When I found this quote, I thought about the kids I have taught over the last 21 years. Things have really changed. I hope to use this avenue to bring teachers closer together, lighten our load, and remember the real reasons we teach.
I teach in a small rural district. My classroom is a self-contained 6th grade. I started my teaching career with up to 20 students in my class, but now with people moving to the city to avoid the commute and other issues effecting a small district, I have 7 students at this time.
This creates problems at times having small numbers, but the blessings exceed those problems. I hope to share things we do in our small school to help children become all they can be.
I hope in return, you will encourage me with responses of things than make your classroom work.
Wisdom From Strange Sources...
Do you remember seeing the poster on the important things in life were learned in Kindergarten? Sharing? Forgiveness? and about 100 more? My first year to teach, I stuck the '6th grade' over Kindergarten because I thought we were working on the same things.
Have you seen this one? Fascinating Wisdom I Learned from Noah & the Ark
1. Don't miss the boat. (Trying to help kids learn some days, I do anything and everything. I guess if I were younger, I might stand on my head. I do get a student to stand on their head when I teach reciprocals)
2. Don't forget that we're all in the same boat. ( I work with some amazing people. We have a wealth of experience in our staff. Find someone to work alongside you and projects take half the effort.)
3. Plan Ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark. (The more organized I am, the less stress I experience. Don't reinvent the wheel. An internet search may save you time.)
4. Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone might ask you to do something REALLY BIG. At times, the older we get, we seem to want to avoid commitments. Our 4th grade teacher is all about exercising! She thinks everyone needs to be physically in shape. We both also think teachers need to continue to learn and grow especially if we want our kids to. Read, Study, Grow. You are needed in your school.
5. Don't listen to critics; just get on with what has to be done. People love to gripe about things that they were unwilling to help with. Don't listen. Thanks for the effort you put into learning. Your class is one I would like to sit in... not theirs.
6. Build your future on high ground. It seems we have started settling too often. Make your kids reach higher. And make sure you are working from the time you get to school until you head home as well.
7. For safety's sake, travel in pairs. Another teacher or your administration wants to be there for you. Let them help. Don't try to paddle alone.
8. Speed isn't always an advantage; the snails were on board with the cheetahs. Too often I am anxious. I want to work quickly and get the project finished. However kids need time to process and create. Relax and think about the journey is teaching them also.
9. When you're stressed, float awhile. There has to be a way to relax. I have started a painting class to take my mind off school at times. Also I now am a GRANDMA, aka Gran, and seeing them is just the break I need.
10. Remember that the ask was built by amateurs, and the Titanic was built by professionals. It is okay to not know everything. It is okay to even tell your students these days, let's go find out. They love exploring with you.
11. No matter the storm, when you're with God there's a rainbow waiting. You are in that school for someone special. God is going to send you a child today that needs just what God put inside you already. Nothing is too big for God.
12. Remember that woodpeckers inside are more of a threat than the storm outside. Don't let doubt or a gripe filled peer set your eyes on the wrong things.
Writer's Notebooks...
Our fourth grade teacher got to go to a writer's workshop this week. I can't wait to see what all she can pass along from that day. What do you do to encourage writing in your classroom? What do you and your students enjoy? The last several years, we have a flat Stanley Journal. One year we wrote in them then sent them on a journey to be returned in May. They were amazing and we located their destinations on the map. This year we are going to do half and half. We are keeping them and making entries from summer, the beginning of school, and the holidays. Then we will send them off in the spring to return in May.
Math Notebooking....
I went to a math/science workshop this summer on notebooking related to math & science. It was a Dinah Zike workshop taught by a Region 9 representative. All the foldables were used in a composition notebook. This is my first year to use this to teach with and my students are having a good time making their math notes creative and personal. They designed the cover with interests they have. So far inside we have used a flip book, notecards with definition inside an envelope attached to the page, and made charts with rules for divisibility. The notebooks are helpful for study tools as well with six week tests coming up.
