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.
aha moment, Be the change, punishment

Instead of Punishment

Pernille Ripp
image from icanread

He was waiting for me to yell at him.

To unleash my words of destruction, let it fall over his deaf ears, while he would continue to stare defiantly at me.

His chin was ready to catch my words, deflect them even if need be.  His shoulders back, proud of what he had done even  if it had broken more than three school rules.

I cleared my throat.  he stood up taller.

Then I asked, “Why?”

A look of uncertain flashed through his yes but then quickly disappeared.

“Because I could.  because I wanted to.  Why?  What are you going to do about it?”

“This isn’t like you,” I said.  “This isn’t the kid I know.  This isn’t the kid that is proving everybody wrong.”

His shoulders slumped a tiny bit and I knew there was a chance we could talk.

I have yet to punish a child into behaving.  Don’t get me wrong, I tried for several years to punish all of them into being good.

I punished them with grades.  I punished them with referrals, with shouting, with lost recesses and lost privileges.  I punished them with phone calls home, meetings, and stern look upon stern look.  Sometimes they straightened out for a bit, if I yelled loud enough.  Other times they just got more certain of their path of destruction, smarter about the damage they inflicted.

I stopped punishing four years ago and started asking “Why?” instead.  It wasn’t a miracle word, nor did it fix everything, but it planted a seed.  A seed that can grow into a conversation.  A seed that can blossom into trust, into community, into a deeper understanding.

I grew weary of punishment because it didn’t change the kid.  It just made them more stubborn in their ways, it made them hate school, it made them hate me.  I became a part of the problem rather than part of the solution.  Sometimes I was the problem and I was the reason they were behaving so destructively.

Now, when a child has rough day, a rough month, or even a  rough year, I first look inward.  What am I doing to add more to the problem?  What am I doing that fuels it?  Then I reach out to the child; how can this be solved, what is really going on?  I keep asking why until I find something that we can use to move forward.  I am not there to fix a kid, I can’t fix anyone, but I am there to help them help themselves.  I am here to help them grow.  Punishment will never do that.

PS:  Today, Zach, one of my incredible students posted this on his blog, I swear he read my mind

In my opinion, a good teacher needs to have three very important qualities. First of all, a teacher needs to be able to put situations into a student’s perspective. A teacher should be able to think “How would a student react to kid/teacher points?” or “Would my class enjoy this project?”  or think similar thoughts. Sometimes, just putting something into a student’s eyes is the best way to solve it. Second, a teacher should be able to think ahead. You can’t plan a project if you don’t have enough time to do the project! A teacher should be able to think ahead and make a plan about what they will do each day in advance. Lastly, but certainly not least, a teacher should always ask “Why?”. Sometimes, teachers just assume that a student is not behaving without thinking about the condition. What if the student is having troubles at home so the student can’t get that homework assignment done. Or, what if the student is having a headache, so he can’t focus on his book. My one piece of advice is “Never assume a student is willingly misbehaving.”

So there you have it

I am a passionate (female) 5th grade teacher in Wisconsin, USA, 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 Classroom Back to Our Students Starting Today” can be pre-bought now from Powerful Learning Press.   Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

being me, books

My Book “Passionate Learners” to Be Released May 14th

Pernille Ripp
the cover

It is not often you get to add a new title to your life, “author” was not something I had ever dreamed I would be able to add.  Sure, I come from a line of authors, but me?  Write a book?  Yeah right.  Yet I did, and it found a home with Powerful Learning Press, and now it is almost ready for the world to read.  In fact, I sent it out for review to a few people this week – gulp!

On May 14th, my first book “Passionate Learners – Giving Our Classroom Back to Our Students” will be released as an e-book.  This book is my heart.  It chronicles my journey from a traditional teacher to whatever it is I am now.  But it is not just about my journey, it is about giving the classroom back to all students.  It is about ideas, little ones and big ones, that anyone at any point in their teaching journey can implement.  It is about ease not about creating more work.  But most importantly it is about passionate learners and how we can re-engage our students by giving the classroom back to them.

I hope you will consider reading it.  Here is a link to pre-buy it before the release date.

If you would rather purchase a print version, we are currently exploring the interest in this.  So if this is something you would prefer, please fill out this form.

And did I mention the foreword is by the amazing Diana Laufenberg, a person I so admire.  The book is so much better because of her.

I am a passionate (female) 5th grade teacher in Wisconsin, USA, 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 Classroom Back to Our Students Starting Today” can be pre-bought now from Powerful Learning Press.   Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

being me, students

They Are Someone’s Child

Pernille Ripp
image from icanread

He walked away, tears in his eyes, shoulders down.  I called out his name but he kept on walking, mumbling, “Ill do it…”

I went home, knew what I had to do the next day, and yet, that walk away from me really made me remember.

Before I tell a student what they need to do right now, remember they are someone’s child.

Before I tell a child that their best could be better, remember that they are someone’s child.

Before  I raise my voice, before I yell for attention, before I call out a student for not doing what they are supposed to be doing, remember; they are someone’s child.

Before I tell a student that life outside of school may be tough but they still need to focus, remember; they are someone’s child.  And that someone may be trying their hardest to keep an illusion of normalcy going, but that child knows better.

Before I lecture, remember.

Before I punish, remember.

Before I pull aside.

Before I make an example.

Before I don’t listen to the whole story.

They are someone’s child and they deserve to be treated that way.

And that boy with the tears, I apologized the next day.  Not for the expectations but for the way they had been said.  I am not perfect, I forget too, that before I am a teacher I am a mother, and that child in front of me could be mine.  So treat them as such.

I am a passionate (female) 5th grade teacher in Wisconsin, USA, 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 Classroom Back to Our Students Starting Today” can be pre-bought now from Powerful Learning Press.   Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

Be the change, being a teacher, Reading, Student-centered

Who Cares About Reading Strategies?

Pernille Ripp
image from icanread

I saw him reading that bright green book, I snuck a closer look and recognized the cover.  “Guinness Book of World Records” was perched on his lap.  After independent reading, I asked him if he had any chapter books to read too.  I don’t mind Guinness but I love when students have a little bit of everything to read.  He told me no, and when I asked him why not, he said, “Reading is not my thing.”

This student has been taught every day in reading strategies.  How to comprehend, how to figure out themes, how to connect and draw meaningful conclusions.  He has diligently written post-its showing some thoughts, he has spoken to others about the books.  He has discussed goals with his teacher.  And yet, he doesn’t love reading, he doesn’t even like it, nor does he feel he needs to.

So then what does it matter if a student can tell me about theme?  What does it matter if a student can give me text evidence?  If there is no love of reading then what do we need reading strategies for?  Sure, students may be  equipped to move on in school and figure out the texts given to them.  But the child who does not like reading will not reach for books to enlighten them, or books that will challenge them.  They will not reach for books to transport them.  Books will not be a needed companion.  They will be okay with reading not being their thing and continue on that path.  And I am not okay with that.

Who cares about reading strategies and teaching them if we are not uncovering at least a like of books?  If we are not helping our students discover a book that they want to read, not because I told them to but because they want, whether it be fiction, nonfiction, or audio?  Who cares about theme if a child thinks reading is torture?  Who cares about connections when the most important one; the child connecting to the book, is missing?

Yes, we should teach students to be better readers but we should also help them uncover a love of books if it is missing.  We should be professing our own love of books and urging them to find the right one that may convince them that reading bears value.  Every year this should be our biggest focus, not the reading strategies, they come after.

I am a passionate (female) 5th grade teacher in Wisconsin, USA, 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 Classroom Back to Our Students Starting Today” can be pre-bought now from Powerful Learning Press.   Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

 

being me, reflection, Student-centered, students, Uncategorized

How Blogging Has Enhanced My Parent Connection

Pernille Ripp

I didn’t think parents of my students would ever read my blog.  Why would they?  And yet, now that I have been blogging for four years I am often amazed at how often the parents of my students actually read what I write.  Not just on our classroom blog, but also on this blog; my personal one.  While there are many small benefits to this, it has also brought on a sense of responsibility to them.  I blog about my thoughts on their children, it is their children who inspire me, it is their children that urge me to change, reflect, and grow.  That heightened responsibility of how I represent our classroom and myself is only one of the things that has urged me to continue blogging and sharing.  With each of the blogs, there have been many other benefits.

Benefits of a Classroom Blog:

  • Parents know what is going on.  This is huge!  I update regularly with what we are doing, showcasing work through text, photos or video.  it gives parents (and the world) a direct view into our classroom.
  • Parents know where to find information.  Having a child in school can mean a lot of different papers coming home.  Now I post everything on our blog for easy reference (even for myself) so it is easy to find.
  • Parents know what is coming up.  I have a calendar embedded on the side of our blog, this is always updated with deadlines, event information, and if I am out of the room.  All parents need to do is look at our calendar to see what is happening.
  • Parents can easily ask questions.  No longer reliant on a sometimes vague recollection of what actually happened through a tired child, they can see what is happening and then ask about it.  Thea, my 5 year old, sometimes has a hazy memory of what she did at school so I love that I know what is happening in her classroom to help me facilitate a conversation.
  • Parents know us as a community.  Because I get to highlight all of the amazing things we do, parents get a feel for what type of classroom we are.  They don’t have to trust me, they can draw their own conclusion.
  • Parents can comment.  I love when our parents, or others, comment on our classroom website.  It makes us excited to see that people are paying attention to the wonderful things happening.
  • New parents know what we are about before their children become part of our class.  When they google me, my classroom website comes up, what greater peace of mind to a nervous new student(and parents)  than seeing some cool things that are happening in the classroom?
  • Finally, it becomes one more portal for my students to connect with the world.  My students use our blog to post surveys, show off their learning, and connect with others.

Benefit of a Professional Blog:

  • Parents know my values.  I try to stay nuanced but this blog is my platform for trying to abolish grades, homework, and punishment in the classroom.  Parents can read my thoughts behind it and know that they can always start  a conversation about it as well.  They don’t have to ask my educational philosophy, it is all right here.
  • Parents know me personally.  I blog very personal stories, such as the premature birth of our daughter or the passing of my grandfather.  I put it all out there because it affects the way  I teach, parents get to know me in more personal manner than just being a classroom teacher would allow me too.
  • Parents feel respected (I hope!).  I blog extensively on the importance of bringing parents into the decision making process, as well as listening to them as experts.  I hope this gives parents the courage (sometimes) needed to broach even difficult subjects with me.
  • Parents see how I represent their children.  I try my hardest to represent my students in the most meaningful and real way as possible.  When I mess up, I blog about it.  When we fail as a class, I blog about it.  When we have incredible moments, I blog about it.  Parents don’t have to wonder how I feel about their kids or my job, I write about it extensively.

I didn’t set out to blog to create deeper connections, but it happened.  When we let parents, and the world in, we show we are unafraid of showing what is happening in our worlds.  We show that the time we spend teaching and the time we spend learning is worthwhile.  We show the world that what we think and do matters.  We give a voice to our students, but also to ourselves.  but most importantly, we let parents know that what they think matters too.

I am a passionate (female) 5th grade teacher in Wisconsin, USA, 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 Classroom Back to Our Students Starting Today” can be pre-bought now from Powerful Learning Press.   Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

being me

I Didn’t Ask

Pernille Ripp
Ida throwing a fit after she drew a mustache on her face

I didn’t ask to be the mother of a child who screams at the top of his lungs.

I didn’t ask to be the mother of a child who refuses to wear clothes and hits you when you try to dress her.

I didn’t ask to be the mother of a child who makes up every excuse in the book so that she will not have to go to sleep.

I certainly never asked to be the mother of a child who arrived 10 weeks early and has had to fight for her growth.

But they are mine.  And I love them.  Even for their faults.

I didn’t ask to be the teacher of a child who refuses to read.

I didn’t ask to be the teacher of a child who interrupts – every – 30 – seconds.

Or the child who gets so angry they throw furniture.

Or the child who sleeps in a closet.

I didn’t ask for them to be in our room.  But I would have.  I would have taken them all gladly.

For they are the children who change.  The children who need a chance.  The children we wouldn’t ask for but then cannot help but love so much that when they leave our classrooms at the end of the year, it physically hurts our heart.  The children we wake up over.  The children we fight for.

Not every child is perfect, I see that in my own children, but every child needs a chance.

I didn’t ask for children who needed my heart to be big and my patience to be bigger.  But it is what I got, and I am better because of them.

 

I am a passionate (female) 5th grade teacher in Wisconsin, USA, 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 Classroom Back to Our Students Starting Today” can be pre-bought now from Powerful Learning Press.   Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.