aha moment – Page 8 – Pernille Ripp

advice, aha moment, being a teacher, new teacher, new year

6 Things New Teachers Remind Me to Do Every Year

August 6, 2015 Pernille Ripp

You can usually spot a new teacher a mile away. There is just something about the way they talk about the upcoming year, how they hold themselves, and even the very air that surrounds them. So much joy, so much enthusiasm, mixed with a certain air of fear. Right now seems to be the time where people start talking about all the mistakes new teachers make their first year and pass on advice to them whether they need it or not. Yet, every year I learn so much from the new teachers I meet. Every year they teach lessons to me.

Be enthusiastic. The joy that comes with teaching your very first year is one we should chase after every year. We should love teaching, not take it for granted, not get caught up in the misery of all of the outside things that make teaching difficult. Let’s all be excited that we have a job and that we will get to do what we love so much for another year.
Ask questions. New teachers know that they don’t have all of the answers so they ask a lot of questions. As a veteran teacher, I sometimes think that I should know all of the answer so I feel stupid asking many questions. Yet teaching is about learning and we stop learning when we stop asking questions. Ask away and don’t be embarresed if you don’t know something, embrace that you are learning.
Know their students names. My first year of teaching I spent hours memorizing names with faces so that on the first day of school I knew all of my students by name. This small gesture of respect went a long way in building classroom community. As a middle school teacher, I have a lot more names to memorize – I think I am up to 136 students this year – and yet I have started looking at their pictures already. I want to know all of their names by the end of the first week, no later.
Say”Why not?” a lot. First year teachers tend to question many things we see as established norms, and sometimes I think veteran teachers, myself included, can get a little bit offended when something we hold near and dear is questioned. Yet it is in this questioning that we start to discuss new ideas, we find inspiration, and we change the way we teach. we should all be asking “Why not?” a lot more than we are.
Stay true to our noble intentions. I became a teacher to help students become better people, yet within my first few years, I lost sight of that. New teachers joining our profession may seem idealistic or delusional to some, yet within their dreams is something we should all be chasing; the belief that what we do matters. The belief that we can make a difference. That we can create schools that students actually want to be a part of.
Make connections. As a new teacher you don’t know that many people so all year you are trying to find your tribe. yet, often, we settle into our patterns of who we speak to and shut ourselves off from the rest of our community when instead we should be continuing to make connections as often as possible. why can’t you know all of the people in your school? Why not reach out across your district? While it is nice to have people that know you well, make sure you make connections with new people as well. You never know who will become a part of your tribe.

If you are a new teacher reading this, welcome, this is truly the best job in the world. May you love it this much or more each year you teach. And if you are a veteran like me; I hope your year is filled with wonder, with laughs, and with joy. We are lucky to be teachers, even if the world sometimes seems to be against us.

If you like what you read here, consider reading my book Passionate Learners – How to Engage and Empower Your Students. The 2nd edition and actual book-book (not just e-book!) comes out September 22nd from Routledge.

aha moment, being a teacher, first day, new year

3 Non-Ice Breaker Things to Do the First Week of School

July 28, 2015July 28, 2015 Pernille Ripp

I always wonder how students felt about doing the ice breaker activities I had planned for them. How I asked them on the very first day to let loose, lighten up, and live a little. How some of them seemed to light up while some barely went through the motions, no amount of coaching from me helping them. And some just stood there mortified. I figured a little embarrassment didn’t hurt them that much.

Then I was asked to do ice breakers myself. To share something I had never told someone else. To take part in a scavenger hunt where I had to do things I didn’t feel comfortable with. I didn’t feel like I knew people, I was mortified. That night I swore to myself never to do anymore ice breakers, at least not in the traditional sense.

Yet we still have to break the ice. We still have to plant the seeds of community. So while I have discussed what I will be doing on the first day of school already here, here are three more ideas for forming a community with your students.

How We Are Connected Web

I wish I could remember who taught me this one, but I cannot. You take a large piece of paper (bulletin board paper will do nicely) and then every students gets a sharpie. All students and you sit around the piece of paper and then write their name down in front of them. A students will then share something they like or dislike, if you agree with their statement you draw line from your name to their name. You then go around the paper until everyone has shared. In the end you will have a spiderweb image on your paper showing just how many things you have in common with each other.

Find A Picture Book

It is no secret that I am obsessed with picture books, so I love this way to get a hint at their personality. All this requires is a lot of different picture books spread out. Tell the students that they should find a picture book that speaks to them in some way, perhaps the cover reminds them of something, perhaps they remember it from their childhood, perhaps the story connects to them? Once everyone has found a book, have them gather in groups and share why they selected the book they chose. Students get a chance to speak about themselves and it is a great way for them to get excited about the books they will have access to.

The Circle

This is taken straight from our restorative circle program at school, an incredibly powerful program. All members sit in a circle and one person holds the talking piece. A question is asked such as; what is your favorite memory or something else non-threatening, and students take turns sharing and more importantly listening to each other. We use circles all throughout the year and the way they build community is extraordinary. Students learn to be a part of a protected environment where they can share whatever they need to share and know that their words are private within the circle.

Building community and getting to know students should not be something that embarrasses kids or leaves them riddled with anxiety. It should be a positive experience that sows the seeds for the community you will build the rest of the year. So be mindful of all of the students, not just those that you know will love the games. Make sure they all feel accepted or you may be causing more rifts than building connections.

Jenn Gonzales from Cult of Pedagogy just published “Icebreakers That Rock” – check out her post too for more inspiration.

I am a passionate teacher in Oregon, Wisconsin, USA but originally from Denmark, 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. The second edition of my first book “Passionate Learners – How to Engage and Empower Your Students” is available for pre-order now. Second book“Empowered Schools, Empowered Students – Creating Connected and Invested Learners” is out now from Corwin Press. Join our Passionate Learners community on Facebook and follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

aha moment, being me, books, Literacy, MIEExpert15, Passion, Reading

6 Simple Ideas to Get Kids to Read

July 22, 2015July 22, 2015 Pernille Ripp

Loving reading, loving books, being a reader, and finding your own books to share are central goals in our 7th grade English classroom. And I spend every waking moment at times it seems trying to find ways for students to find that special book that will make them feel like they are a reader. I spend hours planning, prepping, buying books, and yes, reading them to make sure that I am the best teacher possible for all of my many students. Yet, sometimes we do not need a lot of time, nor a lot of work to inspire a love of reading. So behold, these are my 6 simplest ideas for getting students to fall (a little bit more) in love with reading.

Public Display of Book Affection

I believe in public displays of book affection every single day and on every surface allowable. When students enter into our team area (Go sharks!), they are greeted this year with our giant poster wondering how many picture books we can read in a year (Thanks Jillian Heise for the idea). They can also see what I am reading, as well as what my team is reading. In our room, there are books everywhere. Many are faced out and the displays change depending on our mood. Books are everywhere. Book love is everywhere. I take great pride and care in showing that books are central to our world. There is no willy-nilly displays allowed.

The 1 Minute Book Talk

I will start most classes with a 1 minute book talk highlighting the book I just finished, a book I cannot wait to read, or a book that I purchased for the classroom. As the year progresses I hope to hand this over to students. But think about it? 180 days equals 180 books talks. That’s a lot of exposure. since I have 5 English classes, there will be 5 different book talks every day. Once done, they go on the whiteboard ledge for anyone to grab.

The Repeated Question

I always ask students, current and former, what they are reading. Even when we are not in class. That constant focus on literacy coupled with the innate expectation that they are reading means that students start to think of their answer before they see me. And those that don’t read? Well, this question opens up to a discussion of why not and I can usually sneak them a book recommendation or two as we talk.

The Pushy Book Handler

I am always handing books to students (and colleagues too). Books do not get read by sitting on your shelf. Books do not get discovered by being in a bin. They get discovered and read by someone picking them up, flipping through them, and perhaps reading a few words. So we have to physically hand books to students if we want them to get excited. We do monthly (or sometimes weekly) book shopping in our classroom where piles of great books await the students. With their “To Be Read” list in hand, they take five minutes to browse the piles and find new books to read.

The Getting Out of the Way Trick

Easy access and check out to books is a must. Donalyn Miller and Teri Lesesne told us at ILA that if books are across the hallway they are too far away. We need classroom libraries in every room, not just the English classroom. We needs books at the fingertips of our students so that at any moment they can be inspired to reach out and find a new text. Books are not a distraction, they are a necessity in our classrooms and should be treated as such. This is also why I don’t have a check out system really. To see more about how I organize my classroom library, see this post.

The Guest Book Shopper

If you have that one child that will not read. If you have that one child that keeps reading that one book and not because they love it so much. If you have that one kid that never likes anything you have to offer, this is a great way to spark an interest in them. Simply hand them a book catalog. Get them on Amazon. Take them to a book store if you can and ask them to select a few books. Before the books arrive get them excited about their impending arrival. And then when they get make it a priority to get them to the student that day. It is a matter of urgency now that the books are here, so they should find their home right away.

Those are my top 6 ideas. Very simple indeed and take very little time. What are yours?

aha moment, Be the change, being me, learning, lessons learned, teachers

Try To Be You

July 13, 2015 Pernille Ripp

I have been surrounded by greatness for a while now it seems. It has been awe-inspiring to hear the stories of what amazing educators are doing in their schools as I go to conferences. It has been profound to see the supposed ease with which some of my colleagues at Oregon Middle School navigate their days. I am not there yet, I don’t know if I will ever be.

So this past year has been one of inspiration, but it has also been one of frustration. I have left many conversations wondering why I am not doing that, why I didn’t think of that. Read a book and wondered how I can become that teacher. Heard a speaker and wondered what I need to change to be them. And yet, tonight I realized that I will never be someone else. That when I try to be someone else that I lose the very essence that makes me me. That when we try to imitate, even the best ideas, they will never fully be what we hope for them to be but only shadows of the original.

So do be inspired this summer. Read a book, start a conversation, go to a conference and meet amazing people. Learn from them. Create with them. But don’t try to be them. You never will be. I never will be. We can only be ourselves so change accordingly. Find ideas that will inspire you to be a better teacher but don’t try to be someone else. It will never work, our students will see right through it. Instead make a vow to better yourself, trust your own ideas, and know that you, you are amazing too. You may just not have discovered it yet.

advice, aha moment, Be the change, being a teacher, being me, learning, Reading, Student

How to Break the Rules Gently – Creating Experiences that Protect the Love of Learning

July 8, 2015 Pernille Ripp

In true EdCamp Style, Nerdcamp yesterday was all about the collaborative sessions. I, alongside Donalyn Miller (!) ended up facilitating one of my all-time favorite sessions ever “How to Break the Rules Gently – Creating Experiences that Protect the Love of Reading.” I tried to tweet as much of the advice shared as I could but thought a follow up post would be in order as well.

Let’s face it, we have all worked within systems that went against our beliefs in some way. Whether we were told to follow curriculum we didn’t believe in, follow rules that broke our hearts, or even just compromise in a way we never thought were would. Being an educator often means we are wondering how to protect the love of reading in our classroom, the love of school. And not because people intentionally set out to destroy either of these things but sometimes decisions are made that have unintended consequences. So do you work within a system that has rules or curriculum that you want to change or break? How do you create change when it’s just you fighting?

You know your research. One of the quickest ways to keep a teacher quiet is to say something is research-based. So you have to know your own research says Donalyn Miller. You have to be willing to ask to see the research, and then counter with your own. Stay current, stay knowledgable and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Donalyn recommends the book Creating Lifelong Readers Through Independent Reading by Barbara Moss & Terrell Young as a great place to start. I ordered it yesterday. You also don’t say that you are “just” a teacher said Leah Whitford. You are a teacher, you have power.

You inform parents. Most parents think that what we choose to do in school is always in the best interest of the child, but this is not necessarily true. So have a classroom website where you describe what you are doing in class, what students have do, and also the requirements you are faced with. this is not to complain but rather to inform, because parents cannot speak up if they don’t know what is going on.

You speak kindly. I used to think change would happen with a sledgehammer approach but ow know that just stops people from listening to you. It is not that you should be quiet, or not be passionate, but you will get much further with a kind approach where you validate others in the process in furthering real change.

You compromise. We all think what we are doing is in the best interest of our students, so connect with others and share ideas. Withhold judgment when you can, but always share what is happening in your room and offer resources. Don’t claim for it to be the best, but simply share. Be willing to use others’ ideas as well and compromise on your team. That doesn’t mean you have given up your ideals, it means you are an adult working with other people.

You find your tribe. If you cannot find someone in your school that shares your same ideas, look to other schools in your district, look in your county, and obviously look online. The Nerdy Book Club is a great place to start. However, having local connections to keep you sane and invested is a must as well. It is important that you know you are not alone in your corner of the world, but you have to search these people out. They may be scared to speak up like you.

You work within the system. When I was told I had to do reading logs, I had students do them right in class right after independent reading. I was still doing what I was told but not sending them home. So find ways to work within the rules that may be imposed on you if you cannot break them completely.

You find your core beliefs. Figure out what your core beliefs are or values within the classroom, write them up, hang them up and then make every decision based on those. I think the visual reminder of what you are fighting for will help you pick your battles as well as lead the way.

You are willing to let go. Sometimes something we love does not fit the purpose anymore, so if you are asking others to change you have to be willing to change yourself. Even if you spent money on it. Because money doesn’t equal qulity or great ides or passionate students.

You find out the reason why. Often when new things are imposed on us, such as leveling a library or doing a reading log, there is a bigger reason behind it. Find out what that is so that you can try to find other ways to reach that same goal. So for example if you are told to level your library, if it is for students to be able to self-select “just right” books then explore other ways to achieve that. Present these ideas and be ready to discuss why these may be a better fit. As Donalyn said, “Everything we do is a scaffold toward independence – that’s the end game.”

You stop assuming. We are terribly good at assuming why rules are made or how administrators will react to us. And yet, often our assumptions are wrong. So have courageous conversations. Ask gentle questions and try to broach the subject. You may be surprised when you find an ally rather than an enemy.

You involve your students. The biggest advocates for independent reading time in my 7th grade classroom are my student, hands down. So offer them ways such as on blogs, vide, Twitter, newsletters or whatever else you can think of to spread the message about the things they love in your classroom. If you want parents onboard, get their kid excited about school!

You work together. Invite others in to see the classroom environment you have created. Ask other teachers to come in and observe if they want, admin even though you don’t have, get the special ed teacher to be a part of the movement or any other special teacher you can. Involve your librarian, they are a reading warrior if I ever met one. Bring in parents, have family nights. Find a way to spread the positive image of your class so that others will fight for it as well.

You stay persistent and passionate. Don’t confuse passion with anger, although it is okay to get angry sometimes. But stay passionate and persistent in your goal to protect students, stay on top of your reasons for doing things, stay up-to-date on research, and stay down to earth. No one wants to listen to anyone who thinks they are better than others. Don’t give up, real change can take a long time, but we must stay at it. Even if it seems like you are totally alone and no one is listening. As Jen Vincent said; “You never know what will come of a conversation you have.”

advice, aha moment, being a teacher, being me, Reading

Enough – My Nerdtalk for #NerdCampMi

July 7, 2015 Pernille Ripp

Yesterday I had the incredible honor of declaring myself a reading warrior along with hundreds of other passionate nerdcampers. Thanks to the awesome Erin Klein,this Ignite/Nerdtalk from Nerdcamp 2015 is below. If you have never experienced Nerdcamp, you need to put a huge “X” in your calendar for next year. It was absolutely incredible to be surrounded by people who are as passionate about literacy as I am. We will change literacy instruction if we band together! Thank you to Colby, Alaina, Suzanne and all of the other incredible people that put this event together.

PS: Due to the slides not working you will see me filling 3 minutes of awkward silence with my stand up routine – luckily I think I am better teacher than stand up.