Be the change – Page 48

I have been thinking a lot about back to school. This break for me will have lasted over 3 weeks by the time I get back and so I wonder what I am stepping back into. As anyone who has ever had a longish break knows, often the kids are hard to get motivated again. I blogged about what I would do as a teacher, but now is the time to go into parent mode and think of what I can do as a parent to get Thea excited about school. After all, January doesn’t seem to instill much excitement in many people, students included, so I am here to help change that. A few ideas to get your child excited about back to school, please add your own in the comments.

Get your child a new book. There is something magical about a brand new never-been-read book being placed into your hands. I have expected my students to read over break and I hope they come back with great new book tales to share and discuss, so why not load them up with books either from a store or the library. Help them take control of their reading and get them stocked up at the same time.
Ask the teacher about events coming up. I know January can be a bit of a humdrum month so I make sure we have a lot of exciting things coming our way. We have an author Skype visit, Mystery Skype, and a reading challenge to look forward to amongst many other things. Why not reach out to the teacher to see what cool things will garner some fun in the coming month.
Set goals with your child. My students set a lot of goals with me because they need to be the masters of their own learning journeys, so why not set some together? Students get to slowly get back in academic mode and you get a window into their world. Plus it is such a great experience hearing your child talk about their own learning.
Look ahead. I am very transparent in what we will be learning so it would be great if you as a parent shared some of your own knowledge (if you know some stuff) or just what you would hope to learn about a concept. Again, starting a meaningful and excited dialogue about the great learning that will happen is always a great way to ease back into school.
Ask about changes. I know a lot of this is conversation based, but I find that often it is through conversation that we can get kids excited rather than bribery. Ask your child what they hope to change in the next few months, whether it be with themselves or in the classroom and then come up with a plan to make it happen. I practice student ownership at every opportunity and so this is something I will be asking students to do anyway.
Look forward. I tell the kids we have a lot to do before they leave me and in January that seems to set in. They know that as the days get lighter they are one step closer to middle school and I want our time together to count. As a parent it is okay to acknowledge and celebrate the fact that a new grade is coming up. Kids know it is too early to dismiss the current one but that there is a goal to work toward. I celebrate the fact that all of my students are headed toward middle school and they know it.
Embrace the slowness. January seems to slow us all down as we wind down after the craziness of December and winter in general. Instead of fighting it, I tend to embrace it at home with my own kids. We read more, we light more candles, and we do more family things in a small way. I don’t expect my kids to go a mile a minute because that’s what they did in December. Instead we cherish the quiet times in the house and we encourage more creative play. Out with the noise and in with drawing, art projects, and many, many books read aloud or shared.
Highlight the social aspect. I know school shouldn’t be about seeing your friends, but let’s face it, it is one of the benefits of going to school. So instead of battling it or ignoring it, why not relish in the fact that your child will get so see all of their friends again every day? As a teacher I know this is a major selling point of school, so I also work it into our day. We come back with a little more time to talk, a little more time to catch up, and a lot more opportunity to do group projects if need be. Make the social aspect work for your child rather than create more tension.
Get new school supplies. I know this is a staple of the true back to school time – August – but most people get excited over new supplies. New pencils seem to beckon to be written with, journals to be filled out, and erasers used. Perfect time to get a few new things since most of my students have used up all of their pencils and erasers by now anyway.

Be the change, new year

Pick One Thing to Try – An Idea from Tom Whitby

December 28, 2013December 27, 2013 Pernille Ripp

I always struggle with New Years Resolutions. I want to change a lot of things but as a mom of 4 now and a wife to an incredibly patient man, I need to make sure my need for change doesn’t overwhelm everybody else. Last year I therefore decided to focus on the things I would keep rather than change, which led to a year with much more laughter, appreciation, and patience all around – you should try it. This year, I love this notion from Tom Whitby of picking one thing to change in the new year, rather than many. Therefore, I present you with a list of ideas; why don’t you

Try Genius hour? This one hour project time for students where they get to explore whatever they want under a chosen theme is a must for any classroom. I do this with my 5th graders in social studies and science and the exploration of knowledge that comes from it is unbeatable.
Try a Mystery Skype? If you want an easy way to connect students with others, work on geography skills, as well as how to function as a team under pressure, this is the thing to try. Easy to set up and do but the learnign that comesfrom it is incredible.
Student blogging? I wanted to give my students a voice for me to hear, little did I know I would be connecting them with the world. Now anyone can see what is happening in the minds of my students simply by asking them.
Start A classroom website? Sick of sending home paper copies of everything and not feeling like I communicated well with parents, I started a classroom website 3 years ago. This little hub of information allows parents and students (and strangers!) to see exactly what we are up to through pictures, videos, and blog posts. We also have an updated calendar for any classroom events.
Give Choice in learning? How about asking students how they want to learn something? You can start small with one idea and then grow from there. You would be amazed at what the students come up with for their learning journey and the excitement they bring to the projects, all because their voice was added.
Read more books? I started to get serious about my young adult and middle grade reading last year and I cannot tell you the benefits it has reaped. I now excitedly pass out books to students, they recommend books to me, our classroom library is bursting at the seams and there is a genuine excitement for reading. Now reading books I can pass on to my students is one of the top priorities of my time.
Get rid of grades? No really. I did and I have loved it. Now the focus is not on the mark on the paper as much as it is on the learning that occurs. While I have to still do report cards, the students are much more aware of where they are and where they need to go simply because we discuss it.
Get rid of homework or reduce it? Now would be a great time to take stock of how much homework you are assigning and whether or not it is worth it. I have been on a conscious path to reduce homework in every class as much as I possible can and the end result has been happier students, that actually come to me when needed and who want to use their time well.
Join the Global Read Aloud? While we will not start the project until October 6th, 2014, that doesn’t mean it is too early to join. This global reading project picks a book to be read aloud to students across the world during a 6 week period and then asks students to connect using technology to discuss the book. All you need to join is the book (to be chosen in late spring) and a little bit of courage, I will help with the rest.

Be the change, classroom setup, new year

It Is Time To Renew, Reorganize, and Reevalute

December 26, 2013 Pernille Ripp

Something magical beckons us on the cusp of a new year; one full of promise to change, a clean slate as if for once we can get it all right, or at the very least figure out what we need to change, ahh, January 1st and all of its promises. It is no different in the classroom; the new year is an opportune time to not just conjure up resolutions but also renew and reevaluate your setup hopefully leaving you saner and more organized.

I used to think of things I needed to change after the 1st of the year but quickly got worn out thinking of all of these changes. After all, as a newish teacher, I have enough things I am already trying to reflect upon and implement so I am not sure we need more things to do. So now I have scaled it back, I look at my room through a different lens, that of reevaluation. May my thoughts help guide you as well.

Study your workspace configuration. Are students able to move, spread out, work at different places than their assigned work spaces? Can they get away when they need to or are they always squished together? Often this aspect of our room is completely out of our hands as it depends on classroom size but even cramped rooms can have getaway corners, places where students can find some sort of solitude, or places where they can work together as a large group.
Study your “dusty” areas. Are there parts of your classroom that are hardly ever used? Places where the students cannot get to or where an arrangement of furniture seems cramped or forced? I recently realized that my large conference table was squeezed into a corner meaning I never used it and neither did my students. In two moves of furniture it is now front and centre and used every single day with students. Easy to do once you know what isn’t working.
Study where the piles are. I used to force myself into several organization systems that just didn’t work. What resulted were various piles of papers, books, and miscellaneous teacher items that never got put away. I had too many places to place things and often these spots were also in the wrong area so I would drop off stuff and then leave it to gather dust, in the end forgetting that I had put it there in the first place. Now I pay attention to where I place things, create gathering places where they feel natural (think: where you place things anyway) there and follow the 1 minute rule; if you can do it in 1 minute – do it right away.
Ask your students. I often take the time to ask my students what is working for them, where their favorite places are, or what they are missing. Conversations such as these have resulted in their own area for office supplies, more small tables, and choices of whether to lie down or sit in a chair whenever we do writing and reading workshop. Students are the biggest components and inhabitants of the classroom; they should have a say in what is working or not.
Recreate your area. I start out the year with my favorite things close by; a great stapler, hand lotion, my favorite picture, and billions of colorful pens that brighten my day. As silly as these things sound, it feels nice to have what I need close by when I am planning. As the year progresses, though, my things seem to move or vanish altogether. Take this time of renewal to renew your area, think about what would make you happy every day in a small way and bring it into your immediate vicinity. It may not seem like a big thing, which is why it is perfect to do now.
Start to think of next year. Call me crazy but January is when I start to think of the next school year. I clean up papers as I go through them, make extra copies for the following year if it something I will have to use like a math test, and throw out/recycle anything I don’t need. Too often we leave these tasks for the end of the year but it is easier to just stay on top of it throughout the year. Start to think of what you need to change for next year with your lessons and tweak them now, because next time you teach it, chances are you will not remember the changes you needed to make.

While there are many things you can do to reorganize your classroom as you prepare for the second half of the year, think small at first. Change the easy things, give yourself time to think about what needs to happen, and then do it. Recruit your students to help, reflect on what is working and what isn’t, and then decide what needs to change now for you to be happy. Change never has to be big to be effective. It does not have to be grandiose or expensive; find something small to make you feel renewed even if it just includes the happiness that brand new pens can bring you.

Be the change, being me, Uncategorized

How to Combat The Negative

December 10, 2013 Pernille Ripp

I don’t think anyone becomes an educator to spread negativity. At least not anyone I have ever met. And yet, there are some that seem to thrive on negativity, that cannot wait to spread the latest bad news, or relive someone else’s failure. Sometimes you can spot them a mile away, it is like a cloud of negativity surrounds them, but other times they sneak into your life and you don’t even realize the conversation you are engaged in until it is over and you are left with a stone in your stomach or your smile gone.

I used to get sucked into negativity all of the time. It makes for juicy conversations and it creates an instant bond between those who are commiserating. It wasn’t until Brandon, my much smarter husband, pointed out how I brought it all home that I realized what I was being sucked into. I was so eager to share the failures that I didn’t leave room for all of the happy that happened every day. I had become the negative myself.

So what can you do if you find yourself surrounded by negativity, big or small? My aha moment was realizing that you don’t need to be a part of it. You are allowed to leave the conversation or steer it in a different direction. Now, when a negative conversation starts up around me I try to find the positive in it or crack a joke. Of course, I am never perfect but this works a lot of the time.

But an even bigger aha moment? Don’t give the person spreading negativity any power. When you give your time to someone, you are offering them a part of you. If you listen to someone, you are giving them power in an audience. Remove the audience and all they will be left with is their negativity.

In the end, we have to find out own happiness. We don’t go to school to bring students down so why should the words we pick bring others down? I laugh more now because I choose to. Happiness is a choice, as is negativity, don’t be the one others try to steer clear of.

Be the change, being me, reflection

How the #Nerdlution is Already Making a Difference

December 4, 2013 Pernille Ripp

I woke up grumpy yesterday. Not just fleetingly mad, but kind of a bone deep anger at the world. Not that there was much a of a reason for it. I have a pretty fantastic life if I may say so. But I had slept terribly, the baby had kicked me most of the night, I had nightmares, two of my 3 kids had been up several times. I didn’t have a good lunch planned, I am in the awkward stage of pregnancy where clothing looks weird, and it was so foggy out I could hardly see my ugly min-van. You get the drift, everything was not good because that was my dominating mood.

But then I remembered the promise I had made to myself and to the #Nerdlution – to focus on the small happy moments and take pictures of them. To stop and smell the happy rather than rush through the day. So I took a deep breath and tried to look for the happy. Maybe not as serendipitous as just finding it but I had promised myself I would be happy so I was going to find my happy. At first it seemed super forced, like a fake smile, but then I felt the tension start to leave my shoulders. Sure Ida was making the stuffed puppy play it’s annoying Christmas jingle for the 10th time, but every time she hit that button, Oskar wiggled his butt. Sure, Thea was being wild and crazy, but she was playing with her younger siblings the best way she knew how. Sure, my classroom was filled with piles of work to be done but it meant that almost all of the students had done their work. And sure, I stuffed myself into a skirt and tried to look decent, but this 4th baby of ours is a miracle baby and this will be the last time I ever get to be pregnant. Stop and smell the happy.

Could I have snapped out of my mood by myself? Sure, but it was the knowing of the promise I had made publicly to #Nerdlution that made me do it more forcefully. I couldn’t already break my promise after 2 days after all. So today, when I woke up even more tired, even more sore, even more stressed, I knew I had to find my happy again, and I am ok with that. I know I will because I promised it to myself.

Won’t you join the revolution? (It is not too late to make yourself a promise…)

Be the change, being a teacher, being me, reflection, Student-centered, testing

Why I Will Not Refuse to Give the Tests

November 30, 2013November 30, 2013 Pernille Ripp

I was told this week to just refuse to give standardized tests. Just like that. And while the person who told me probably meant well in their statement, I don’t think they realize how big of an action that would be. I have long blogged about how standardized testing such as the WKCE here is Wisconsin is not an accurate measurement of what a student really knows, but rather a snapshot of that very moment they took the test. I have also been vocal in my opposition to what that data sometime is used for and how we end up labeling students, teachers, schools, and entire districts on a meaningless measure that does little to emulate what we really do in our classroom. And sure, I have dreamed of refusing to simple administer it in my room. But that’s it, a dream, because in reality it probably wouldn’t do much for anyone but me.

If I were to refuse administering these state mandated tests, I would get in trouble. That is an absolute guarantee. And while I have never been one to shy away from too much controversy, the kind of trouble this time would be much bigger than a write up. I could even lose my job for failing to do my duties. To some that may not seem like a big deal, after all, I should be standing up for my students and their rights, my own opinions, I should protect those children that I teach from the tests. But my job is vital to my own children. My job is our health insurance. My job gives us just enough money so that we can pay our bills. I wish my husband had a huge paying job, he doesn’t, and so we are a very dependent two income family. So losing my job refusing tests just isn’t something I can rationally do and in a sense, I am not sure I should be the one refusing the tests anyway.

Teachers can try to change education as much as we want. Many do. We write, we speak out, we try things in our own classrooms that we hope will spread to others. We stand up for what we believe in, we spread our message. But in the end we are just the teachers. The real change must come from outside the classroom, from school administration, from school boards, from government, but they will not change until one group speaks out: parents. The real change must come from parents. The real opposition must come from those who entrust their children to us. They are the ones that can decide whether a test is harmful or inaccurate. They are the ones that can choose to opt out. I am not the one that decides whether testing will harm a child or not, I can have my opinions sure, but in the end the decision does not rest with me and as long as parents willingly have their children tested then my job is to test them.

So while I can dream of refusing to test my students it will only stay a dream until the parents whose children I get to teach are the ones that decide that things should change. We may think as teachers that it is only our responsibility to speak up and that if we don’t then no one else will. This is not true anymore. We may be the ones that start the conversation but others have to join the fight. Whatever they believe in. So when I am told I should simply refuse, I hope others see how it is not that easy. How my refusal will do little for my students and only harm to my own family. And while I would sacrifice my life for my students if I ever had to, I will not sacrifice my job in a non-lethal situation. I will not sacrifice the life of my own children for something that many others do not see as a big deal. Would you?