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.

reflection, students

Even in My Room They Still Hate School

November 27, 2013 Pernille Ripp

I go to work with a mission: I want students to love school. I want them to want to come to school. I want them to be excited about learning. I think most teachers do. So I stopped punishing, I stopped rewarding, I gave up as much homework as I could, I gave up grades and all of the tests I could. I made it student-centered and student-led. I gave them back the classroom. And yet…some kids still hate school. How do I know? Because they told me.

I always end the trimester asking them for their opinion. What should I change? What did they love? What do they never want to do again? They always give me honest feedback and I take it to heart, changing the second trimester based on their feedback. Does it sometimes hurt to read? Absolutely. Being told that a child hates school hurts. And yet, it also tells me how much I am up against.

I am not the only factor in creating a love of school. I can only do so much. I can take the time I have control over and try to make it the best possible, but I cannot work miracles, even if I want to. School is still school and no matter what you do there will always be kids that hate it. Does that mean that our schools are broken? Perhaps. Does that mean that we are not reaching every kid? Yeah, probably. Does that mean that we still have to change the way school is done in most districts? Absolutely. Does it mean I am a terrible teacher? Maybe for that kid.

But when a child tells us they hate school they are also telling us that they hope we will do something about it. They are also trusting us with their words. They are giving us another chance to make it better, to re-engage them, to work harder. And they are giving us a chance to start a discussion, simply by asking them “Why?”

So on Monday, I get to ask why and then I get to listen. Because that’s how we change school, we listen to the kids and we start a discussion. Yes, the truth hurts, but it is no use to hide from it, even if it is not all your fault.

Uncategorized

You Got Students Blogging Now How to Get Comments

November 25, 2013 Pernille Ripp

If you ask my students why they blog, many of them will tell you it is to start a conversation. Not to showcase their work. Not to share their thoughts. Not to brag or boast or share great ideas. But to speak to others. So when we blog we focus on how we can start that conversation. How do we bring people in. How do we engage others so that blogging doesn’t just become a digital portfolio.

It’s not easy. Commenting is not a one day lesson, nor is it it a one way street. So often I have been asked how I get people to comment on my students’ Kidblog and I can tell you it is a process. However, there are certain things you can do to make it a little easier.

Introduce blogging right. I spend a lot of time (in 5th grade time measurement) discussing why we blog. I want students to understand the privilege and the investment it takes to create great blogs. I don’t ever want them to take that responsibility lightly.
Do paper blogs. This is a great way to figure out how to comment without letting them loose right way and also a great step in how to introduce blogging.
Showcase other blogs. I love that my old students’ posts are still viewable so I can showcase their work and ask students what they notice. Why does a certain post solicit comments and why does another not? Students start to gain an understanding when they can see how it has worked for others.
Act out comments. This may seem silly at first, but I have students act out their blog post and then try to have another student speak back to them. This is often the biggest aha moment for students as they see which type of post starts a conversation and which doesn’t. We call them highway versus dead end conversations.
Celebrate their comments. Comments are a big deal, ask any blogger, so it is okay to celebrate them and then map them. Students love seeing the connections they make with people around the world.
Ask for comments. Do not underestimate the power of asking for comments from strangers. I use Twitter to highlight my students’ blogs and the hashtag #comments4kids – one of the most brilliant hashtags ever created.
Reciprocate! This is huge! I give my students time to reciprocate to comments as a way to reach out to others and to pay it forward. If you want comments, you have to give comments, simple as that.
Keep it up. We discuss comments a lot throughout the year because it is vital that students continue to understand why they are getting them and what to do with them. They also need to write good quality blog posts that deserve comments so that becomes an ongoing discussion as well.
Take Max’s advice – make it worthwhile. I loved his honest post from last year and think it is so true. If you are going to comment, do it right.

No matter what, getting comments takes time as does quality blogging. Be a role model yourself, leave comments on their blogs and other students’ and talk it up. reach out to others, be invested, and be interested. I wish you the best of luck.

being a teacher, grades, reflection

What the Report Card Doesn’t Tell

November 24, 2013 Pernille Ripp

I am about to start report cards. Being a teacher that doesn’t believe in grades for assessment but would rather do feedback, I always struggle at this time of year. How do I put into words all of the things that I have seen my students do in in the last few months? How do I quantify how they have grown? There just seems to be so many thing a report card doesn’t tell us.

It doesn’t tell the story of the child that has worked so hard every day yet has made little academic progress.

It doesn’t tell the story of the boy who hated to read and now has read two books already.

Or the story of the child who thinks he is the world’s worst writer but did an assignment all on his own.

It doesn’t tell the story of the girl who struggles with self esteem and thus doesn’t want to shine a light on herself even though she should.

Or the child that reads a book a night but is too shy to discuss it.

Or the child who knows everything there is about DNA but doesn’t know his letter sounds.

It doesn’t tell the story of the child who knows more than their mind lets them show.

Or even the story of a teacher who tries every day to get these kids to believe in themselves and their ability to change the world. which grade do I assign all of that?

being me, reflection

My EduBlogs Nominees 2013 #Eddies13 – Updated

November 22, 2013December 8, 2013 Pernille Ripp

The holidays are upon us which means so are the Edublog awards. I have a long history debating publicly whether or not we should have awards at all, but this year there are a few blogs that have greatly impacted what I do and how I do it and so I wanted to make sure that I publicly acknowledged these people and projects. I cannot ask you to vote for them, but read their blogs and see if you are not as moved as I was.

Most Influential Blog Post: John T.Spencer’s “Be Present” blog post. I read this before I started this year and this has been my mantra for the year. Not just in the classroom but in my life. I turn off my computer, leave my phone somewhere and focus on those incredible kids in front of me. Be present indeed has influenced me in so many ways, I hope it will do the same for you.

Best Student(s) Blog or Classroom Blog: My 5th graders have been absolutely blowing me out of the water this year and while the blog is run by me as an administrator, it isn’t my writing (I hope this does not disqualify them…). You want to know how kids feel about standardized tests, using the “R” word, time travel, and what it means to be a 5th grader today they will tell you. Their raw honesty inspires me to change the way I teach on a weekly basis.

Best free webtool for me continues to be Kidblog (although Edmodo is close behind). This blogging tool created by teachers allows me to peek into the minds of my 5th graders every week and brings the world in for us in a meaningful way. Thank you Kidblog for creating such an incredible product.

Best Group Blog for me has to be The Nerdy Book Club – this daily blog brings together some of the most passionate and inspired educators, authors, and writers that share their ideas, opinions and passion for all things reading. Thank you to all of those who continue to contribute and inspire me every day to be a better reading teacher.

Update: I did some more thinking and thought of a couple more blogs that deserve to be praised for their inspiration. So here are my added nominees for this year.

Best individual blog: I found myself once again thinking of a post John T. Spencer wrote again today, he is a must read for any educator that cares about anything. So not only does one of his posts get my nomination for most influential post, but his blog also gets a nod for best individual blog. Please add it your daily read.

Best edtech resource/sharing site. While I turn to many of these throughout my week, Larry Ferlazzo’s is sheer insanity. The breadth of what he shares on a daily basis makes me suspect that he is not just a teache rbut actually a robot churnin gout useful information. whatever he is, I appreciate all that he does and all that he shares.

Best Librarian/Library Blog. Not only is Shannon Miller one of the most inspiring and kind women I know, she shares so freely on her library blog that anyone would be a fool to not want to be one of her students. You want to see students doing crazy cool things with books and tech, head over to Shannon’s blog for her Van Meter Library.

Best Twitter Hashtag. While I love many hashtags: #Edchat, #Wischat, #GRA13, there is one that has helped my classroom year after year and that is #comments4kids created by Bill Chamberlain. This hashtag is meant to get students’ comments on their blog posts, to bring the world in, and boy does it ever. It is partly thanks to this hashtag that my students’ blogs have had more than 300,000 visitors!

There you have it for this year. I couldn’t choose between the other categories, there are simply too many people that pour their soul out every single day and change the way I think.

Thank you to all of those who move me, who disagree with me, who make me think. I am a better teacher and person because of you.

Be the change, reflection, Student-centered

Don’t Take a Break from Learning Just Because It’s the Holidays

November 20, 2013 Pernille Ripp

I can almost smell Thanksgiving. The turkey roasting, the cinnamon rolls, the pie. I think my students can to. Their energy has increased exponentially these last few days as we get ready for a 5 day break next week. They are so eager to be on break, they are so eager to do something other than school. When they come back it will be December and all teachers know how December goes. It feels like you are holding a simmering volcano in your hands at time as the kids try so hard to focus.

In the past, I would yell a little louder. I would tighten the reins of control. I would punish and then I would hold the great reward, our holiday party, as the big fat carrot on the stick. I would cajole, I would practically beg. “Hang with me! We have to get this done! Stay focused so we can all get a break!” But not anymore.

Now I notice the energy as it climbs and then I work with it. Sure, it means I am exhausted by the end of the day. Sure it means that I am using every single brain cell to try to come up with ways to use their energy for good. Sure, it still sometimes blows up in my face. But in our room the holidays don’t mean we take a break from learning, we just change what we do.

So now I create more hands-on learning opportunities. We have been immersed in the world of exploration and I have asked the students to figure out what they want to do with all of their knowledge. During December I don’t want to feed them the project, I want them to use their energy to come up with something amazing.

Now I recognize the holidays instead of pretending they are not happening. We listen to holiday music (I sneak in Danish Christmas songs to their befuddlement). We take part in the awesome holiday card exchange run by my talented friend Jen Wagner. I tell them about my holiday traditions and they share theirs on our blogs. We read picture books, we learn about other cultures. The holidays aren’t something to hide from, they are something to embrace!

We do more challenges. We just did the spaghetti and marshmallow tower challenge, we just had our flipstick olympics. Next up comes marshmallow catapults and the toilet paper roll challenge. They are still learning even if it is not all dictated by my curriculum.

We read more. All of the craziness can be too much if we try to keep it going, so we make sure to have our down time too. The students and I all need the calmness of the read aloud (even if it is a super exciting one) to give us all a breather. And we don’t mess with our independent reading time, that is sacred, no matter what.

We give back when we can. We write letters to Helping Hands, we make extra holiday cards for the nursing home across the street, we have extra time with our first grade buddies. We try to give back because we get so much throughout the year.

So instead of getting angry, work with the energy that has arisen during this exciting time for students. Use it to your advantage. Create learning opportunities that they will remember. Challenge them, push them, and have fun with it. The holidays are all about love, laughter, and great times. Bring that into the classroom in whatever you do.

Be the change, being a teacher, motivation, principals, reflection

Dear Administrators, Please Rescue the Staff Meeting

November 18, 2013November 20, 2013 Pernille Ripp

There are few things that induce quite as visceral reaction as bringing up staff meetings to teachers. (If in doubt check all the someecards that have been made discussing it!) It is not that teachers are opposed to meetings, after all most meetings mean collaboration, the reaction is more to what we think happens at staff meetings: you sit and get information and then you leave. Not exactly the most inspiring use of anyone’s time.

But it doesn’t need to be like this anymore. Technology has provided us with the tools to communicate what we need without people being present to hear it thus removing most of the time usage at most traditional staff meetings. Now I am not here to say we shouldn’t have meetings, I love meetings, I am here to say they should be a better use of everyone’s time. So why not reclaim the traditional staff meeting and make it something every teacher looks forward to?

How about skipping all of the information giving? Send out on email instead and then expect people to read it. Most email services have a function where you can see whether someone read it or not. Make it part of the job and if it isn’t read then those people can attend a special meeting where the same information is presented.
Make it hands on professional development. With all of the new roll outs facing all of us, I would love work time to try things, discuss things and attack something as a staff. Staff meeting time would be perfect for this.
How about making it collaboration time when possible? One of our staff meetings a month was made into collaboration time several years ago and it has been incredible. To be given the gift of time to either meet in an action team or with your grade level is truly one of the best things we can do for staff.
Make it in the morning. After school I usually have 5 fires to put out before I go home, or it feels that way anyway. I get that contract time starts at different times, but I would rather have a short 25 minute meeting before school than a long 45 one after school. When there is a bell deadline there is a sense of urgency that simply is not present in the afternoon when we are all distracted. However, if staff meetings become awesome then perhaps we would all be more focused during them.
Spread the responsibility. Whoever decided that principals should be the only one in charge of meetings didn’t consider all of the teacher leaders that can exist at a school or even the immense work load carried by all principals I have ever met. If you want to make it professional development, put others in charge. Let teachers teach teachers and let us work on something, not just sit and get.
Bring in parents and students. Too often these stakeholders are left out of a school’s professional discourse. I would love to hear from parents and students how they would like to be taught something or the ideas they may have. Also, I wonder how many experts do we have among our parents that could teach us something? How often is this part of our population left out of decisions and discussions?
Teach us something. I would to leave each staff meeting knowing something new or armed with a new idea to try in my room. But we need time to share those ideas, we need time to try new things and figure them out. Why not make the staff meeting a central component of what we should be learning?

What did I miss?

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” will be released this fall from PLPress. Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.