Last weekend, I was delighted to share some ideas with a global audience on how to give the classroom back to students for #RSCON4. Now the recording of my presentation is live and accessible for free and you don’t have to sit and wonder what in the world my slides mean.
My session description was: Are you ready to make a change in your classroom or school but not quite sure how to start or how to change? In this presentation practical ideas of how to give the classroom back to your students will be shared. From the set up of your classroom, to the first days of school, to limiting grades and homework, giving students a voice to the world, as well as changing how you see yourself as an educator, this is the presentation that will help you.
Thea comes home today from school and tells me all about the drill she had. “Mom, we had to lock the door and sit really quiet.” My heart seems to stop for a second when I realize that type of drill she had to practice for the very first tine. 4 years old and she is being trained in what to do in case of an armed intruder at her school.
To her, it was no big deal, she was excited that the principal checked on them and told them they did a good job. To me, I can’t help but think that she is on the second floor, there is glass in the door and where would they go in case something were to happen. Where could they hide? Who would protect her and bring her back to me.
My aunt is visiting from Denmark so my mom and I mention it to her. This is the reality we live in over here, where we teach in places that could become scenes of absolute devastation. Even in Madison, Wisconsin. She asks me if I think any of my students would ever be capable of something like this. No, they wouldn’t, but I don’t know who would. No one ever seems to until it is too late.
I think about my classroom, my 27 kids that I get to be with every day, and what I would do in this situation. I realize that I would protect them at any cost, or at least I hope I would have the courage to protect them, so that their parents would know they were safe with me.
Sometimes being a teacher is more than just teaching. It is knowing that we would give up everything for those we teach. I am humbled by my realization.
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 Classroom Back to Our Students Starting Today” will be released this fall from PLPress. Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.
I wipe the last table off, position the pencil cup, shut off the lights and close the door. Supposedly my room is ready for the 26 brand new students that will bounce in Tuesday morning. Supposedly I am ready to meet their needs once discovered. Supposedly I don’t have to go in these next few days, I will keep my door closed, and my room ready.
But I am not ready yet. A hole exists. A need that has not been met so my room feels unfinished. As I drive home it finally dawns on me what it is: my students. My room will always be unfinished without them. My room will never feel ready without them.
I can set up, prepare, write plans, make copies, create welcome back bulletin boards, but in the end, my room will never be quite done. My room will never look ready. My room will always seem empty until they come. And what a wonderful feeling that is. My students are what make us a classroom. Not the tables, the books, the bulletin boards or all of the supplies. The kids. They are the ones that matter. I cannot wait to finish my room.
I was fortunate enough to have my very first article published by EdWeek this week in anticipation of my book release this fall. I have been so excited to move into the editing stages of my book, titled “Passionate Learners – Giving Our Classroom back to Our Students Starting Today.” This book is meant to be a how-to book for new teachers and veterans that want to change a little or a lot of how they have been teaching. It is a practical book filled with ideas and examples to hopefully inspire you to give the classroom back and give students a voice in their education.
So here is an excerpt from my article, please click the link to see the rest
No teacher begins a teaching career with ill intentions. Yet most of us make our biggest mistake on our very first day. I was no different, nine years ago. I chose to do everything the way I had been taught in college—the way the popular new-teacher advice books said I should.
Sure, I laughed with the students and made noises about our “class community.” But as the all-important first week of school progressed, I went about dictating rules, establishing who was in control, and setting tight boundaries for the year.
As a result, I lost the opportunity to create the kind of relationship with my students that leads not only to motivation and engagement but to real ownership of learning and ultimately greater achievement. At the time I didn’t recognize the loss—it took several years, in fact. If you’re a new teacher about to begin your journey, maybe my lessons learned can help you avoid the pitfalls of a pretend partnership with your students.
To see the rest and my ideas for a better way to start, go here
I realized today that I am about to start my 6th year of teaching, not counting the 6 months long-term subbing I started with. 6 years of first days, first weeks, and incredible students to get to know. 6 years of having the hardest time figuring out what to start with, what to share, how to set up my room. 6 years to figure out that every year it feels like you are brand-new and the back to school nightmares come earlier and earlier. So I went through my archives of posts as I was looking for some old ideas myself to tweak and in the process thought I should share some of my favorites from the past 3 years of blogging about back to school.
I am a passionate 5th grade teacher in Middleton, 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 Classroom Back to Our Students Starting Today” will be released this fall from PLPress. Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.
One week left of vacation as I write this from Chester, Massachusetts. One week until 25 students walk in through our door, eager to learn, not quite sure what to expect. One week until I put my money where my mouth is and live the things I preach.
It is easy for me to write about all the things I am going to do this year. It is even easy for me to tell others to do what I do, try what I try, believe what I believe. But when those students show up with all their wonder, with all their personality, with all their quirks, that’s when the real test begins. That’s when I have to live what I say. That’s when Common Core meets ELO’s meets learning plans meets IEP’s meets unique personalities. That’s when my expectations meet reality and I quickly realize that these kids are not quite where they will be by the end of 5th grade and that I need to go back to the beginning. That’s when I realize that even though I have thrown out punishment, thrown out rewards, thrown out grades, and limited homework for 3 years now, every year it still feels like I am starting over.
And yet, because I put my beliefs out there, because I tell my kids this is our classroom, because I believe in giving the classroom back to the students this year will be a challenge once again. A challenge I cannot wait to embrace. A challenge I cannot wait to tackle with my students.
What about your words? Will you stand behind them as the year starts? As the challenges come? As the pressure grows? Will you stay true to who you say you are or will you cave into easiness?Let’s face it, it is easy for us to say what we will do but hard for us to do. The real challenge is not saying it, the real challenge is doing it. Are you ready? I know I am.
