Be the change – Page 30

I Would Be A Liar

July 24, 2015 Pernille Ripp

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I would be a liar if I told you that I am not amazed at the amount of Twitter followers I have. I would be a liar if I told you I didn’t know how many people roughly subscribe to this blog. It has astounded me for a long time that anyone, other than my mother and my husband, find value in me. Yet, those numbers don’t mean much if I let them mean too much.

Because we are bigger than the follower count we have. We are bigger than the number of comments we get. We are bigger than the favorites, the mentions, and even the likes that we can garner in our lives. The more influence we artificially have on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram or whatever tool you use, the more we should be doing to lift others up. Because all of those people are the ones that are holding up the very platform we stand on.

I do not take my job as a teacher lightly. I do not take my job as a writer lightly. I do not take my job as a speaker lightly, nor for granted. When I get to speak to others, it is something that I value on such a deep level that I tend to get emotional, because I am put in a position where I can possibly help others. Help someone else not feel crazy. Help someone else not feel so alone. Help someone else by being a friend.
When someone reads my blog, I am humbled. When someone reaches out, I am honored.

So if you are a connected educator, whatever that may mean, I hope you are using your influence for good. I hope that you are using your position, no matter how small you may feel it is, to lift others up. To make connections. To help others share their voice.

We all started with 0 followers. We all started blogging for ourselves and no one else. We all started from a place of hoping that someone would notice us and make our worlds better. So make sure you are still noticing others, because this isn’t about us, it’s about the kids and making their education better. And sometimes it seems that we forget that in the midst of our own seeming popularity.

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, 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.

Be the change, being a teacher, being me, believe, hopes, new year

You Are Not “Just” A Teacher

July 9, 2015 Pernille Ripp

“I am just a teacher.” How many times have we said it without even realizing it? Without realizing how much we are cutting ourselves down? How many times have we started our retort, offered an idea, or even pushed back with these words? I am just a teacher so no one has to listen to me. I am just a teacher so my ideas don’t have value. I am just a teacher so what do I know…

But here’s the thing, you are not just a teacher. You are so much more.

You are the first line of defense for a child’s love of learning. The original believer in all children. The person who every day gets up and thinks that they can truly make a difference.

You are a dream-builder. A planner. A wonder-er.

You are a compass for those who may be lost. A map for those who need to find a way. And a flashlight for those who have lost their vision.

You are not just a teacher, you are a pair of arms for those who feel the world is against them. A shoulder for those who need to cry. Ears that will listen to whose who feel no one hears their voice anymore.

You are someone who believes even when others don’t. You are someone who fights even after all seems lost. You are someone who never, ever gives up even when a child has given up on themselves.

You are not “just” a teacher, but instead a warrior whose urgency only grows with every child we meet. A campaigner for others to believe in the good that you see in a child. A window opener when all the doors have been closed.

You are the family that some children don’t get to have. You are someone who cares with everything you do. You are the voice of reason when others speak nonsense.

You are the last line of defense when others say no more, nothing else, we are done.

So yes, you may just be a teacher but think of what you are to all of those kids that you teach. Think of what you can be. And then think of what they will do knowing you were their teacher. So the next time you find yourself saying you are just a teacher, wear that title with pride. You are just a teacher, but teachers change the world.

Be the change, being a teacher, connect, control, principals, trust

Dear Administrators, Can We Tear Down the Great Divide?

July 9, 2015July 10, 2015 Pernille Ripp

Dear Administrators,

I am not sure I am the right one to bring this up,in fact, I am not sure it is my place to start this conversation. Yet, this blog has offered me a voice that not all teachers have, a place to start a public discussion that is needed. That doesn’t mean I am the best one to bring it up, but here goes nothing.

There has always been a divide between administration and teachers it seems. From the poor jokes about going to the dark side to the hushed conversations behind closed doors discussing the latest admin “screw up,” it seems that there is an invisible mountain between teachers and administration that both sides don’t understand the origin of. It is not that anyone wants to think of the other as being on another side and yet it crops up in conversation time and time again. But I am starting to wonder why we all seem to be okay with it. It seems to just be an accepted fact when I don’t think it should be. After all, are we not all trying to educate the same children?

So what is it that is creating it, and more importantly what can we do? Because I hear over and over that teachers don’t think their administration will believe in whatever idea they have, or their administration won’t give them permission, and I am always left wondering if this really is true. Do they really know that or is it just an assumption? In fact, how often do we assume what someone else may say or think and thus feel defeated? How often do we blame our administrators for something when we don’t know if it is really their fault? How often does our own fear of having a courageous conversation create unintended barriers?

Perhaps the divide has to to do with trust. While I believe almost all administrators trust their staff, I wonder how often that is explicitly communicated. Not just in words but in actions. I wonder how many times trust is assumed rather than discussed, how many times both sides assume that the other know their intentions. What if we decided that the other side couldn’t read our minds and instead started asking questions? What if we were told that administration trusted us in both words and action, would that break the divide? What if teachers started to tell their administrators that they trusted them, what would that do?

What if we gave second chances? What if we, every day, gave each other a new chance at doing what is best? What if we actively tried to create a community of educators just like we work on it with our students? What then?

I don’t know what the answer is. I am not an administrator, just a teacher who wants to find a solution. So dear administrators and other educators reading this, what do you think? How do we tear down the great divide? What can I tell all those teachers who feel like their administration will never trust them? Who feel like their administration will never understand what they do, what they are trying to do, and who feel no one has their back? Because I don’t think it’s true but maybe I am wrong, I have been wrong so many times before.

Thank you,

Pernille

PS: I am absolutely loving all of the great conversations that are happening due to this post. Here are a few responses to the post on other blogs.

John Bernia wrote a great response
So did Melissa Emler here

And Brandon Blom here

Be the change, being a teacher, believe, choices, MIEExpert15, teachers

We Are the Experts on Our Students

July 9, 2015 Pernille Ripp

I don’t remember when I started speaking up as a teacher. When my words no longer burned in my skull, my mouth tightly closed. When I finally had the courage to raise my hand and give my opinion and then wait and see what would happen. But I do remember how it felt; terrifying. My cheeks flamed red, all eyes on me. In my mind you could have heard a pin drop. Time slowed until someone else jumped in. Yet, in reality, it was probably not a big moment. Not something etched into history, nor remembered by the masses. So why is it we are so afraid to claim our expertise as teachers, ask questions, and speak up for the students we teach?

We seem to have no problem being told what to do as teachers. Whether we are a product of the teaching conditions we endure, or we simply don’t think our opinions have value, we mostly keep silent when it comes to new programs, new initiatives, and new decisions. We assume that everyone understands our students and thus the decisions being made will always benefit them. But we all know that that is not always true. And yet we wait for others to tell us what to do, so that we can follow their path. Instead of carving out our own, instead of adding our voice.

The thing is, we are the experts on the kids we teach. Not the amazing administrators we may work with. Not the consultant brought in or the outside expert. We are. And we need to speak up when things are not going to be in the best interest of those children. We need to at least offer our opinion, our advice, and then be allowed to adapt for the very students we teach.

If we know our facts. If we know our craft. If we know our research then we too are experts. Then our voices matter as well. But you have to allow yourself to have your voice heard. You have to trust yourself in adapting programs to make them work for the kids you teach. You have to allow yourself to ask questions, suggest modifications, create change so that the very students we are entrusted to teach will get the best learning experience.

Don’t wait for others to claim you are an expert, claim it yourself. Give yourself the same value that you place on your students. You know what is best for kids, so trust that. Stop creating more barriers than there needs to be because their future depends on you.

H/T to Jess Lifshitz and her early morning talks.

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.”