Author: Pernille Ripp

I am a passionate teacher in Oregon, Wisconsin, USA, who has taught 4th, 5th, and 7th grade. Proud techy geek, and mass consumer of incredible books. Creator of the Global Read Aloud Project, Co-founder of EdCamp MadWI, and believer in all children. I have no awards or accolades except for the lightbulbs that go off in my students’ heads every day. First book “Passionate Learners – Giving Our Classrooms Back to Our Students” can be purchased now. Second book“Empowered Schools, Empowered Students – Creating Connected and Invested Learners” is out now from Corwin Press. Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.
being a teacher, being me, new year

Pity Party in 7th Grade

Pernille Ripp
image from dajon smiles

I was feeling pretty sorry for myself.  That tends to happen when no one comes to your classroom and you see them run to others.  I can hear the shouts, the excitement the tales of summer being unwound.  I feel lonely, jealous even, knowing I used to be one of the rooms that kids would flock to.  Shouts of “Mrs. Ripp!!!!” would fill my ears, hugs and stories of books read, summer adventures, and hopes and dreams for the new year would surround me.  New students (finally mine), old students (still my kids), and parents would all stop by when they could, chat for a moment, just to check in.  But when you move schools, move districts, you lose that and you don’t know how much you will miss it until no one comes to your room, no one shouts your name.  So yeah, pity party in 7th grade English this afternoon.

But then; one kid entered, then a parent followed, unsure of who I was but assuming I was the English teacher.  Hasty introductions, more glances around the room and I could see the boy honing in on all of  the books on the book tree behind me.  His mom tells me he has read them all; Maze Runner, Divergent, Lightning Thief and the list goes on.  I ask if he has read The Testing, walk over to the library and hand it to him.  Tell him to see if he likes it, bring it back on Tuesday if he doesn’t.

“Should he check it out?”  Is there a system?” his mom asks.

“Nah, I trust him, just bring it back.”

She looks at me and smiles, turns to him.  “Look at all those books, there are many you haven’t read.”  And they leave, book in hand, smiles on their faces.

Being new is lonely, being new is scary, being new makes you realize how amazing it was being old.  But being new just means new beginnings, new connections, new parents, and new kids.

Being new may seem lonely, but really it is just waiting for the first kid to walk in to tell them your name.  Or that first kid to find something to connect with you through.  For that first kid to take a chance on you and let you in just a little so on Tuesday you may heare “Hey, Mrs. Ripp, I really loved that book., do you have another?”

I am a passionate  teacher in Wisconsin, USA,  who has taught 4, 5th, and 7th grade.  Proud techy geek, and mass consumer of incredible books. Creator of the Global Read Aloud Project, Co-founder of EdCamp MadWI, and believer in all children. I have no awards or accolades except for the lightbulbs that go off in my students’ heads every day.  First book “Passionate Learners – Giving Our Classrooms Back to Our Students” can be purchased now from Powerful Learning Press.   Second book“Empowered Schools, Empowered Students – Creating Connected and Invested Learners” can be pre-ordered from Corwin Press now.  Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

Be the change, new year

Don’t Throw Out the Old

Pernille Ripp

I have been waking up at 5:30 so that I can be to my new school by 7 every morning, drinking in the newness, as the school slowly wakes up.  I have plans and papers piled around me.  Ideas bouncing through my head, waking me up at night.  I have dreams, so many, and yet, I have to remember to keep the old.  To keep the tried an d true.  To keep the “me” in the new.  To keep what has worked as well.  That although new ideas seem like they will fix everything, or at the very least make it all even better, that our old ideas also still have value.  That although new is shiny, exciting, and oh so tantalizing, some of our old thoughts still works.

This is not to say that new is bad, but I think we get caught up in wanting to change everything at the start of every year, rather than focusing on a few things.  That we make these new year resolutions about how this will be the year we will be “that ” teacher, and then forget to give ourselves a break.  That to create new habits take a lot of work, take a lot of energy, and that we have to also preserve ourselves in the crazy life as educators.  

So while I stand in a new position; 7th grade English teacher (who would have thought) I know there are some of my old ideas that will work.  They will get tweaked, of course, they always do.  But the backbone of them, the seed, is still great.  The idea when it was first new was amazing, and that idea still has merit. 

So go ahead; get excited, dream up the new, but don’t forget about the old things that worked.  About the old ideas that were new once.  Some will still work.  Parts of you will still work, even as we start on a whole new year.

I am a passionate  teacher in Wisconsin, USA,  who has taught 4, 5th, and 7th grade.  Proud techy geek, and mass consumer of incredible books. Creator of the Global Read Aloud Project, Co-founder of EdCamp MadWI, and believer in all children. I have no awards or accolades except for the lightbulbs that go off in my students’ heads every day.  First book “Passionate Learners – Giving Our Classrooms Back to Our Students” can be purchased now from Powerful Learning Press.   Second book“Empowered Schools, Empowered Students – Creating Connected and Invested Learners” can be pre-ordered from Corwin Press now.  Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

books, Literacy, picture books, Reading

10 Picture Books I Cannot Wait to Share With My Students – 2014

Pernille Ripp

Another summer has passed and in it was the discovery of even more amazing picture books that now beckon my 7th grade students to read them from my shelves.  Some are new and others are just new to me, but all should solicit some sort of reaction when they are read and shared.  (And these are in no particular order).

  1. The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley SpiresI will be using this book to introduce 20% time with my students, thank you Chris Lehman for the recommendation.  I love the message of not giving up but also of finding use in other people’s mistakes.
  2. Froodle by Antionette Portis This seemingly silly book packs a powerful message; everyone should be allowed to experiment with their own voice.  It is one I hope to read at the beginning of the year.
  3. Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great by Bob Shea Thea has this book and I have the book in my classroom as well.  This book has such a great story about not judging, wrapped up in whimsy, and every time I read it aloud I laugh outloud.
  4. Paul Meets Bernadette by Rosy Lamb Every time I read this book, I think of another way to discuss it’s theme.  Wrapped up in a simple love story it is a great book to discuss perspective and the lens with which we view the world.
  5. My Teacher is a Monster – No, I Am Not by Peter Brown From the title to the illustrations, think of the discussion this book will elicit.  I loved the message, but also the nuance with which it is presented, and let’s face it; many students think their teachers are not quite human and this is a great book to discuss just that.
  6. This Is a Moose by Richard T. Morris The first time I read this book, I didn’t love it as much as I do now.  I thought it was fun but I didn’t stop to think about what it was really trying to say.  Then Thea and I started to talk about it and her 5 year old perspective really made me think.  This book is about being allowed to be whoever you want to be, no matter what others think; what a great message to send to kids.
  7. That Is Not a Good Idea by Mo Willems We often think we know the whole story but through the storytelling of the magical Mo Willems, we find can discover how wrong we are.  Even after you know the twist, this is still such a great book to hand to students as they write their own stories.
  8. Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshall by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson What an incredible history lesson wrapped up in the pages of this book.  My former librarian Deb told me to get it and boy does she know me well.  Students will marvel at this true story of one person’s character.
  9. Knock, Knock: My Dad’s Dreams for Me by Daniel Beaty So often we need books that mirror the harsh realities some of our students face, this book is one of those books.  Hauntingly written, this is sure to start a discussion on how the boy views his own life.
  10. The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce This book is beautiful, magical, and oh so on point for what books do for us.  And even better; there is an Oscar winning short cartoon of it as well.

There you have it, a few new ones I cannot wait to share.  However, did you know there is a picture book coming out about the story of Ivan?  I am counting down the days to read this to my students; Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla by Katherine Applegate

Be the change, being a teacher, new year, parents, reflection, students

Have You Included Parent Voice in Back to School Planning?

Pernille Ripp
image from alexandremdesigns

On Wednesday, Theadora gets to meet her kindergarten teacher.  We get to show up, me with all 4 of the kids, drop off her supplies and asnwer any questions the teacher may have.  You would think I have a mile-long list of questions, but I don’t.  I don’t know what to as at this point, that will come later, once school has started.  And yet,  I do have hopes and dreams for Thea and I hope I get to express that to her teacher.

This realization made me remember that I need to include my 7th grade parents’ voice in my back to school preparation.  That yes, I may be planning awesome things for my first days of schools, and that yes I may be teaching students at an age of more independence from parents.  But parents still need to have a voice in our classroom.

So I created my hopes and dreams survey.  One simple question to get their feedback, to guide me as I prepare.  Don’t forget to tap into parent knowledge.  Don’t forget to reach out, even if you think their child is too old for you to ask.  I don’t think any parent ever stops dreaming for their child, don’t forget to ask.

PS: In 5th grade, I used this

I am a passionate  teacher in Wisconsin, USA,  who has taught 4, 5th, and 7th grade.  Proud techy geek, and mass consumer of incredible books. Creator of the Global Read Aloud Project, Co-founder of EdCamp MadWI, and believer in all children. I have no awards or accolades except for the lightbulbs that go off in my students’ heads every day.  First book “Passionate Learners – Giving Our Classrooms Back to Our Students” can be purchased now from Powerful Learning Press.   Second book“Empowered Schools, Empowered Students – Creating Connected and Invested Learners” can be pre-ordered from Corwin Press now.  Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

Be the change, being me, new year

Need Some Ideas For Back to School? Win A Copy of My Book

Pernille Ripp

I have done a giveaway at the beginning of summer for my first book and thought I should end this glorious summer with one as well.  So if you feel like you need some ideas for back to school.  If you feel like you know what you are doing but are ready to make some changes.  If you feel like there are things you want to do to give students more voice but not quite sure where to start, then here is the e-book for you.

My first book “Passionate Learners – Giving Our Classrooms Back to Our Students” has been helping new and veteran teachers this summer come up with ideas for change.  It has helped give some the push they needed to give the classroom back to students, or helped them with new ideas for what they were already doing.  I have been excited and humbled by the reviews on Goodreads from educators that are taking the time to read the book such as this one:

In a time when much of education is dictated by curriculum standards and mandated behavior management programs, Pernille offers a fresh perspective on what learning is like from the student perspective. From her asking the question, “would you like being a student in your own classroom?” to her ideas about grading and homework, she offers a vision of truly student-centered education. She does not offer a method or a step-by-step guide to changing one’s teaching. Instead, she empowers teachers to reflect on their experiences, on research, and on their current level of comfort with innovation. After this reflection, teachers are ready to use Pernille’s ideas as a springboard to transform their own classrooms into ones that are truly student-centered.

So what do you have to do to win?  Simple, leave a comment, please leave your email, and let me know what you would like to change this year.  I will only run this contest to Monday night, August 24th at 8 PM CST so that the winner has a chance to read the book soon.

And if you don’t win, consider reading the book anyway.  Wherever you are on your journey, I hope it helps move you forward.

This contest has closed – the winner was….Erin Petley – thank you so much everyone for entering!

being a teacher, being me, new year

Don’t Forget It’s About the Kids

Pernille Ripp

The excitement is palpable.  The rush is on.  Meetings, freshly copied stacks of paper, and endless to-do lists lead to sleepless nights.  North America is headed back to school.  All around our country superintendents, principals, and keynotes speakers are getting ready to deliver words of wisdom, words to start the school year off right.  There is much to cover, much new to unveil, there always is, and yet, I have a plea for you.

Don’t forget to inspire.

Don’t forget to keep it about the kids.

That we are here faced with so many new things, but if we don’t love what we do, and if we don’t love those kids, then new initiatives don’t matter.  Then new ideas will not take off right.  Then a new vision will never take root.

Don’t forget that we have dreams too.  That numbers and data and stacks of information is important but so is the need to dream.  We want to be told that we matter, that our ideas matter, and that we are in it together.

You don’t have to speak for long.  You don’t have to say anything fancy.  But start out with the most important message of them all; we are here for the kids.  And then end with it too.  Sure, show us the data, share the new things, but the kids?  That’s where we need to focus.  Not the new, not the clever, not the vision even, but them.  They are the reason we are here.

H/T to my administration who did just that.

I am a passionate  teacher in Wisconsin, USA,  who has taught 4, 5th, and 7th grade.  Proud techy geek, and mass consumer of incredible books. Creator of the Global Read Aloud Project, Co-founder of EdCamp MadWI, and believer in all children. I have no awards or accolades except for the lightbulbs that go off in my students’ heads every day.  First book “Passionate Learners – Giving Our Classrooms Back to Our Students” can be purchased now from Powerful Learning Press.   Second book“Empowered Schools, Empowered Students – Creating Connected and Invested Learners” can be pre-ordered from Corwin Press now.  Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.