got to spend a small amount of time finding out how her life is now progressing. That is when the pride came into play. She is working in a large city in Texas at a large company. She is in a leadership position handling it all with ease and grace. She is married with a great job and new house. Oh, yes, and a dog! I am so proud of how far she has come and what all she has done with her life. I know her mother was very proud of her and as Mom #2, I am proud, too!
The next event that brought on my pride was when our district asked Mindy Hoffar to come and do a Beginning Writers Workshop for our schools. I am privileged to help her when she does this. We had 18 teachers from all over the district for two of the three sessions this week. We do most of the sessions as workshops with us leading, but for an hour each day we take the teachers into classrooms to actually see writing workshop in process. Mindy usually leads one and I lead another held at the same times...primary and upper elementary. This time we had two teachers who lead their own students doing what they always do. This time they did the teaching in front of about 7 -8 teachers. I was so proud of these to ladies! They not only went through the paces of workshop with ease, they also lead a debriefing session afterward. They handled the questions and just shared the passion they have for writing and kids. Those visiting teachers went back to their classrooms with new excitement and enthusiasm. I was so proud of my two coworkers.
So, whatever field you are blessed to be working, I hope you can find the pride in your work and what you do. There is no greater reward than to know what you are doing in life is making a difference in so many lives!
First, I got the chance to see one of my former second graders and high school helpers come back into town. The occasion was not the best. Her mother had passed away and she was home for the activities surrounding that event. Still, I got to spend a small amount of time finding out how her life is now progressing. That is when the pride came into play. She is working in a large city in Texas at a large company. She is in a leadership position handling it all with ease and grace. She is married with a great job and new house. Oh, yes, and a dog! I am so proud of how far she has come and what all she has done with her life. I know her mother was very proud of her and as Mom #2, I am proud, too!
The next event that brought on my pride was when our district asked Mindy Hoffar to come and do a Beginning Writers Workshop for our schools. I am privileged to help her when she does this. We had 18 teachers from all over the district for two of the three sessions this week. We do most of the sessions as workshops with us leading, but for an hour each day we take the teachers into classrooms to actually see writing workshop in process. Mindy usually leads one and I lead another held at the same times...primary and upper elementary. This time we had two teachers who lead their own students doing what they always do. This time they did the teaching in front of about 7 -8 teachers. I was so proud of these to ladies! They not only went through the paces of workshop with ease, they also lead a debriefing session afterward. They handled the questions and just shared the passion they have for writing and kids. Those visiting teachers went back to their classrooms with new excitement and enthusiasm. I was so proud of my two coworkers.
So, whatever field you are blessed to be working, I hope you can find the pride in your work and what you do. There is no greater reward than to know what you are doing in life is making a difference in so many lives!
Friday, February 1, 2008
Poetry Friday
The Little Boy And The Old Man
Said the little boy, "Sometimes I drop my spoon."
Said the little old man, "I do that too."
The little boy whispered, "I wet my pants."
"I do that too," laughed the little old man.
Said the little boy, "I often cry."
The old man nodded, "So do I."
"But worst of all," said the boy, "it seems
Grown-ups don't pay attention to me."
And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.
"I know what you mean," said the little old man.
From A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
I used this poem in an in-service this last week.
The teachers did responses to it and then talked
about what they wrote. HAPPY POETRY FRIDAY!
Said the little boy, "Sometimes I drop my spoon."
Said the little old man, "I do that too."
The little boy whispered, "I wet my pants."
"I do that too," laughed the little old man.
Said the little boy, "I often cry."
The old man nodded, "So do I."
"But worst of all," said the boy, "it seems
Grown-ups don't pay attention to me."
And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.
"I know what you mean," said the little old man.
From A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
I used this poem in an in-service this last week.
The teachers did responses to it and then talked
about what they wrote. HAPPY POETRY FRIDAY!
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