However....I'm on summer break and I am pretty excited to have a break! This will officially become my first summer off from school (grad school that is). But, my brain is already planning for next year and I'm working on changing up my cooperative learning centers. In my spare time I read a lot of blogs from teachers who are successful with different things. I found a great science related blog that fits with fifth grade! This lady is seriously a woman after my own heart in that we share a lot of the same beliefs about teaching. She also has amazing ideas for note booking, vocabulary, and cooperative learning stations. I really wish CSI would offer a training on science note booking, or note booking in general because they are amazing tools when set up and implemented the correct way.
Anyway, what I really wanted to blog about are the things that I have learned from teaching. It's safe to say that I've come a long way from the first year, "survival of the fittest!" Literally, my first year of teaching is a blur...I really don't remember much aside from some of my students (who are now going into 7th grade, say what???). The first thing I've learned is that I am not a "fluff" teacher, but I do give out hugs. I don't have the calming soothing voice that a lot of k-2 teachers have, but I also don't yell at kids either. I think the best thing to think about is your attitude toward teaching and toward your students, as my favorite blogger states, "Stay upbeat about learning, don't tolerate nonsense, and be interested in your students success." I expect the same amount of effort from everyone and when it's not their very best, I make them do it again until it is. This is very frustrating on both parts, but it's tried and true. Once you accept something other than the best, your students become lazy, give-up easily, and will wear you down. Once they realize that someone believes in them and holds them to a standard, they will build respect for you and often put in extra effort to be successful. I can honestly say that my students this year but in a lot of effort, especially on those dread EOG's! Being consistent in how you manage your routines and your students behavior is very important. I don't like change...I'll be the first to admit it, when we constantly change things up in our rooms; it gets hectic and confusing (lesson learned from the first year of teaching). One last thing I've learned is to PLAN, PLAN, PLAN....and that is what I do during all of my "free" time. Literally, every summer (while I've been childless) I have used a backwards design for planning lessons (minus my first year). I actually didn't know the name for this technique until last summer when I took a graduate class on classroom management. One of the required readings for the class was a wonderful book called: Engaging Readers and Writers with Inquiry. In this book, it talked about using a backwards design for teaching. Basically, you begin your lesson plan with the end expectation (thinking about what you need your students to know) and work your way up to all of the little details. I'm pretty sure most teachers do this anyway, especially when you create a pre-test to determine what your students know before you teach a unit.
No, I'm not saying these are the best ways...everyone has their "niche." This is what works for me, and year after year I see my old students trickle back down to "mean ole" Mrs.Jones's room to chit- chat about life and school. Actually, many of them like to come and show me their report cards and the great work they are doing! Honestly, teachers are truly talented people who go through extreme measures to make sure children are successful. The best part is seeing them grow from the beginning until the end; even if it's only a little bit! As much as I've enjoyed Science this year, I'm glad for two months of R&R to re-vamp some things for next year!
No margaritas or bikinis for this chick!
