Author: Pernille Schmidt Ripp

Since 2010, I have lived my teaching life outloud, writing, speaking, and sharing the great, the okay, and the sometimes not so great. Starting as a 4th grade teacher in Middleton, Wisconsin, then heading to the middle school for many years, in 2022 I moved back home to Denmark to try teaching primary grades. Because why not? But I also started the Global Read Aloud in 2010, a global literacy project that has connected millions of children across the world. I also write books trying to help others co-create sustainable student-centered learning spaces, and I share my life on Instagram, in both English and Danish.

parents

Don’t Leave Out the Parents

July 20, 2011 Pernille Schmidt 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?

education reform, testing

It Is Time to Reclaim Tests

July 19, 2011 Pernille Schmidt Ripp

Image via Wikipedia

Perhaps it is time we reclaim the word “Test.”

Perhaps we, as educators, can show society that yes tests are part of the picture but they are not the only way to assess learning.

Perhaps we need to change the way politicians see tests as only multiple choice, scantron torture devices and bring them into a realm of good tests.

Society has bastardized the word tests and now many educators shudder at the mere thought of them, but it shouldn’t be that way. We know all tests are not created equal and we know that all tests are not inherently evil. We just need to find a way to show those in reform power what a good tests looks like. Something that actually teaches our children and helps their knowledge acquisition.

Are we up for that challenge? Is there such a thing as good test?

being a teacher, Decisions

Do Teachers Have the Right to Privacy?

July 17, 2011 Pernille Schmidt Ripp

I owe this post to the excellent comment left by Jennifer Diaz on my So You Want a Teacher Job. Thank you for bringing this up!

With an onslaught of teachers seemingly caught bashing their students on Facebook or being reprimanded by their school boards for sharing pictures of themselves drinking, I am starting to wonder whether we as teachers have the right to privacy? Now don’t get me wrong, I think everyone should be careful what they post publicly and bashing your students is just idiotic. But what about the more innocent pictures of you holding a drink? How about you actually drinking at a public venue? Or riding a motorcycle with no helmet (even if it is not breaking the law)? Or smoking, swearing or wearing lowcut clothing? Do teachers have a right to do this in public or is that considered morally corrupt as well?

I agree that as a teacher, we are instant role models for all children and that we must behave, dress and act accordingly. However, what about in our free time? Are we still expected to follow the same code of conduct outside of school walls as we do within? Should we as teachers live the life of a seemingly flawless adult and do anything that could be viewed as “bad” by children only within our own houses?And don’t get me wrong, I am not talking about anything crazy here. Just the act of having a beer at a bar or heaven forbid actually getting drunk. What about pictures of you showing off you new tattoo? Is that considered morally reprehensible?

As new teachers get ready to interview and ask for advice, I always tell them to check their privacy setting on Facebook and to Google themselves to make sure they like what they find. View it through the lens of an employer and make sure their path is clean. However, is it right for society to place teachers on a moral pedestal that no other professions, not even politicians, have to attain? I don’t have the answer but I would love to start the discussion. Are we as teacher allowed to have “a life” outside of school doing normal adult stuff that in any other profession no one would even think twice about? Are we indeed allowed to have a private life?

twitter

The Case Against the "Thanks for the RT"

July 15, 2011 Pernille Schmidt Ripp

Image via WikipediaFor some who are not on Twitter this post may bear no meaning to your life. But for others who like myself use Twitter every day for professional development, I pose a question: do we really need to thank someone for retweeting a post? You see, it is not that I am lazy, forgetful, or ungrateful when some decides to resend out something I have posted. In fact, often I reach out to people to thank them for reading or leaving a comment. But the “Thanks for the rt” post that I am bound and destined by some Twitter etiquette – well, I am over it.

I get that people on Twitter are trying to mimic real life; when someone passes something for you, you thank them. And yet Twitter is not real life in that sense; I am not running to Canada to personally thank a friend every time they tweet out something of mine. So instead we try to thank them with an inane statement that does nothing to bridge communication. Does anyone ever write back “You’re welcome?” Does anyone do anything more than skim the thanks for the rt? I know we all want to be noticed and I know we all want to be thanked for our contributions on Twitter, but let’s thank in a different manner. Let’s really thank people instead of taking the easy way out of the canned statement. If you really do appreciate someone sent your post out, well, then tell them that. Or don’t. At some point there just is no keeping up with it. Some of the people who write many posts a week probably have no way of thanking everyone, and I think that is ok. I don’t think we need to bash people for not saying thanks. I think we need to let this part of Twitter go. Yes, it is nice to be thanked, but when it is a hollow oft-repeated statement then what is really the point.

So I will say it now; thank you for always resending my posts. I notice and I appreciate it. I apologize if I do not thank you that day but sometimes I forget and other times I don’t have time. And I think that is ok, do you?

being a teacher, new teacher

The Things I Said – Cringeworthy Statements From a New Teacher

July 13, 2011 Pernille Schmidt Ripp

This summer the memories of my first year of teaching comes floating back and more specifically the insane things you would have heard me say. So had you been a fly on my wall, here are some of most cringe-worthy….

Put your name on the board!

One more check mark and we are calling your parents.

You will have to stay in for recess since you did not return your test.

I am sorry your mother did not sign it, you will lose a recess and bring it back tomorrow.

I do not think he deserves to be in the talent show since he does not do his homework.

What do you mean you didn’t have time? It was homework!

Sit in your chair and listen.

Wake up!

Put that chair down. Put that table down. DO NOT SLAM MY DOOR!

Stop sharpening that pencil.

Don’t you have your own school supplies?

Do you see these zeroes? That means you are failing 4th grade.

I am doing this for your own good.

The goal? Well for you to do this assignment.

Ah yes, the plight of a first year teacher. I barely recognize myself in them and yet I know who that person was because if I didn’t then I wouldn’t know who this teacher is today. We all have our journeys as teachers, mine took me far away from this, and for that I am thankful. Where does your journey lead you?

being a teacher