internet safety, Student-centered, students

Students Share Why the Internet is Like the Mall

Pernille Ripp
My students decided to share thier conversation on why they feel the internet is like the mall and how we can set safety rules to follow:
At the mall,

  • We don’t talk to strangers because we don’t know them.
  • Don’t go to random places because you don’t know what will happen there, it may be inappropriate, a virus, or dangerous.
  • Don’t follow strangers even if they promise you candy.  This means don’t click on pop up links.
  • Don’t agree to meet strangers outside of the mall.
  • Go where you are supposed to go.  
  • Don’t be fooled by how nice something looks. 
  • If you end up somewhere you shouldn’t, just leave.  On the internet close out the window or hit the back button.Check out where you are going before you go there and make sure your teacher/parent approves.
  • Don’t give out personal information, first name only and no address.
  • Ask for permission before you go somewhere new.
  • Don’t believe someone is a friend of a friend.
  • Don’t share your password.

We hope that this helps you have the same conversation with your students.

being me, Student-centered

My Secret To Success

Pernille Ripp

I get asked quite often what my secret is. How I get them to listen. How I get them to behave. How I get them to like school, to blog, to share, to work hard. People ask me what ido that is s different, what is it that promise these kids so that they work so hard.

I guess it is time for me to share the truth; there is no secret. I don’t have a trick. (And it is not because I get the special class list with all the nice kids, although I happen to think all of my kids are nice.). But I believe in those kids. I believe in their desire to learn, in their ability to learn, and in the adventure of learning itself.

I believe it is their time to be in the spotlight, their time to talk, their time to discover. I believe it is my time for quiet, for planning, for guidance. My time to be excited with them, to be a little goofy, and to be sincere. It is not my time to fill these empty vessels because they are far from empty when they come to my room. They are not clay to be molded or slates to be written. They are children with dreams, ideas, and so much desire to explore that I have to step out of their way at times and just watch and learn.

So there is no secret, far from it indeed, what I do anyone else can do. The question is just whether they want to or not.

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.”

classroom management, first day, hidden rules, new teacher

Do We Need to Set the Rules? Or Do Kids Already Know Them?

Pernille Ripp
Photo Courtesy of Bloggertone

Yesterday was my very first day with my 24 new 5th graders.  I don’t know who was more nervous; me or them.  As we got settled into our new tables, 23 sets of eyes on me  (one child is still on vacation) eagerly awaiting what this teacher would share with them I asked; what is the first thing teachers usually talk about on the first day of school?  Hands shot up and one child blurted out “Rules!”

It’s true, isn’t it?  One of the first things we welcome students into our rooms with is indeed the discussion of rules.  Walk into almost any classroom on the first day of school and somewhere on the agenda is a discussion of rules or an explanation of the rule poster that is already on the wall.  As some of you may know, there are no rules posted in my room.  And yet the kids knew that rules had to be discussed.  They knew it was important, they knew that in fact it is one of the first things we choose to welcome students with.

The room got really quiet, the kids were waiting for me to list the rules but I didn’t.  Instead I asked them whether they knew the rules?  A couple of kids nodded.  “Again, don’t you already know the rules of a classroom?”  More nods.  “Isn’t this your 6th year in school?”  All nodded and starting to wake up a little.  “Do you need me to explain the rules or can you tell me what they are?”  With this, the buzzing started.  That little bit of chatter that kids get involved in when they start to see the light.  “We know the rules, I know how to act, we can set the rules….”

So I told them to discuss rules at their tables; what works for a classroom, what type of environment do we need to learn in, what do you need, and the kids took it from there.  They all brainstormed and then shared their ideas and guess what; they knew it all.  How to respect, how to work, how to be a community.  We discussed fidgeting which in my book just means the teacher is boring or you need to get out of your seat.  We discussed interruptions and blurting out, how to be safe, how to be nice (You don’t have to be friends with everyone, but you do have to be nice to them).  And then we decided that we didn’t need to discuss anymore because we all knew what the expectations were.  In fact, they decided we didn’t need to post our discussion because our rules are going to change and that maybe they shouldn’t be called rules but rather just expectations.  And with that our expectations were set and for now I don’t need to spend anymore time discussing them.

I gave my students a voice and let them lead and they showed me they already know.  I am so excited for the rest of the year.

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being a teacher, inspiration

Lie to Me A Little

Pernille Ripp
Note:  This post is not because I am down!  This post is written to all of those administrators and teachers that focus on the negative instead of the positive.  I choose to focus on the positive no matter what is happening in the world.  Therefore, if someone thinks the world is awful I am hoping they can “lie to me a little” and not share their negative world view.  I hope that clears everything up.

Dear Administrators,
Yes, I know the economy is dreadful. Yes, I know that teachers are under attack. Yes, I know that we facing a crisis, whether real or perceived. But could you? Would you? Just please, lie to me a little.

You see, I just started school and I want to believe. I want to believe that I make a difference. I want to believe that what I do matters. I want to believe that I inspire, that I push, that I challenge. I want to believe that I am changing the world.

So don’t just tell me your gloom and doom. Don’t just share the policies or the changes. Inspire me. Tell me you believe that this will be the best year ever. Tell me that you believe in us as teachers. Tell me that you believe that together we can make it happen. You don’t have to believe it, but tell me nonetheless.  Because I believe and so should you.

So if you need to just lie to me a little, I will take care of the rest.

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.