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.

This project started with an idea, as most things do in life, and yet this idea in particular resonated deep within me. It brought together two passions; the love of books and a love of global citizenry, the notion of creating global citizens in my classroom. And yet for this cautious teacher from idea to reality was quite a leap of faith. When you publish an idea to the world chances are no one will listen. And what may be so important to me may be nothing to others. And yet this idea found people who became just as passionate about it as I am .

So the Global Read Aloud was created and it survived it first year with more than 40 classrooms actively connecting. And they loved it and more importantly, the students loved it. So this year, it is a little bit bigger, a little bit changed; two books rather than one, and yet the heart of the idea remains: One shared read aloud – one global connection.

So join me and more than 200 other classrooms this fall as we embark on another global read aloud. You choose how much time you dedicate, you choose how you would like to connect. Share the world of books with your students as they realize that all around the world children are discovering the same book. Share the love of listening to incredible books being read aloud and for the love of questions. We have made it easy for you to participate, all you have to do is take a small leap of faith with us. Welcome.

blogging, reform symposium, Student-centered

Ask the Children – Reform Symposium 2011

July 26, 2011 Pernille Ripp

I wanted my students to blog because I wanted them to create an online portfoloio. Little did I know that in doing so our whole classroom would change, our world viw would be affected and even the most reluctant writers would beg me to not delete their blogs. Yeah, when I say blogging changed my life, I am not exaggerating.

So this Saturday at the Reform Symposium I am excited to share the story of my classroom and how blogging changed our world. I have written about this with my students throughout the year but never presented on it before, now is the time to inspire others to take the leap and make it meaningful. Blogging became such a vital part of me stepping away from the center of the classroom and allowing the students to express themselves honestly, frequently, and easily that I could never see removing it from my curriculum.

We say we want to give the children a voice; blogging does that for us. We say we want to hear their thoughts, blogging does that for us. We say we want to grow as educators, well, ask the children. They will tell you what you are doing wrong and what they love. So ask them but do it right and join me on Saturday July 30th 7 PM CST to engage in a conversation about how blogging can change us all.

being a teacher, education reform

Stop the Tear Downs

July 25, 2011 Pernille Ripp

Education and particularly teachers are under a harsh lens right now. Everywhere you turn headlines scream out new nasty discoveries about bad teachers, horrible programs, and how schools are failing. As a teacher, it is hard to not drown in all the negativity. Yet as most of the teachers I have encountered, we choose not to drown, and instead we focus on our students, on our lives and continue to do what we do beast; teach, knowing that this too will end and at some point sanity must be introduced back into the conversation, right?

Yet as the rhetoric gets more cutthroat and the divide grows, this mentality of us versus them has formed and cemented itself into too many educational debates. No longer are teachers united, rather it becomes veterans versus new, tech users vs non-tech users, always a split, always two sides, never just one united front. And we teachers buy into it as well. If one teacher is heralded for doing something good, other teachers get upset because then they must be doing something wrong. If a school is highlighted as working well, then other schools within the district must be performing poorly. Rather than view success of one as success for all, it becomes just that; success for one and failure for everyone else.

This epidemic of negativity must stop. We are tearing each other apart, trying to climb to the top, vying for the same spotlight. But that is not what teaching is about, we teach our students that we are only as strong as the weakest performance, and that we must celebrate everyone. And yet, somewhere that message is lost. The public may want us split, because then it is easier to create “reform” and yet now is the time we must band together. We must relearn to celebrate successes and not be afraid to share them. It is time for people to speak up when something incredible happens in their classroom or in their school, and it is time for everyone else to celebrate it, not tear it down. This isn’t me versus you, it’s all of us together.

blogging, reform symposium, Student-centered

Ask the Children – My Presentation for Reform Symposium 2011

July 22, 2011 Pernille Ripp

I am thrilled to be invited back to present at the upcoming Reform Symposium – a free virtual conference for all people interested in education. My first presentation on Friday July 29th 5:30 PM CST will be with the wonderful Matt Ray discussing our New York – Wisconsin connection between our classrooms and hopefully inspiring others to reach out and create connections. The second time I present is all by myself on Saturday July 30th 7 PM CST where I share how to set up meaningful student blogging with students. Please join me for this wonderful opportunity to learn!

Written By Shelly Terrell

In a few days, nearly 8000 educators from over 40 different countries are expected to attend a free 3 day virtual conference, The Reform Symposium, #RSCON3. This free award-nominated e-conference is going to take place on July 29-31st, 2011. 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. With over 12 Keynotes, 80 presenters, and 3 keynote panel discussions you are bound to be inspired!

– View the schedule to plan which presentations you will attend!
– Download the flyer to share with your school!
– Watch this Youtube video of January 2011’s conference!
– See if your school will count this as continuing education credit!
– Consider hosting a viewing party!

We would like to thank the incredible organizers– Shelly Terrell, Kelly Tenkely, Chris Rogers, Lisa Dabbs, Melissa Tran, Clive Elsmore, Mark Barnes, Ian Chia, Cecilia Lemos, Jerry Blumengarten, and Kyle Pace- and Steve Hargadon of Classroom 2.0 and The Future of Education online communities for making this incredible conference possible.

We hope you can join us for this incredible professional development experience!

being a teacher, choices

I Choose

July 21, 2011 Pernille Ripp

The failing of the American teacher. The crisis of our educational systems. Headlines blare, people believe, and yet we can still make choices.

I choose to be a teacher because it is the only choice that ever felt natural.

I choose to think of my students as family, not numbers, or just kids, but my own.

I choose to let parents in, not exclude their voice, as mine gets excluded sometimes.

I choose to not label students but think of them as individuals who have talents and needs specific to them.

I chose to give my students a voice, to let them know they matter, that their thoughts shape our classroom.

I choose to not be punitive, knowing that trust, respect and relationships will take me much further in this journey.

I choose to have a team because I know that I am powerful in the greatness of others.

I choose transparency and honesty above all so that others may think they can do it as well.

I choose to change when needed, bend when it makes sense, and believe at all times.

I choose to put connections first, to not forget about standards but make them work for me rather than become a dictation of my classroom.

I choose to not let labels break me, to not believe in the naysayers, to believe in our system even though it is flawed and fight for change from within.

I choose to let others evaluate because even among our critics we can find ways to grow.

I choose to not be the pebble, but let positivity run my days and smile, laugh and work to make this world a better place rather than one discarded.

What do you choose?

parents

Don’t Leave Out the Parents

July 20, 2011 Pernille Ripp

Parents – every teacher has an opinion on what their role in the classroom is. Some people welcome them with open arms, others prefer to keep them in the copy room. Whatever your take is, parents and dealing with them are an inevitable part of our job. And yet nothing is really mentioned in teacher’s education about the role of parents and just how valuable they can be to our classroom. No one sits you down and explains that when parents contact you it is probably because they have the best interest of their child in mind.

I think we should embrace parents and their role in our teaching realm. I think we need to stop assuming we know what parents want in our classrooms and rather ask them. I think we should start assuming that parents are truly on our side and not someone who is out to get us. This does not mean that I suggest they plan our lessons, but most parents know their child much better than we do, so we not ask their advice?Now is the time to reach out and create a lasting relationship built on trust and truly include parents in our classroom.

I think we are taught in college that we need to be the ones with the answer so if student X is acting out then we have to present a plan of act to X’s parents. Why not dialogue instead? Why not include them in the thought process rather than present them with a final product? Mind you, I know that there are parents that are non-existent or truly do dislike a certain teacher, but even so, we must try. After all, aren’t we yelling loudly how our voice is being left out in the education debate? Don’t exclude parents from your classroom; what are we so afraid of?