being me – Page 57 – Pernille Ripp

Be the change, being a teacher, being me, reflection

A Vow to Myself

May 11, 2014 Pernille Schmidt Ripp

I look in the mirror, studying every flaw so that I can later point them out to my husband. To make sure he knows that I know that I don’t look like when we first met, 13 years ago.

I see the flab, the stretch, the things that gravity have not been kind to and I squint, and I wish, and I wonder what can be done other than never showing any of these parts to anyone every again. Because who wants to see this version of Pernille? Who will ever think that this body is any good? And then it hits me. This body bore 4 children, 2 of them at the same time. These arms that I am wondering whether I should show are the same ones that hold my children, that hug my husband, that allow me to do so many things. These legs and my giant feet are what takes me through the world, that allow me to run after the kids, to rush to help, to climb the stairs to soothe a child with nightmares. This face with its wrinkles, eyes that are tired, skin filled with imperfections is what I use to share my love, my laughter, my happiness with anyone who crosses my path. This body is what allows me to be a mother, a woman, a teacher trying to change the world.

We are our own worst enemies. We point out every flaw we can find and flaunt it to the world so that everyone will know that we know we are not perfect. That others will know that we do not think highly of ourselves either, that we know we are nothing special. We do it in front of our children so that they can learn that as grown ups we are riddled with flaws that mean we are not as good as we once were. We tear ourselves down so that others don’t have to. We tear ourselves down so that we will not threaten others in their hunt for perfection.

We do this as teachers too, we get quiet when someone compliments us, mumble thanks, pass it off as if what we do is just something that happens and not something that we work so hard at. We don’t point out our own greatness but will gladly share our flaws. We invite others to criticize yet hardly ever share our strengths, our talents, our moments of glory that keep us coming back. We reflect on our teaching and only see everything that we failed at, every mistake we made, every thing that we wish we could change, and don’t see all the good that we do every single day.

This is my vow to stop. This is my vow to allow myself to feel good. Not just about my body but also about what I do. I work hard at being a good mom, I work hard at being a good wife, I work hard at being a good person, I work hard at being a good teacher. I will not wait for others to point out my moments of greatness, I will look for them myself. I will not stand in front of a mirror and tear myself apart anymore. The negativity stops with me and it stops today. Who is with me?

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” can be pre-bought now from Powerful Learning Press. Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

being me, books

My Book “Passionate Learners” to Be Released May 14th

May 4, 2014May 4, 2014 Pernille Schmidt Ripp

It is not often you get to add a new title to your life, “author” was not something I had ever dreamed I would be able to add. Sure, I come from a line of authors, but me? Write a book? Yeah right. Yet I did, and it found a home with Powerful Learning Press, and now it is almost ready for the world to read. In fact, I sent it out for review to a few people this week – gulp!

On May 14th, my first book “Passionate Learners – Giving Our Classroom Back to Our Students” will be released as an e-book. This book is my heart. It chronicles my journey from a traditional teacher to whatever it is I am now. But it is not just about my journey, it is about giving the classroom back to all students. It is about ideas, little ones and big ones, that anyone at any point in their teaching journey can implement. It is about ease not about creating more work. But most importantly it is about passionate learners and how we can re-engage our students by giving the classroom back to them.

I hope you will consider reading it. Here is a link to pre-buy it before the release date.

If you would rather purchase a print version, we are currently exploring the interest in this. So if this is something you would prefer, please fill out this form.

And did I mention the foreword is by the amazing Diana Laufenberg, a person I so admire. The book is so much better because of her.

being me, students

They Are Someone’s Child

May 2, 2014December 29, 2014 Pernille Schmidt Ripp

He walked away, tears in his eyes, shoulders down. I called out his name but he kept on walking, mumbling, “Ill do it…”

I went home, knew what I had to do the next day, and yet, that walk away from me really made me remember.

Before I tell a student what they need to do right now, remember they are someone’s child.

Before I tell a child that their best could be better, remember that they are someone’s child.

Before I raise my voice, before I yell for attention, before I call out a student for not doing what they are supposed to be doing, remember; they are someone’s child.

Before I tell a student that life outside of school may be tough but they still need to focus, remember; they are someone’s child. And that someone may be trying their hardest to keep an illusion of normalcy going, but that child knows better.

Before I lecture, remember.

Before I punish, remember.

Before I pull aside.

Before I make an example.

Before I don’t listen to the whole story.

They are someone’s child and they deserve to be treated that way.

And that boy with the tears, I apologized the next day. Not for the expectations but for the way they had been said. I am not perfect, I forget too, that before I am a teacher I am a mother, and that child in front of me could be mine. So treat them as such.

being me, reflection, Student-centered, students, Uncategorized

How Blogging Has Enhanced My Parent Connection

April 28, 2014 Pernille Schmidt Ripp

I didn’t think parents of my students would ever read my blog. Why would they? And yet, now that I have been blogging for four years I am often amazed at how often the parents of my students actually read what I write. Not just on our classroom blog, but also on this blog; my personal one. While there are many small benefits to this, it has also brought on a sense of responsibility to them. I blog about my thoughts on their children, it is their children who inspire me, it is their children that urge me to change, reflect, and grow. That heightened responsibility of how I represent our classroom and myself is only one of the things that has urged me to continue blogging and sharing. With each of the blogs, there have been many other benefits.

Benefits of a Classroom Blog:

Parents know what is going on. This is huge! I update regularly with what we are doing, showcasing work through text, photos or video. it gives parents (and the world) a direct view into our classroom.
Parents know where to find information. Having a child in school can mean a lot of different papers coming home. Now I post everything on our blog for easy reference (even for myself) so it is easy to find.
Parents know what is coming up. I have a calendar embedded on the side of our blog, this is always updated with deadlines, event information, and if I am out of the room. All parents need to do is look at our calendar to see what is happening.
Parents can easily ask questions. No longer reliant on a sometimes vague recollection of what actually happened through a tired child, they can see what is happening and then ask about it. Thea, my 5 year old, sometimes has a hazy memory of what she did at school so I love that I know what is happening in her classroom to help me facilitate a conversation.
Parents know us as a community. Because I get to highlight all of the amazing things we do, parents get a feel for what type of classroom we are. They don’t have to trust me, they can draw their own conclusion.
Parents can comment. I love when our parents, or others, comment on our classroom website. It makes us excited to see that people are paying attention to the wonderful things happening.
New parents know what we are about before their children become part of our class. When they google me, my classroom website comes up, what greater peace of mind to a nervous new student(and parents) than seeing some cool things that are happening in the classroom?
Finally, it becomes one more portal for my students to connect with the world. My students use our blog to post surveys, show off their learning, and connect with others.

Benefit of a Professional Blog:

Parents know my values. I try to stay nuanced but this blog is my platform for trying to abolish grades, homework, and punishment in the classroom. Parents can read my thoughts behind it and know that they can always start a conversation about it as well. They don’t have to ask my educational philosophy, it is all right here.
Parents know me personally. I blog very personal stories, such as the premature birth of our daughter or the passing of my grandfather. I put it all out there because it affects the way I teach, parents get to know me in more personal manner than just being a classroom teacher would allow me too.
Parents feel respected (I hope!). I blog extensively on the importance of bringing parents into the decision making process, as well as listening to them as experts. I hope this gives parents the courage (sometimes) needed to broach even difficult subjects with me.
Parents see how I represent their children. I try my hardest to represent my students in the most meaningful and real way as possible. When I mess up, I blog about it. When we fail as a class, I blog about it. When we have incredible moments, I blog about it. Parents don’t have to wonder how I feel about their kids or my job, I write about it extensively.

I didn’t set out to blog to create deeper connections, but it happened. When we let parents, and the world in, we show we are unafraid of showing what is happening in our worlds. We show that the time we spend teaching and the time we spend learning is worthwhile. We show the world that what we think and do matters. We give a voice to our students, but also to ourselves. but most importantly, we let parents know that what they think matters too.

being me

I Didn’t Ask

April 28, 2014December 29, 2014 Pernille Schmidt Ripp

Ida throwing a fit after she drew a mustache on her face

I didn’t ask to be the mother of a child who screams at the top of his lungs.

I didn’t ask to be the mother of a child who refuses to wear clothes and hits you when you try to dress her.

I didn’t ask to be the mother of a child who makes up every excuse in the book so that she will not have to go to sleep.

I certainly never asked to be the mother of a child who arrived 10 weeks early and has had to fight for her growth.

But they are mine. And I love them. Even for their faults.

I didn’t ask to be the teacher of a child who refuses to read.

I didn’t ask to be the teacher of a child who interrupts – every – 30 – seconds.

Or the child who gets so angry they throw furniture.

Or the child who sleeps in a closet.

I didn’t ask for them to be in our room. But I would have. I would have taken them all gladly.

For they are the children who change. The children who need a chance. The children we wouldn’t ask for but then cannot help but love so much that when they leave our classrooms at the end of the year, it physically hurts our heart. The children we wake up over. The children we fight for.

Not every child is perfect, I see that in my own children, but every child needs a chance.

I didn’t ask for children who needed my heart to be big and my patience to be bigger. But it is what I got, and I am better because of them.

being me, end of year

Make Each Day Count

April 23, 2014April 23, 2014 Pernille Schmidt Ripp

The number of days I have left with my students. That doesn’t subtract the days where I am not teaching because we are doing special events making the number even smaller. It is the total number of days that I have left to make a difference. Left to teach. Left to help.

I used to do the countdown in my head, not because summer beckoned me, but because I felt a growing sense of dread. Did I do enough to teach them? Did I reach every child? Did I actually teach them anything? Was 5th grade worth it to my students?

Now, I do my silent count down as a reminder to make every moment count. As a way to say that yes, summer may come and steal you away, but until then we are still together and we are still on a learning journey. We still have things to explore. We still have things to mess with. Our brain still has mysteries to ponder.

So while I may know how few days we have left together, I will not cling to it for celebration, but rather to push our purpose. To focus even more on the learning. To grow even bigger together. I will never be able to do all of the things I had hoped for but I will keep trying until the very end.

36 more days to go, make each one count.