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.

October is connected educator month and while I find it amusing that we get a specific month to point out what we do all year, I thought rather than herald the importance of being a connected educator, I would rather just share why I am a connected educator and how it helps me in my readers workshop. Those who follow me know that reading is a BIG deal in my classroom, something to be discussed passionately and reflected upon, something to be protected. So I always feel so fortunate when I get to borrow ideas from others to make it even better for all of my students.

As I try to sow the seeds for deeper reading, here are some of the things I do:

Students have thoughtful log that they use while we read and after, however, lately, it has also become a read aloud notebook, thanks to this great post from Choice Literacy. I have had students doodle in the past while I read aloud, but this year with the start of the Global Read Aloud, students now sketch, envision and jot down thoughts as we travel through Melody’s life.
I always struggle with who to group and pull for a small mini-lesson, so the idea of having them turn in their best post-it from the mini-lesson we just did as a tool for evaluation was a useful one from Teachers College. Now I can quick see who got the gist of the lesson or who needs re-teaching.
I have had students reflect on their blogs for years but I needed something more concrete and honest as we push ourselves as readers. So I created this beginning of the year readers survey with the help of various internet resources and have loved the discussions that ensued. I now also have a baseline to compare to from their weekly reflection sheets, which change according to need and curiosity.
The parent reading survey was a great idea borrowed from Colby Sharp, a passionate teacher I really admire. I loved having parents reflect on what reading looks like at home and how it is helping or hindering their child progress as a reader.
I have some phenomenal readers this year and those readers were typically the ones I did not know what to do with, after all, they already seemed to have all of the tools they needed. Not so according to Mary Ehrenworth, who I was lucky enough to see at Teacher’s College. She gave us great ideas for how to support our strongest readers, ideas which when I presented to one of my students was met with , “Wow, I can’t wait to to think about that!”
Showcasing what I read on my door. My school is very focused on promoting an overall love of reading and I participate in that by always having a sign up with what I am currently reading and also what I have read this year. This idea is courtesy of Jillian Heise and I love it so much due to the great conversations that it sparks with my students and other students around the school. in fact, last night at the school dance many of my former students came back and had to look at my door to see what I had been reading.
The 40 Book Challenge. I decided that I would give my students the luxury of reading whatever they want this year, however, I also wanted to push them as readers and try to get them to read more, so create that sense of urgency when we read. The 40 book challenge is a wonderful idea from Donalyn Miller and I adapted it to fit our needs. Students are in competition with me to read the most books in a year, they choose what they read and magazines, graphic novels, and picture books also count. Students get to report their books through blog posts, Skype book recommendations, speed book dating, posters in the classroom, or any other way they can think of.
A better conferring sheet. I have tried every which way to keep notes when I confer and also had ample cheat sheets to use as I speak to students. This year I finally like what I have with ideas borrowed from The 2 Sisters and Teachers College. In my pensieve on students I use this conferring sheet to help me keep track of their goals and their progress.
One book to connect the world. One of my proudest accomplishments will always be the Global Read Aloud. This little idea has this year connected more than 130,000 students globally as they listen to a great book being read aloud and then use technology to connect and discuss the book. This idea was inspired by my husband, Brandon, who does so much to inspire me to be a better teacher and puts up with my obsession with teaching.

To all those who have shared their ideas with me, thank you, this is why we share.

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.

being me, new year, reflection, students

May I Gush a Little Bit?

October 2, 2013 Pernille Ripp

I got home today with a feeling of just sheer contentment. Sometimes I feel like the luckiest woman in the world and not just because of what I get to come home to, but what I get to leave my home for every day. When I saw my class list and then saw it grow, when I kept thinking through all of the things I wanted to do with these 27 students, when I thought about all the things I hoped they would accomplish, I just didn’t know if we could do it all.

As anyone who has taught bigger rooms with big personalities can attest to, it is a completely different challenge. Not only are you pushing the kids to try and to sometimes work through failure, but you are also dealing with sheer numbers. And with high numbers can come such a broad gamut of needs and wants that it sometimes just overwhelms you. Kids that range from needing a person to support them through most things to kids that are so ready to set off and soar, all they need is a push. You have students who want to try and students who are afraid to try. You have students that already find school pretty boring and students that still love learning. With 27 students it seems like you have them all, the whole gamut of personalities. and so I just didn’t know how we would work together and strive together.

But these kids. With their crazy ideas, their enthusiasm for my ideas, and their support of each other as they each try every day, is blowing me away. These kids with their stories, their dreams, and their hang ups, who share them with me every day, trusting me to get to know them, trusting me to push them in the right direction, these kids are proving me wrong.

I should not have doubted for one single moment that we could do all of our 5th grade challenges. I should not have doubted for a single moment that even though there were so many of us, we would still build a community. These kids with their loud voices, their big personalities, and their eagerness to just prove me wrong every single day, those kids are making this year one of those years I can’t wait to tell others about.

Be the change, being me, presentation, reflection, reform symposium

Passionate Learners at #RSCON4

September 28, 2013September 28, 2013 Pernille Ripp

Giving the classroom back to students has been my main mission for the past three years. This year I got to write a how-to book with ideas for how others can change the way they teach in small and big ways and bring the passion back into our classrooms. While my book has not come out yet, I am so excited to finally get to present some of my ideas (old and new) to the incredible people who attend the 2013 Reform Symposium. So on Saturday, October 12th at 5PM CST join me and others worldwide as I try to help you and remind myself of what I strive for every day; giving the classroom back to my students.

What is the Reform Symposium?

In two weeks, thousands of educators from various different countries are expected to attend a free 3 day virtual conference, The Reform Symposium, #RSCON4. RSCON will be held October 11th to 13th in conjunction with Connected Educator Month. The entire conference will be held online using the Blackboard Collaborate webinar platform. Participants can attend this online conference from the comfort of their homes or anywhere that has Internet access. This amazing conference provides educators new or currently active on social networks the opportunity to connect with educators and professionals in the field of education worldwide.

Useful links (click on any item for more information):

Opening plenary- Sugata Mitra, 2013 Ted prize winner and instigator of the Hole-in-the-Wall experiment, will speak about The Future of Learning.
Musical guest- Steve Bingham, the internationally renowned electric violinist, will conduct a live performance.
10+ international keynotes
4 panel discussions featuring distinguished experts
100+ presentations by educators around the world
5 EdInspire Award Recipients– nominate an inspiring educator here
Get your RSCON I’m Attending blog badge here

Please join the conversation!

Be the change, being me, reflection

When Was the Last Time You Gave Yourself a Break?

September 28, 2013October 2, 2013 Pernille Ripp

When my students screw up, when my children upset me, when my husband fails to say the right thing, I tend to give them a break. Depending on the problem or the screw up we usually talk through it if need be and then we move on. Laying to rest whatever emotions were stirred up, moving on and moving forward.

But when I screw up, when I say something others can take as hurtful, when I write something that starts negative emotions in others, I tend to beat myself up. I think many of us do as adults. We criticize ourselves, we play it over and over, and we never give up on our own flaws. We are often the first ones to point them out as if someone in society keeps a tally of just how many times we have pointed out that we are not perfect, that we are not an inspiration, that we are not awesome. Just to make sure we know our place.

It is time we forgive ourselves, it is time to give ourselves a break. We don’t have to go around heralding our own amazement, but perhaps just stop the constant self berating that we as teachers are so good at. When someone compliments us, say thank you. When someone tells us that we make a difference, agree. When someone points out the positive, smile and carry it with you. Lightning will not strike from a an empty sky if we take a little pride in ourselves, I promise.

We are so good at giving each other a break, why not extend the favor to ourselves?

Be the change, being me, reflection, Student-centered

What Do You Wish I Would Notice?

September 26, 2013January 15, 2016 Pernille Ripp

I wish Mrs. Ripp would notice how funny I am.

I wish Mrs. Ripp would notice how much I struggle with math.

I wish Mrs. Ripp would notice that I am running out of books to read.

I wish Mrs. Ripp would notice how hard I am working.

All statements taken from my September reflection sheet that I asked students to do today. All statements that made me pause and think, reflect, and know that although I feel I do notice these things, I am not communicating it well enough to students. See often I take note of many great things that they do every day but we get so busy with all that we need to do that I forget to tell them. I forget to show them. So I get home and I tell my husband about something and then realize that I didn’t say thanks, good job, or how can I help? I didn’t beam or praise, I just smiled and moved on.

So on this sheet today, what was meant to be a reflection for the students to share with their parents, once again turned into a reflection of how I am doing as a teacher. Even how I am doing as a person in their lives. And I know I can do more, I know I can do better, I only have to notice and then do something about it. Try it, ask you students the same question and let me know what you learn. I cannot wait to get back tomorrow and notice all of these things and more. I cannot wait to tell them I notice. I cannot wait to show them I notice. I cannot wait.

being me, reflection, Student-centered

In Which I Get to Discuss Transforming Your Classroom

September 26, 2013October 2, 2013 Pernille Ripp

Once in a while, I get asked to do a podcast to share some ideas. I hardly ever say no because I so enjoy having conversations with people and always feel like I have made a new connection in this great wide world. This podcast with Rob Smith from The Interactive Teacher was no different, am invigorating conversation that made me think of what in the world it is I really do, another chance for me to herald the virtues of my husband, to share the story of the Global Read Aloud, and also to ask teachers to trust their students more.

Thank you Rob for having me on and also for making me think! I am so looking forward to listening to all of your other interviews.

To listen to me babble, go here.