Category: being a teacher

Be the change, being a teacher, books, reflection, Student-centered, students

A Second Book Cover Revealed…

Pernille Schmidt Ripp

Some of you may know that I was lucky enough to be asked by Peter Dewitt and the amazing crew at Corwin Press to be a part of their Connected Educator book series.  Peter asked me in the fall of 2013 and I thought I would have plenty of time to write the book, after all, doesn’t being pregnant afford you a lot of time to put your feet up?  Well, Augustine arrived 10 weeks early so this book was finished watching her sleep and grow in the NICU, which only made me write more urgently for the need to change our schools and classrooms.  So today,I am thrilled to be able to reveal the cover of my next book…

CCES-Ripp

 

This book’s title really says it all.  Another how-to book, just like “Passionate Learners – Giving Our Classrooms Back to Our Students,” except this time focused on how to turn a whole school culture around, as well as within the classroom.  Written for administrators and teachers, this book will give you many things to think about, easy ideas to implements, and tools to change your school culture right away.

The book is available for pre-order now and will be offered as both a print and an e-book, which makes me so excited!  In fact, you should check out the whole series, I promise you it will be incredible!

being a teacher, reflection, students

I Hope I am Not Your Favorite Teacher

Pernille Schmidt Ripp
image from etsy

“Mrs. Ripp, you will always be my most favorite teacher…”

“…I will always remember you as one of my favorites…”

“You are the best teacher I have ever had…”

The comments from the kids, who I get to call my kids for another 4 school days, envelop me every day.  Words like love, best, favorite, most awesome wrap around our classroom as I get ready to release them from the cocoon of fifth grade.  I smile, thank them, and think, “But I’m not.”  I am not the best teacher ever.  I hope I am not your favorite.  I hope I am not the teacher that you loved most, because if I am then that makes me sad.  I am only a fifth grade teacher, which means you have years of “best” teachers ahead of you, or so I hope.

I hope that the title of best teacher ever will be filled with stiff competition.

I hope that the title of best teacher ever will be awarded to new teachers every year.

I hope that the title of best teacher ever will be one that you gladly bestow on every lucky person that gets to teach you from now on.

I hope those teachers know what they have when they see you.

I hope those teachers get you.

I hope those teachers get a chance to love you as much as I have this year.

So I hope I am not your favorite teacher ever, I hope I am just one of many by the time it is all said and done.

I am a passionate (female) 5th grade teacher in Wisconsin, USA, 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 from Powerful Learning Press.   Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

being a teacher, punishment, reflection, rewards, students

Please Don’t Tell Me to Pick

Pernille Schmidt Ripp
image from etsy

“…Please pick one or two students…” my heart freezes as I read the email.

Don’t make me pick, please.  Don’t make me single out one or two students, even if it is for recognition.  Why?  Because I don’t just have one or two students who deserve to be recognized.  I don’t have just have one or two students that have been representing our classroom well.  I don’t just have one or two students that are above the rest.  I have 27 students that all through the year have proved people wrong.  I have 27 students who all through the year have given me their best, even when they had no energy, even when they were lost, even when life threw one obstacle after another at them.  I have 27 who deserve special recognition, maybe not for the same things, but they all deserve the praise.  they all deserve the acknowledgment that their journey through 5th grade has mattered and has made a difference.

So please don’t ask me to pick just one or two students.  My mind cannot do it.  And neither can my heart.  These kids all deserve to be recognized, all for many things.  So please don’t tell me I have to pick, I won’t do it.

I am a passionate (female) 5th grade teacher in Wisconsin, USA, 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 from Powerful Learning Press.   Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

Be the change, being a teacher, being me, books, Student-centered

Join Me for a Chat About Passionate Learners!

Pernille Schmidt Ripp

What a fantastic few days it has been!  From my book being released (gulp!) to people telling me they are loving it (even more gulp!) it has been incredible to finally get it out in the world.  So tonight, Sunday May 18th at 7 PM EST, please join me, the CEO of Powerful Learning Press Sheryl Nussbaum Beach, and my editor John Norton for a chat about the book, how to give the classroom back to students and anything else you may like to discuss.  There will even be prizes!

Here sis the official information, I hope to “speak” with you tonight!

Tweet about Passionate Learners!

Join Pernille, Powerful Learning Practice CEO Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach, and PLPress Managing Editor John Norton for a one-hour Twitter chat this Sunday, May 18 at 7pm EST. Use the hashtag #plpnetwork to follow along and participate! During the Twitter chat, get a deeper look inside Pernille’s book Passionate Learners and be entered to win a number of prizes!

Register for Twitter Chat

Passionate Learners Live Webinar

Join author Pernille Ripp, PLP CEO Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach, and PLPress Managing Editor John Norton for a one-hour live webinar on June 22 at 7pm EDT. During this webinar, we’ll take a deeper look inside Pernille’s new book Passionate Learners: Giving Our Classrooms Back to Our Students.

On June 22, find out how even the smallest changes can make monumental differences. Pernille learned in her own classroom that trusting yourself and your students and sharing the power of the classroom with them can lead to great teaching and learning even within the boundaries of our confining standards, testing obsessions and mandatory curriculums.

Whether you are just beginning or well on your way in your teaching career, this webinar can inspire you to break rules, take risks, and eagerly pursue your journey toward a classroom filled with passionate learners. Register for the webinar and get entered in a prize drawing!

Get Webinar Ticket

being a teacher, end of year, reflection

Do You Ask For Their Opinion?

Pernille Schmidt Ripp
image from icanread

I went 4 years without asking those who matter most what they thought of my teaching.  I went 4 years without asking the tough questions, 4 years without opening up a final line of communication, 4 years afraid of what I might hear.  2 years ago I finally created the end of year parent and student survey, I remember it well.  I made it, took a deep breath, and then hit send.  I didn’t know what I would hear, what parents would tell me, but I knew I needed to ask.  The students were just as hard, the kids we teach are so good at telling us what they think we want to hear.  They are so good at not hurting our feelings, yet to grow as a teacher and person I had to get their honest opinion.  So I started asking them as well.

Now, even though this is my 3rd year asking, I am still afraid.  I work so hard all year trying to make the year the very best year for a child, yet I know I am human.  I know I mess up.  I know that I still have room to grow and things to work on.  And so, I continue to hit publish on my end of year survey.  I continue to send it out to parents and ask them to please help me grow.  I continue to read their answers, take them to heart and learn from them.  Even the tough answers, even the ones where I wish I had known earlier, where I wish I could change the past.  I read those too.  And the students with all of their feelings, their opinions, their advice; I read it, I reflect on it, and in the end I grow.  Even if it hurts, even if it reminds me that I am not perfect.

Do you ask for their opinion at the end of the year?  Do you make sure that those we make the biggest difference to have a way to help you grow?  Don’t be afraid, take the leap, and open up the discussion.

I am a passionate (female) 5th grade teacher in Wisconsin, USA, 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 Starting Today” can be purchased now from Powerful Learning Press.   Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

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

Passionate Learners – My First Book Released

Pernille Schmidt Ripp

Two years ago, prompted by a blog post asking for ideas, I submitted a proposal for a book to Powerful Learning Press.  I remember thinking that I was way out of my league, that I had no right to submit anything, and who did I really think I was.  Yet, I knew from writing this blog and having many conversations with incredible people that some of the stuff I had written about had helped others.  I knew that there were many teachers out there wondering how they could change the way they taught, wondering if it was okay to break the rules?  So I hit send and then promptly forgot all about it, after all I was a new mom to twins and barely getting any sleep.  I took a leap of faith, hoped for the best, but resigned myself to the idea that no one would probably be interested.

Now, I see what taking a leap of faith can do for you.  Two years later the book that I asked if I could write, is being released.  “Passionate Learners – Giving Our Classrooms Back to Our Students” is out today!  The story that I hoped to tell about breaking the rules from within without alienating your entire support team, about working within a standards obsessed curriculum and still having students like learning, about assessing students without giving them grades is here.  That book that I thought I maybe could write has been written and is now ready to be judged by you.

So I hope you like it, or at least, I hope it makes you think.  I hope it offers concrete ideas that you can implement or help someone implement in their own journey to change.  I hope you will help me create more passionate learners around the world.

If you would like to connect with me, please reach out.  I can be emailed through p (at) globalreadaloud (dot) com

I also get to do a Twitter chat Sunday, May 18th at 7 PM EST

And finally I will do a live event on June 22nd 7 PM EST.  To sign up for this, go here