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My 50 Days of Happy #Nerdlution

Pernille Ripp
Borrowed from the blog of Colby Sharp

For the past several days I have been lurking on conversations regarding the #nerdlution that starts tomorrow.  What started as a wonderful Twitter chat has spiraled into a mini movement for people to do something great or as Colby Sharp put it “to do something you would like to develop into a habit.”  Right away I knew I wanted to take part, and not so much because I have that many things I want to do, well I do, who am I kidding, but more so because I need a kick in the pants to change some things and I love so many of the people that are part of this.

While many ideas came to mind: laugh more, cook better dinners, read more (yes really!), I finally realized that I wanted my #nerdlution to be something simple yet meaningful.  Something I get too caught up in life to focus on.  I want to focus on being happy.  So for the next 50 days I will be savoring every little moment that makes me happy.  I will probably Instagram the moments, maybe not, but I will focus on the incredible little things that make my life so full of love.

So tomorrow the #nerdlution officially starts.  It runs until January 20th and by then I will be so heavily pregnant that I better be slowing down and focusing on the happy.  I hope you join me and so many others in focusing on something you want to do for the next 50 days.  Then share it with all of us using the hashtag #nerdlution.  Don’t be afraid, just pick something and be proud of it.

 

 

 

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

Why I Will Not Refuse to Give the Tests

Pernille Ripp
image from icanread

I was told this week to just refuse to give standardized tests.  Just like that.  And while the person who told me probably meant well in their statement, I don’t think they realize how big of an action that would be.  I have long blogged about how standardized testing such as the WKCE here is Wisconsin is not an accurate measurement of what a student really knows, but rather a snapshot of that very moment they took the test.  I have also been vocal in my opposition to what that data sometime is used for and how we end up labeling students, teachers, schools, and entire districts on a meaningless measure that does little to emulate what we really do in our classroom.  And sure, I have dreamed of refusing to simple administer it in my room.  But that’s it, a dream, because in reality it probably wouldn’t do much for anyone but me.

If I were to refuse administering these state mandated tests, I would get in trouble.  That is an absolute guarantee.  And while I have never been one to shy away from too much controversy, the kind of trouble this time would be much bigger than a write up.  I could even lose my job for failing to do my duties.  To some that may not seem like a big deal, after all, I should be standing up for my students and their rights, my own opinions, I should protect those children that I teach from the tests.  But my job is vital to my own children.  My job is our health insurance.  My job gives us just enough money so that we can pay our bills.  I wish my husband had a huge paying job, he doesn’t, and so we are a very dependent two income family.  So losing my job refusing tests just isn’t something I can rationally do and in a sense, I am not sure I should be the one refusing the tests anyway.

Teachers can try to change education as much as we want.  Many do.  We write, we speak out, we try things in our own classrooms that we hope will spread to others.  We stand up for what we believe in, we spread our message.  But in the end we are just the teachers.  The real change must come from outside the classroom, from school administration, from school boards, from government, but they will not change until one group speaks out:  parents.  The real change must come from parents.  The real opposition must come from those who entrust their children to us.  They are the ones that can decide whether a test is harmful or inaccurate.  They are the ones that can choose to opt out.   I am not the one that decides whether testing  will harm a child or not, I can have my opinions sure, but in the end the decision does not rest with me and as long as parents willingly have their children tested then my job is to test them.

So while I can dream of refusing to test my students it will only stay a dream until the parents whose children I get to teach are the ones that decide that things should change.  We may think as teachers that it is only our responsibility to speak up and that if we don’t then no one else will.  This is not true anymore.  We may be the ones that start the conversation but others have to join the fight.  Whatever they believe in.  So when I am told I should simply refuse, I hope others see how it is not that easy.  How my refusal will do little for my students and only harm to my own family.  And while I would sacrifice my life for my students if I ever had to, I will not sacrifice my job in a non-lethal situation.  I will not sacrifice the life of my own children for something that many others do not see as a big deal.  Would you?

 

 

 

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reflection, students

Even in My Room They Still Hate School

Pernille Ripp
image from icanread

I go to work with a mission: I want students to love school.  I want them to want to come to school.  I want them to be excited about learning.  I think most teachers do.  So I stopped punishing, I stopped rewarding, I gave up as much homework as I could, I gave up grades and all of the tests I could.  I made it student-centered and student-led.  I gave them back the classroom.  And yet…some kids still hate school.  How do I know?  Because they told me.

I always end the trimester asking them for their opinion.  What should I change?  What did they love?  What do they never want to do again?  They always give me honest feedback and I take it to heart, changing the second trimester based on their feedback.  Does it sometimes hurt to read?  Absolutely.  Being told that a child hates school hurts.  And yet, it also tells me how much I am up against.

I am not the only factor in creating a love of school.  I can only do so much.  I can take the time I have control over and try to make it the best possible, but I cannot work miracles, even if I want to.  School is still school and no matter what you do there will always be kids that hate it.  Does that mean that our schools are broken?  Perhaps.  Does that mean that we are not reaching every kid?  Yeah, probably.  Does that mean that we still have to change the way school is done in most districts?  Absolutely.  Does it mean I am a terrible teacher?  Maybe for that kid.

But when a child tells us they hate school they are also telling us that they hope we will do something about it.  They are also trusting us with their words.  They are giving us another chance to make it better, to re-engage them, to work harder.  And they are giving us a chance to start a discussion, simply by asking them “Why?”

So on Monday, I get to ask why and then I get to listen.  Because that’s how we change school, we listen to the kids and we start a discussion.  Yes, the truth hurts, but it is no use to hide from it, even if it is not all your fault.

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You Got Students Blogging Now How to Get Comments

Pernille Ripp
image from icanread

If you ask my students why they blog, many of them will tell you it is to start a conversation.  Not to showcase their work.  Not to share their thoughts.  Not to brag or boast or share great ideas.  But to speak to others.  So when we blog we focus on how we can start that conversation.  How do we bring people in.  How do we engage others so that blogging doesn’t just become a digital portfolio.

It’s not easy.  Commenting is not a one day lesson, nor is it it a one way street.  So often I have been asked how I get people to comment on my students’ Kidblog and I can tell you it is a process.  However, there are certain things you can do to make it a little easier.

  • Introduce blogging right.  I spend a lot of time (in 5th grade time measurement) discussing why we blog.  I want students to understand the privilege and the investment it takes to create great blogs.  I don’t ever want them to take that responsibility lightly.
  • Do paper blogs.  This is a great way to figure out how to comment without letting them loose right way and also a great step in how to introduce blogging.
  • Showcase other blogs.  I love that my old students’ posts are still viewable so I can showcase their work and ask students what they notice.  Why does a certain post solicit comments and why does another not?  Students start to gain an understanding when they can see how it has worked for others.
  • Act out comments.  This may seem silly at first, but I have students act out their blog post and then try to have another student speak back to them.  This is often the biggest aha moment for students as they see which type of post starts a conversation and which doesn’t.  We call them highway versus dead end conversations.
  • Celebrate their comments.  Comments are a big deal, ask any blogger, so it is okay to celebrate them and then map them.  Students love seeing the connections they make with people around the world.
  • Ask for comments.  Do not underestimate the power of asking for comments from strangers.  I use Twitter to highlight my students’ blogs and the hashtag #comments4kids – one of the most brilliant hashtags ever created.
  • Reciprocate!  This is huge!  I give my students time to reciprocate to comments as a way to reach out to others and to pay it forward.  If you want comments, you have to give comments, simple as that.
  • Keep it up.  We discuss comments a lot throughout the year because it is vital that students continue to understand why they are getting them and what to do with them.  They also need to write good quality blog posts that deserve comments so that becomes an ongoing discussion as well.
  • Take Max’s advice – make it worthwhile.  I loved his honest post from last year and think it is so true.  If you are going to comment, do it right.

No matter what, getting comments takes time as does quality blogging.  Be a role model yourself, leave comments on their blogs and other students’ and talk it up.  reach out to others, be invested, and be interested.  I wish you the best of luck.

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being a teacher, grades, reflection

What the Report Card Doesn’t Tell

Pernille Ripp
image from icanread

I am about to start report cards.  Being a teacher that doesn’t believe in grades for assessment but would rather do feedback, I always struggle at this time of year.  How do I put into words all of the things that I have seen my students do in in the last few months?  How do I quantify how they have grown?  There just seems to be so many thing a report card doesn’t tell us.

It doesn’t tell the story of the child that has worked so hard every day yet has made little academic progress.

It doesn’t tell the story of the boy who hated to read and now has read two books already.

Or the story of the child who thinks he is the world’s worst writer but did an assignment all on his own.

It doesn’t tell the story of the girl who struggles with self esteem and thus doesn’t want to shine a light on herself even though she should.

Or the child that reads a book a night but is too shy to discuss it.

Or the child who knows everything there is about DNA but doesn’t know his letter sounds.

It doesn’t tell the story of the child who knows more than their mind lets them show.

Or even the story of a teacher who tries every day to get these kids to believe in themselves and their ability to change the world.  which grade do I assign all of that?

being me, reflection

My EduBlogs Nominees 2013 #Eddies13 – Updated

Pernille Ripp

The holidays are upon us which means so are the Edublog awards.  I have a long history debating publicly whether or not we should have awards at all, but this year there are a few blogs that have greatly impacted what I do and how I do it and so I wanted to make sure that I publicly acknowledged these people and projects.  I cannot ask you to vote for them, but read their blogs and see if you are not as moved as I was.

Most Influential Blog Post:  John T.Spencer’s “Be Present” blog post.  I read this before I started this year and this has been my mantra for the year.  Not just in the classroom but in my life.  I turn off my computer, leave my phone somewhere and focus on those incredible kids in front of me.  Be present indeed has influenced me in so many ways, I hope it will do the same for you.

Best Student(s) Blog or Classroom Blog:  My 5th graders have been absolutely blowing me out of the water this year and while the blog is run by me as an administrator, it isn’t my writing (I hope this does not disqualify them…).  You want to know how kids feel about standardized tests, using the “R” word, time travel, and what it means to be a 5th grader today they will tell you.  Their raw honesty inspires me to change the way I teach on a weekly basis.

Best free webtool for me continues to be Kidblog (although Edmodo is close behind).  This blogging tool created by teachers allows me to peek into the minds of my 5th graders every week and brings the world in for us in a meaningful way.  Thank you Kidblog for creating such an incredible product.

Best Group Blog for me has to be The Nerdy Book Club – this daily blog brings together some of the most passionate and inspired educators, authors, and writers that share their ideas, opinions and passion for all things reading.  Thank you to all of those who continue to contribute and inspire me every day to be a better reading teacher.

Update:  I did some more thinking and thought of a couple more blogs that deserve to be praised for their inspiration.  So here are my added nominees for this year.

Best individual blog:  I found myself once again thinking of a post John T. Spencer wrote again today, he is a must read for any educator that cares about anything.  So not only does one of his posts get my nomination for most influential post, but his blog also gets a nod for best individual blog.  Please add it your daily read.

Best edtech resource/sharing site.  While I turn to many of these throughout my week, Larry Ferlazzo’s is sheer insanity.  The breadth of what he shares on a daily basis makes me suspect that he is not just a teache rbut actually a robot churnin gout useful information.  whatever he is, I appreciate all that he does and all that he shares.

Best Librarian/Library Blog.  Not only is Shannon Miller one of the most inspiring and kind women I know, she shares so freely on her library blog that anyone would be a fool to not want to be one of her students.  You want to see students doing crazy cool things with books and tech, head over to Shannon’s blog for her Van Meter Library.

Best Twitter Hashtag.  While I love many hashtags: #Edchat, #Wischat, #GRA13, there is one that has helped my classroom year after year and that is #comments4kids created by Bill Chamberlain.  This hashtag is meant to get students’ comments on their blog posts, to bring the world in, and boy does it ever.  It is partly thanks to this hashtag that my students’ blogs have had more than 300,000 visitors!

There you have it for this year.  I couldn’t choose between the other categories, there are simply too many people that pour their soul out every single day and change the way I think.

Thank you to all of those who move me, who disagree with me, who make me think.  I am a better teacher and person because of you.