Please continue to read the text (if you have not already went ahead).
Pay close attention to:
- Section 18 Thanks To You (page 55)--quite a tribute to you as an educator
- Section 20 Humor Homework (pg. 61)-- some great ideas to possibly implement as part of your final project.
- Section 21 Play Sheet--Ways to influence your classroom and school environment
Please post AHAS and thoughts from these sections.
Section 18: Wow! This would be a very touching gift for a teacher to receive. I often wonder if what I’m doing will truly impact my students for a lifetime. This letter just shows how important it is to let people know when they make a difference in your lives!
ReplyDeleteSection 20: These are some fun ideas to think about implementing. Number 4 reminded me of the time we had Herman Parish, nephew of Peggy Parish (author of Amelia Bedelia books), visit and I was asked to dress as Amelia Bedelia. I came in during the discussion and became part of the program. The kids were hysterical and for months later I heard, “You were Amelia Bedelia.” and “Hi, Amelia Bedelia!” as I walked down the hallway. The kids loved it! I also have dressed as the Cat in the Hat during Dr. Seuss week at our school.
Section 21: One time my students were very loud coming in from recess so I began teaching the math lesson without talking! I just wrote and used gestures to get volunteers to explain. Without a doubt, it was one of the best lessons we had that year! You could have heard a pin drop because they were so engaged and focused. It was amazing and the kids loved it and asked if we could do that again.
Recently, while checking my Mom's Remembrance Board at her obituary site I noticed a name that I did not know. It was from a former student the very first year my mother taught! It was a one-room school house for 1-8th grade. It simply said--I was in Mrs. Wagner's room the year she came to Pierceville. I was in eighth grade. It was a good year. In fact, it was so good that I went on to become a teacher, too. Thank you, Mrs. Wagner. Oh, how I wish that note had come before her death. Fortunately she had other letters, but this should be a reminder to us all to send that letter to anyone who ever helped us on our journey as soon as possible.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite lessons is about the importance of writing. Each second grader is giving a note pad and told that they may have free time, but that there can be no talking. It usually takes them a moment---as they rush off to quickly claim whatever their favorite activity is at the moment---then realize that they can't just ask anyone anything---smile---give me the AHA nod and walk back to their desks to pick up the note pad. They then begin walking around writing notes to each other and me. It is a lot of fun and they beg to do it again! I have as much fun as they do!!
18 ~ This section reminded me of a student I had in 5th grade. It was my first year teaching as a classroom teacher after having taught students with EEN for 11 years. I had had a wonderful year with 24 very busy, challenging, and fun 5th graders. On one of the last days of school, one of my girls came up to me and said that she didn’t want to leave and go to middle school. She wanted to stay at the elementary school with me. I was astounded because as an average, well-behaved student, she just blended into the background as I was busy dealing with behavior issues and working hard to challenge some very capable students. I felt that I had done absolutely nothing to make her year memorable in any way. This experience helps me to remember that even the smallest things I do in my classroom might make a big difference in a student’s life.
ReplyDelete20 ~ This section had some interesting ideas. The one that sparked my interest was the idea to make some earmuffs out of erasers to use when the classroom is getting too loud. I think my second graders would find this prop to be very funny, and, if I’m lucky, it might get them to quiet down!
21 ~ Some ideas that I’d like to use to “lighten” my classroom are:
~ making a class book of our favorite jokes and riddles
~ taking more time to laugh, play, and take a break from working on a regular basis
~ building forts with sheets and blankets on top of the tables and desks---my students would love to read and work in their forts!
I think making a difference in your students' lives it why many of us teach. Although I haven't received such a letter, I have felt the impact I have made on students. At the end of each school year, I seem to always have a few students who just cling to me and don't want to leave. One year a mom called me saying her daughter came home the last day of school crying because she didn't want second grade to end. I actually had two funny students set up a protest the last day and refuse to leave. Many students come back to visit the next year and tell about what's happening in third grade. I think the bond is strong and hopefully indicates the impact second grade had had on them.
ReplyDeleteI often like to share embarrassing moments I've had with my class. It let's them know that I'm human too. It also seems to make them feel comfortable enough to share there personal stories with me. We love to laugh at ourselves!
Three ways that I can lighten up my classroom are to share funny stories, use energizers, and "feel good" bulletin boards. We have one bulletin board this year where each student can display work they are proud of. It is their space and they can change it or keep it the same as long as they wish. Also, we have a "Friendship Garden" on another bulletin board where their peers have written complimentary words on each petal about them. We later put these flowers in a scrapbook for them to keep forever. They love to read what kind words their friends say about them.
Wow! Receiving a letter like that would make it all worth while! At the end of one school year, a fifth grade mom wrote me a thank you note, expressing her gratitude for helping her son with reading that year. She apologized for not thanking me sooner and letting me know how much I was appreciated. I keep that in the console of my car and pull it out every once in a while. My colleagues and I also have had parents beg us to keep teaching until their youngest child is through fifth grade. We like to think of that as a compliment. It's interesting, however, that often the parents of the students who take up so much of your time and energy on a daily basis for "negative" reasons (behavior, missing assignments, late work, etc...)rarely say thank you or send a thank you note or remember you on a holiday.
ReplyDeleteI keep a file of "Funnies" that includes things the kids have said or done. Some of them include mispronounciations. The Appalachian Mountains become the "Application Mountains"; Chesapeake Bay is now "Cheapskate Bay"; and one of the best was when a couple of boys were looking at a presidential poster and came across Ulysses S. Grant. In all seriousness they turned to me and asked, "What's about that "Useless" S. Grant? What did he do as our president?" I can barely pronounce these words correctly anymore!
Although I have never received a letter of the magnitude mentioned in section 18, there is one that I keep in my top desk drawer.
ReplyDelete“Dear Mrs Barik
I thick you are the Best Liybaryin
Alex
Even though I stated in an earlier post that I consider myself a Joy Master, I still have discouraging moments. I will pull out the note to read and it inevitably brings an uplifting smile to my face.
The first thing that I plan to do to lighten up the library is create a LOL section. I have purchased humor subject labels to place on the spines of joke/riddle books and other funny stories. I will set up a display area with LOL signage and rotate the humor books throughout the year.
I thought of another fun thing we do at school: To celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday, who I think is the epitome of SILLY & FUN, the library sponsors a week of themed events. Some of these are Crazy Sock Day, Favorite Color Day, and the most popular - Pajama Day. The kids get such a kick out of wearing night clothes to school. Unfortunately, it is not as well received by all the teachers. (You can tell who the fun ones are that day).
ReplyDelete