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.
Be the change, reflection

You Get What You Are

Pernille Ripp
image from icanread

We all know the old adage that you get what you give but lately I have been realizing that it is deeper than that.  Not only do we get what we give, but we also get what we are.  Sort of like we cannot just talk the talk, but we also have to walk the walk but that walk has to be a confident pace and not just a hesitant shuffle.

Take a teacher who fears math, although they may not show it, some of that fear will almost certainly shine through in their instruction and affect their students.  How about a teacher who does not read outside of the classroom?  They may not discuss their lack of reading but students will still know and so see what the true importance of reading is to to that person; little to none.  Or how about the teacher that asks for respects but doesn’t give it in the heat of the moment, yup, students will see through that as well and mold their behaviors accordingly.  
The thing is, we cannot fake what we are.  So before we get into our classrooms at the beginning of our career, at the beginning of our year, at the beginning of the day, or at the beginning of our lesson, we need to make sure we are ready to give the right things.  We need to take stock of what we give to our students based on what we are.  We need to know ourselves so that we can fully understand how we teach and what we need to work on ourselves.  It is only fair to our students that we lead by example, even if that means facing some of our own shortcomings.
Teaching is not just about being good at it, it is about being a teacher with everything you do: personality, actions, and yes, even how you live your life.  If you want passion, then be passionate.  If you want respect, then respect others.  If you want curiosity then be curious yourself.  We cannot just say students should be these things, we should be them ourselves.

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Reading

To Have a Reading Classroom You Must Be A Reader Yourself

Pernille Ripp
image from icanread

It’s summer and all Thea wants to do is play in the pool or read books.  As a person who loves to play in the pool and read books, I happily oblige thus we read and read and read.  And then she saves special books for her daddy to read when he gets home.  She has a pile of books every night that she “reads” (she is not at the stage of reading the words yet) every night before bedtime   She asks me what a page says so she can retell the story to Ida and Oskar.  She met her first author yesterday and couldn’t be happier.  I cannot help but love that she loves books as much as I do.

In my classroom this was the year of the books.  I finally infused my classroom with my passion for reading and lo and behold; my students did the same.  I don’t know why I had never done that before.  So we became a reading classroom; a room that discussed books whenever we had a chance, a room that rushed book recommendations to each other, a room where boys shared what they were reading as much as the girls.  We invited in authors, poets, and other readers.  We wrote our own books and performed them for our 1st grade buddies.  We skyped about books, we debated whether the first book or the second book was best, and we watched our books being shipped to us hoping that the tracking email was incorrect and that they would get here sooner.  We tweeted about books, we breathed books.  Books were just as important as math facts and for those who know me, that means a lot.

And it hasn’t ended; one student texts me about the books he is currently reading and continues to offer me recommendations.  Another sends me emails and has even started a reading blog of his own.  Some use KidBlog and others are ready to tell me what they are reading when I see them out and about.  They are still readers and we are still a reading class even if the walls have disappeared.

As I read a book a day this summer and my pile grows rather than shrinks, I am eager to start with my new incredible group of students.  I have spotted them reading in the hallways.  I have asked them what they have been reading.  I have even given a few book recommendations already.  I will create a book display of what I read over the summer so that my passion is visible that very first day.  I hope to get what I am this year as well.   I hope they love books as fiercely as I do.  I hope they are willing to share that love wtih me and the world.  I hope they are readers.

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global read aloud, Reading, students, technology

Get Connected! How One Project Can Set You Up for The Year #GRA13

Pernille Ripp

I am sure it will come as no surprise but I am passionate about bringing the world into my classroom.  I think global collaboration and interconnectedness is vital in any child’s education.  I also happen to be passionate about reading and reading aloud.  All of this led to the creation of the Global Read Aloud 4 years ago and what started as a simple idea has grown into a massive world wide connection and collaboration event.  And you should be a part of it!

Who is this for?  Any educator who teaches K-12, homeschoolers, librarians  or whomever wants to read and share one of our amazing three books with the world.

So what is it?  The premise is simple; we pick a book to read aloud to our students during a set 6-week period and during that time we try to make as many global connections as possible. Each teacher decides how much time they would like to dedicate and how involved they would like to be. Some people choose to connect with just one class, while others go for as many as possible.

Why should you care?  Because it promotes reading and global connections.  Because your kids will love the idea that kids around the globe are listening to the same story as they are.  Because the 3 authors, Sharon Draper, Geoff Herbach, and Kate Messner cannot wait to interact with the kids.

So how does it help me connect?  Since the whole project is about connecting there is a network of teachers eager to connect and work with you in whichever fashion you feel comfortable with.  Don’t believe me?  Check out our Edmodo groups!  The project doesn’t start until September 30th and they are already busy reaching out.  (Here is a post on how to get to our Edmodo groups).

But what about the technology?  Every year I use the GRA to introduce my students to various technological tools we will use throughout the year; Skype, Kidblog, Twitter, Edmodo and Google docs.  Other people use other things as well – it is up to you.  Because you decide how invested you want to be, you also decide which tools you would like to use.  And the best part?  You don’t have to know how to use the tools, we can help you!

What about after it ends?  This is the brilliance of it, many people continue to use their same connections to collaborate and interact throughout the year.  We have people set up smaller book clubs, some choose to do units together, and others become blogging buddies.  Because the network is already set up it is easy to keep using it and you can use it for whatever you wish, it doesn’t even have to be reading related.

What are the book choices?  3 books this year for the first time: Marty McGuire by Kate Messner, Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper, and Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach.  All meant to be a great read aloud that will make the kids think.

Where do I sign up?  Right here!

What are the dates?  The read aloud starts September 30th and ends November 11th.  It is 6 weeks for the first time to give people more time to enjoy the text.

I am still not sure…go here, poke around, Google the project, and ask me questions.  I would love to help you get connected for the year.  

being me, global read aloud, Reading

Hooked on Books – I Was A Guest on the #NerdyCast

Pernille Ripp

I had the distinct pleasure of being a guest on the Nerdycast on Bam Radio Networks not too long ago and while the whole experience was a sheer delight, the fact that I got to speak about reading made it incredible.  I even got to plug the Global Read Aloud!

So listen here or add it to your iTunes podcast list like I did.  Nick and Tim have some pretty amazing guests and it always worth your time.  I am just lucky I got to be a part of the Nerdy-awesomeness.

education reform, reflection

We Will Never Be Truly Standardized and Thank God for That

Pernille Ripp
The Common Core is meant to save us all from poor teaching or so it seems if you read many political opinions.  Publishers too have been eager to grasp the Common Core and quickly label all of their curriculum with the sure to sell “Common Core Aligned  sticker.  I get inundated with emails offering me new lessons that fit the Common Core, new ideas that will make me ready for the Common Core.  Everywhere I look it seems to be hailed as the savior  of American public education.  And yet I have to laugh a little and perhaps even roll my eyes at all of the promises and ideas of standardization of our educational system.  Has anyone ever truly thought to think about what true standardization would look like?

You would enter into any classroom in America and teachers would preferably be teaching from the same scripted material in the same classroom set up with the same type of children.  All teachers should address concerns the same way.  All teachers should address children the same way.  We should all carve out the same lesson plans, preferably guided by our aligned materials.  We should all make sure our students walk away with the same specific knowledge and skill set.  Then we would have true standardization of the American public school system.

In reality though, you will walk into one school and see many different ways of teaching the same scripted material.  You will see teachers address children differently, you will see them approach lessons in different ways.  No classroom will look the same.  No lesson will sound the same, sure core ideas may be present, but the way they are taught will be different.  And thank god for that.  We have to teach specifically to our students.  We cannot plow our way through scripted curriculum and not stop when a child doesn’t understand or we see an opportunity for further investigation.  If we do, then we are not doing our job as teachers.  The very nature of what we do and who we do it with prevents true standardization  even if politicians think they can test us into submission and sameness.

So I have decided to not get too hung up on the Common Core, sure the idea is quaint, let’s all get on the same page and be rigorous together.  Yet the way it has been processed by curriculum providers and districts clamoring to be aligned is nonsense.  The states racing to the top without really knowing what that means hasn’t helped much either.  If the Common Core is truly meant to push deeper learning opportunities then why would I ever want a scripted curriculum?  Why would I want to pretend that my students learn the same way as an inner city school in Chicago or a small school in rural America?  Why would I want to pretend that I even teach the same every year?  If it is meant to standardize then they will have to standardize the very act of teaching and the very act of learning, which is an impossible thing to do.  And for that I am thankful.

reflection

What Does It Mean to Be a Great Teacher?

Pernille Ripp
image from icanread

Talk of being a great teacher surrounds us; in the news, in the corridors, in our own minds.  We all dream of being great and when we get our own classroom we strive for greatness.  Yet, being great can mean so many things today.

Does great mean high test scores?

Does great mean major student growth on their assessments?

Does great mean smiling students or many laughs?

Does it mean students who feel safe in your classroom?

Does great mean in-depth discussions, perfect spelling, or A+?

Does it mean you give as much of yourself as you expect the kids to give of them?

Does great mean that you cannot stop thinking about the kids you just said goodbye to even though they are legally not your to worry about anymore?

Or does great simply mean that you go in there and try your hardest every day, every minute?  That you pour your heart into it and give them all of you?

I know what it means to outsiders, but what does being a great teacher mean to you?