reflection – Page 20 – Pernille Ripp

I Think It Is Time to Stop the Hurry

October 12, 2013October 15, 2013 Pernille Ripp

I stopped being in a hurry when I realized that all I did was yell at my own children because of my own poor planning. The realization of how I created that stress hit me like a brick. I stopped being in a hurry yesterday in my classroom, when I realized that there is only so quick 27 students can truly get ready and that every day we rushed out of the room not taking a good moment to say thank you.

There are many things we battle as educators, many things that are beyond our control. And yes, time is one of those. We are given a finite amount of time to teach those children all those things that someone decided they should know. And we feel the pressure to hurry, the get through it all, to cross it off our list so we can hurry through the next thing.

Yesterday i stopped yelling at the end end of the day. Instead I quietly called them up to mailboxes and then I watched them work together. I stopped telling them what to do and waited for them to figure it out. Sure I ended social studies 4 minutes before I normally do, but we still got through it, they still had the time they needed, and at the end of the day we walked out as the first group in our building with smiles on our faces. Sure we didn’t quite get to our Friday huddle but we got to say goodbye without me yelling.

I think it is time we just made it work. I think it is time I chose silence rather than orders. I think it is time I stop being in a hurry.

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.

Be the change, reflection, Student-centered

I Have Noticed…

October 5, 2013October 7, 2013 Pernille Ripp

As I sit in the stillness of my house I cannot help but reflect on the students I have and all the little things I have noticed in the past few weeks. So while I should have been planning my reading lesson, I instead took some time to write each of them a post-it that all started with, “I have noticed…”

On Monday, as they grab their morning work, I hope they will each get a little glimmer of how proud I am of them, how much I do notice how hard they are trying, and how thankful I am to be their teacher.

Sometimes the smallest moments have the biggest impact.

PS: If you wonder how the students reacted to the post-its, this may answer your question: As I walked into my classroom late this morning after a hospital appointment, this note was stuck to my computer…

being me, new year, reflection, students

May I Gush a Little Bit?

October 2, 2013 Pernille Ripp

I got home today with a feeling of just sheer contentment. Sometimes I feel like the luckiest woman in the world and not just because of what I get to come home to, but what I get to leave my home for every day. When I saw my class list and then saw it grow, when I kept thinking through all of the things I wanted to do with these 27 students, when I thought about all the things I hoped they would accomplish, I just didn’t know if we could do it all.

As anyone who has taught bigger rooms with big personalities can attest to, it is a completely different challenge. Not only are you pushing the kids to try and to sometimes work through failure, but you are also dealing with sheer numbers. And with high numbers can come such a broad gamut of needs and wants that it sometimes just overwhelms you. Kids that range from needing a person to support them through most things to kids that are so ready to set off and soar, all they need is a push. You have students who want to try and students who are afraid to try. You have students that already find school pretty boring and students that still love learning. With 27 students it seems like you have them all, the whole gamut of personalities. and so I just didn’t know how we would work together and strive together.

But these kids. With their crazy ideas, their enthusiasm for my ideas, and their support of each other as they each try every day, is blowing me away. These kids with their stories, their dreams, and their hang ups, who share them with me every day, trusting me to get to know them, trusting me to push them in the right direction, these kids are proving me wrong.

I should not have doubted for one single moment that we could do all of our 5th grade challenges. I should not have doubted for a single moment that even though there were so many of us, we would still build a community. These kids with their loud voices, their big personalities, and their eagerness to just prove me wrong every single day, those kids are making this year one of those years I can’t wait to tell others about.

Be the change, being me, presentation, reflection, reform symposium

Passionate Learners at #RSCON4

September 28, 2013September 28, 2013 Pernille Ripp

Giving the classroom back to students has been my main mission for the past three years. This year I got to write a how-to book with ideas for how others can change the way they teach in small and big ways and bring the passion back into our classrooms. While my book has not come out yet, I am so excited to finally get to present some of my ideas (old and new) to the incredible people who attend the 2013 Reform Symposium. So on Saturday, October 12th at 5PM CST join me and others worldwide as I try to help you and remind myself of what I strive for every day; giving the classroom back to my students.

What is the Reform Symposium?

In two weeks, thousands of educators from various different countries are expected to attend a free 3 day virtual conference, The Reform Symposium, #RSCON4. RSCON will be held October 11th to 13th in conjunction with Connected Educator Month. The entire conference will be held online using the Blackboard Collaborate webinar platform. Participants can attend this online conference from the comfort of their homes or anywhere that has Internet access. This amazing conference provides educators new or currently active on social networks the opportunity to connect with educators and professionals in the field of education worldwide.

Useful links (click on any item for more information):

Opening plenary- Sugata Mitra, 2013 Ted prize winner and instigator of the Hole-in-the-Wall experiment, will speak about The Future of Learning.
Musical guest- Steve Bingham, the internationally renowned electric violinist, will conduct a live performance.
10+ international keynotes
4 panel discussions featuring distinguished experts
100+ presentations by educators around the world
5 EdInspire Award Recipients– nominate an inspiring educator here
Get your RSCON I’m Attending blog badge here

Please join the conversation!

Be the change, being me, reflection

When Was the Last Time You Gave Yourself a Break?

September 28, 2013October 2, 2013 Pernille Ripp

When my students screw up, when my children upset me, when my husband fails to say the right thing, I tend to give them a break. Depending on the problem or the screw up we usually talk through it if need be and then we move on. Laying to rest whatever emotions were stirred up, moving on and moving forward.

But when I screw up, when I say something others can take as hurtful, when I write something that starts negative emotions in others, I tend to beat myself up. I think many of us do as adults. We criticize ourselves, we play it over and over, and we never give up on our own flaws. We are often the first ones to point them out as if someone in society keeps a tally of just how many times we have pointed out that we are not perfect, that we are not an inspiration, that we are not awesome. Just to make sure we know our place.

It is time we forgive ourselves, it is time to give ourselves a break. We don’t have to go around heralding our own amazement, but perhaps just stop the constant self berating that we as teachers are so good at. When someone compliments us, say thank you. When someone tells us that we make a difference, agree. When someone points out the positive, smile and carry it with you. Lightning will not strike from a an empty sky if we take a little pride in ourselves, I promise.

We are so good at giving each other a break, why not extend the favor to ourselves?

Be the change, being me, reflection, Student-centered

What Do You Wish I Would Notice?

September 26, 2013January 15, 2016 Pernille Ripp

I wish Mrs. Ripp would notice how funny I am.

I wish Mrs. Ripp would notice how much I struggle with math.

I wish Mrs. Ripp would notice that I am running out of books to read.

I wish Mrs. Ripp would notice how hard I am working.

All statements taken from my September reflection sheet that I asked students to do today. All statements that made me pause and think, reflect, and know that although I feel I do notice these things, I am not communicating it well enough to students. See often I take note of many great things that they do every day but we get so busy with all that we need to do that I forget to tell them. I forget to show them. So I get home and I tell my husband about something and then realize that I didn’t say thanks, good job, or how can I help? I didn’t beam or praise, I just smiled and moved on.

So on this sheet today, what was meant to be a reflection for the students to share with their parents, once again turned into a reflection of how I am doing as a teacher. Even how I am doing as a person in their lives. And I know I can do more, I know I can do better, I only have to notice and then do something about it. Try it, ask you students the same question and let me know what you learn. I cannot wait to get back tomorrow and notice all of these things and more. I cannot wait to tell them I notice. I cannot wait to show them I notice. I cannot wait.