Pernille Ripp

Stop the Tear Downs

July 25, 2011 Pernille Ripp

Education and particularly teachers are under a harsh lens right now. Everywhere you turn headlines scream out new nasty discoveries about bad teachers, horrible programs, and how schools are failing. As a teacher, it is hard to not drown in all the negativity. Yet as most of the teachers I have encountered, we choose not to drown, and instead we focus on our students, on our lives and continue to do what we do beast; teach, knowing that this too will end and at some point sanity must be introduced back into the conversation, right?

Yet as the rhetoric gets more cutthroat and the divide grows, this mentality of us versus them has formed and cemented itself into too many educational debates. No longer are teachers united, rather it becomes veterans versus new, tech users vs non-tech users, always a split, always two sides, never just one united front. And we teachers buy into it as well. If one teacher is heralded for doing something good, other teachers get upset because then they must be doing something wrong. If a school is highlighted as working well, then other schools within the district must be performing poorly. Rather than view success of one as success for all, it becomes just that; success for one and failure for everyone else.

This epidemic of negativity must stop. We are tearing each other apart, trying to climb to the top, vying for the same spotlight. But that is not what teaching is about, we teach our students that we are only as strong as the weakest performance, and that we must celebrate everyone. And yet, somewhere that message is lost. The public may want us split, because then it is easier to create “reform” and yet now is the time we must band together. We must relearn to celebrate successes and not be afraid to share them. It is time for people to speak up when something incredible happens in their classroom or in their school, and it is time for everyone else to celebrate it, not tear it down. This isn’t me versus you, it’s all of us together.

blogging, reform symposium, Student-centered

Ask the Children – My Presentation for Reform Symposium 2011

July 22, 2011 Pernille Ripp

I am thrilled to be invited back to present at the upcoming Reform Symposium – a free virtual conference for all people interested in education. My first presentation on Friday July 29th 5:30 PM CST will be with the wonderful Matt Ray discussing our New York – Wisconsin connection between our classrooms and hopefully inspiring others to reach out and create connections. The second time I present is all by myself on Saturday July 30th 7 PM CST where I share how to set up meaningful student blogging with students. Please join me for this wonderful opportunity to learn!

Written By Shelly Terrell

In a few days, nearly 8000 educators from over 40 different countries are expected to attend a free 3 day virtual conference, The Reform Symposium, #RSCON3. This free award-nominated e-conference is going to take place on July 29-31st, 2011. 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. With over 12 Keynotes, 80 presenters, and 3 keynote panel discussions you are bound to be inspired!

– View the schedule to plan which presentations you will attend!
– Download the flyer to share with your school!
– Watch this Youtube video of January 2011’s conference!
– See if your school will count this as continuing education credit!
– Consider hosting a viewing party!

We would like to thank the incredible organizers– Shelly Terrell, Kelly Tenkely, Chris Rogers, Lisa Dabbs, Melissa Tran, Clive Elsmore, Mark Barnes, Ian Chia, Cecilia Lemos, Jerry Blumengarten, and Kyle Pace- and Steve Hargadon of Classroom 2.0 and The Future of Education online communities for making this incredible conference possible.

We hope you can join us for this incredible professional development experience!

being a teacher, choices

I Choose

July 21, 2011 Pernille Ripp

The failing of the American teacher. The crisis of our educational systems. Headlines blare, people believe, and yet we can still make choices.

I choose to be a teacher because it is the only choice that ever felt natural.

I choose to think of my students as family, not numbers, or just kids, but my own.

I choose to let parents in, not exclude their voice, as mine gets excluded sometimes.

I choose to not label students but think of them as individuals who have talents and needs specific to them.

I chose to give my students a voice, to let them know they matter, that their thoughts shape our classroom.

I choose to not be punitive, knowing that trust, respect and relationships will take me much further in this journey.

I choose to have a team because I know that I am powerful in the greatness of others.

I choose transparency and honesty above all so that others may think they can do it as well.

I choose to change when needed, bend when it makes sense, and believe at all times.

I choose to put connections first, to not forget about standards but make them work for me rather than become a dictation of my classroom.

I choose to not let labels break me, to not believe in the naysayers, to believe in our system even though it is flawed and fight for change from within.

I choose to let others evaluate because even among our critics we can find ways to grow.

I choose to not be the pebble, but let positivity run my days and smile, laugh and work to make this world a better place rather than one discarded.

What do you choose?

parents

Don’t Leave Out the Parents

July 20, 2011 Pernille Ripp

Parents – every teacher has an opinion on what their role in the classroom is. Some people welcome them with open arms, others prefer to keep them in the copy room. Whatever your take is, parents and dealing with them are an inevitable part of our job. And yet nothing is really mentioned in teacher’s education about the role of parents and just how valuable they can be to our classroom. No one sits you down and explains that when parents contact you it is probably because they have the best interest of their child in mind.

I think we should embrace parents and their role in our teaching realm. I think we need to stop assuming we know what parents want in our classrooms and rather ask them. I think we should start assuming that parents are truly on our side and not someone who is out to get us. This does not mean that I suggest they plan our lessons, but most parents know their child much better than we do, so we not ask their advice?Now is the time to reach out and create a lasting relationship built on trust and truly include parents in our classroom.

I think we are taught in college that we need to be the ones with the answer so if student X is acting out then we have to present a plan of act to X’s parents. Why not dialogue instead? Why not include them in the thought process rather than present them with a final product? Mind you, I know that there are parents that are non-existent or truly do dislike a certain teacher, but even so, we must try. After all, aren’t we yelling loudly how our voice is being left out in the education debate? Don’t exclude parents from your classroom; what are we so afraid of?

education reform, testing

It Is Time to Reclaim Tests

July 19, 2011 Pernille Ripp

Image via Wikipedia

Perhaps it is time we reclaim the word “Test.”

Perhaps we, as educators, can show society that yes tests are part of the picture but they are not the only way to assess learning.

Perhaps we need to change the way politicians see tests as only multiple choice, scantron torture devices and bring them into a realm of good tests.

Society has bastardized the word tests and now many educators shudder at the mere thought of them, but it shouldn’t be that way. We know all tests are not created equal and we know that all tests are not inherently evil. We just need to find a way to show those in reform power what a good tests looks like. Something that actually teaches our children and helps their knowledge acquisition.

Are we up for that challenge? Is there such a thing as good test?

being a teacher, Decisions

Do Teachers Have the Right to Privacy?

July 17, 2011 Pernille Ripp

I owe this post to the excellent comment left by Jennifer Diaz on my So You Want a Teacher Job. Thank you for bringing this up!

With an onslaught of teachers seemingly caught bashing their students on Facebook or being reprimanded by their school boards for sharing pictures of themselves drinking, I am starting to wonder whether we as teachers have the right to privacy? Now don’t get me wrong, I think everyone should be careful what they post publicly and bashing your students is just idiotic. But what about the more innocent pictures of you holding a drink? How about you actually drinking at a public venue? Or riding a motorcycle with no helmet (even if it is not breaking the law)? Or smoking, swearing or wearing lowcut clothing? Do teachers have a right to do this in public or is that considered morally corrupt as well?

I agree that as a teacher, we are instant role models for all children and that we must behave, dress and act accordingly. However, what about in our free time? Are we still expected to follow the same code of conduct outside of school walls as we do within? Should we as teachers live the life of a seemingly flawless adult and do anything that could be viewed as “bad” by children only within our own houses?And don’t get me wrong, I am not talking about anything crazy here. Just the act of having a beer at a bar or heaven forbid actually getting drunk. What about pictures of you showing off you new tattoo? Is that considered morally reprehensible?

As new teachers get ready to interview and ask for advice, I always tell them to check their privacy setting on Facebook and to Google themselves to make sure they like what they find. View it through the lens of an employer and make sure their path is clean. However, is it right for society to place teachers on a moral pedestal that no other professions, not even politicians, have to attain? I don’t have the answer but I would love to start the discussion. Are we as teacher allowed to have “a life” outside of school doing normal adult stuff that in any other profession no one would even think twice about? Are we indeed allowed to have a private life?

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