Category: new year

new year

What is Your Sentence for the New Year?

Pernille Ripp
The other day I thought aloud on Twitter of what my sentence or words for the new year would be.  After some time I realized my sentence would be “Slow down.”  Slow down to me means relax, say no to projects, cherish my time, and enjoy the moment.  Slow down to appreciate.  Slow down to enjoy.  Slow down with the expectations.  2011 was an incredible year for me as an educator but a very tough year for us personally, so this year, as I work on one of the biggest projects yet, I will be slowing down.  And I will cherish it.

What will your mantra for the year be?

being a teacher, first day, new year

So What Do You Do on the First Day of School?

Pernille Ripp
Friday it happened. That wonderful, magical, nightmare inducing first day with the kids. It went fast, in fact, besides the occasional hunger pang from not having lunch until 12:30, I didn’t notice the passing of the day much. Just a blur and then done.

So what does a teacher do on their first day? We laughed a lot. We also spoke a lot. I led some discussions but the kids did most of the talking, sharing, and deciding. We discussed rules but not in a traditional sense with me setting them, rather we discussed what they already knew. What types of rules are helpful for a classroom? Why do teachers set rules? Do we need them posted or do we know them by heart?  In fact, I wrote a whole post on the rules discussion we missed.

But we also worked on clerical stuff like lunch magnets, popsicle sticks, pencil cup name tags and where in the world do you put your lunch box.  The kids asked questions, dispelled myths about their teacher – for some reason they say I am fun and I don’t know where they have that from.  They also tried to figure out what the 10 pictures below meant to their teacher.  They all thought I liked to collect china and liked to kick rocks.

And then we connected, we opened up and we just came together.  I shared how nervous I get before the first day of school. I shared how excited I was and how I couldn’t wait to learn with them.  I shared how we have one word that shows us as a class and that word is represent.  We live up to that word in whatever we do.

I challenged them in the Bloxes challenge, which if you haven’t tried this with your students, you should.  We spent time with the other 5th grade classrooms because we believe that we are on this grade level and that all of the kids are our kids.  And then the end of the day.  How to dismiss, how to remember everything, and already sad to say goodbye.  These kids snuck into my heart faster than I had thought possible and I am thankful for them.  I get to be a part of their life this year; what a gift.  One student said it best at the end of the day as I waved goodbye, “Thank you.”  And I wanted to say, “No, thank you.”

new year

On the Eve of a New Year

Pernille Ripp
On the eve of another school year I wonder what feelings I will be left with at the end of the year.  What will be the memories that I share?  The ones that make me laugh?  Cry?  Get angry?  What will this year’s class be known for?  What will they remember me by?

Last year’s class is the one that dared.  The one that spoke out honestly and got stronger because of it.  The kids that loved school and loved me and I loved them back, in awe of their energy and enthusiasm.  I wonder what this year will bring, I wonder what will move me, what i will share with you.  I cannot wait to find out.

new year

How To Make the New Year Easier – Year After Year

Pernille Ripp
There are several things I do at the beginning of the year that saves me quite a bit of time during the year so I thought I would share.

  • Create skeleton sub plans.  These sub plans have all of our times and subjects on them as well as any pertinent information.  That way when I need a sub in the room all I do is plug in the specific information and presto – sub plans are done.  Here is an example.  These also come in handy in case you wake up super sick, which I have tried, at least you can email this to the school secretary.
  • Write a Dear Substitute Letter.  I have students with special needs in my room as well as kids that need extra care.  At the beginning of the year I write a brief letter to my subs explaining a little bit about my kids and their needs, without breaking confidentiality of  ourse, then I have it to give to each new sub.  Here is an example letter.
  • Lessonplanner.  I do not buy a lesson plan book because I end up spending a ton of time writing everything in it.  Instead I have tables set up and I make my own.  Every year I just have to tweak the times and change the subjects around, voila, my very own neat lesson planner.  As the year progresses I will also type in when some kids get pulled out, band lessons, etc.
  • Set up a parent email group.  I use this parent group all of the time and never have to worry about not including all of my parents.
  • Use Numbers instead of Names (on the boring stuff).  My students are all assigned numbers for things like their take home envelopes, their book boxes, and files that keep on them.  That way I don’t have to print out new name stickers year after year, they simply get a number assigned to this more boring stuff.
There are many more tips but these are the ones I always get done right away.  Happy year to you.
being a teacher, new year, promises

A Promise or Two for the New Year

Pernille Ripp
Every year, I make promises to myself of what the year ahead will look like.  Every year I promise to take better care of myself as I get all consumed by the lives of my students.  I promise to get more sleep, eat healthier, stress less, worry less, and smile, smile smile.

What I do has a profound effect on the students I teach and this year I get to teach the lives of more than 70 students since my teammates and I will be switching the kids up for math and reading.  I know that what I choose to do with myself will be translated into action in the classroom.  So kids, I promise to be there.  I promise to smile and laugh because I just can’t help it.  I promise to be fair.

I promise to take the time to listen to you and not jump to conclusions.  I promise to make you feel safe and welcome.  I promise to not punish and still reward you with time and togetherness when it fits.  To let you speak and not be the sage on the stage.  I promise to learn with you, from you, and not just to you.

I promise to change my mind when it makes sense and to admit when I am wrong.  To get my sleep so that I am not crabby and to feel good about myself.  I promise to care about you and your life outside of school, taking an interest and remembering what you tell me.  I promise to keep learning at school as much as possible because you deserve time off as well.

I promise to give you my time, fully and undivided, and I promise to treat you like my children, because that is what you are 8 hours of the day – mine.  I promise to treat you with respect and dignity and not dismiss you as just another id.  Your voice matters as does your opinion and every year you get wiser.

I make these promises today but know they may be changed, however, my devotion to my job and to my kids will not.  I have the best job in the world and no one can take that from me.  I promise to make this year the best one yet.