Thursday, March 29, 2018

31 Teaching Truths

Photo by Fischer Twins via Unsplash

29.  Stick around -- things will change.

There's never a dull moment in education. Even if you're just along for the ride, you'll need to hold on at times. Public education is one of the most important rights of the citizens of a democracy. It's worth the time you spend working inside the system, and, if you are so moved, it's worth the time you spend working for the system.


Wednesday, March 28, 2018

31 Teaching Truths

Photo by Fischer Twins via Unsplash

28.  Stay in touch with former students.

The only way we can get a long view of the work we do each year with a group of students is to watch them grow up. It's thrilling to see my former students become moms (including one who has adopted a special-needs child), teachers, professional photographers, medical students, politicians, professional cyclists, and scientists. I look at my former students and I know that my work has truly made a difference.


Tuesday, March 27, 2018

31 Teaching Truths

Photo by Fischer Twins via Unsplash

27.  Test scores are snapshots.

A test score is a snapshot (sometimes not particularly flattering) of each of your students and of your teaching.

A test score is not an hours-long documentary that fully explores the ups and downs of the daily learning of each student and the highs and lows of your teaching over the course of a year.

Do your best to teach the learners in your class. Encourage your students to do their best on the tests. But don't forget that the results you'll get are snapshots.





Monday, March 26, 2018

31 Teaching Truths

Photo by Fischer Twins via Unsplash

26. Try something new.

The only way to keep your career alive across decades will be by trying new things. Some stick and become "the way I always," but others die off because they needed a particular group of students or a unique quirk of that year's schedule to be powerful.

#classroombookaday was new to me last year, but I think this fun and powerful routine of making time each day for a no-strings-attached picture book read aloud will stick because, well, "fun and powerful" says it all.

A few years ago I started projecting my read-alouds via Kindle. Recently, I've tried to make sure we listen to an Audible production while we read along at least once a year. This year, Refugee (by Alan Gratz) was perfect for listening to professional readers with just the right accents.

My grade level has changed up the way we do Genius Hour to better meet the needs of all of our students. We have one group that committed to doing TED talks, while three groups are cycling through 6-week sessions of makers' space, creativity challenges, and coding/technology projects. I had to let go of my classroom Genius Hour, but I think my students have gotten as much or more from this new approach.

Take a risk and try something new!




Sunday, March 25, 2018

31 Teaching Truths

Photo by Fischer Twins via Unsplash

25. Be yourself.

I don't own any leggings and I know next to nothing about popular culture and sports, but these facts don't cause a moment's loss of sleep.

I can pair readers with the perfect books, teach writers how to craft an introduction, scaffold a hesitant math student to confidence, and tolerate the messes that come with scientific experimentation.

Be yourself and you will be the right teacher at the right time for an untold number of students who also don't "fit in" for any number of visible or invisible reasons.




Saturday, March 24, 2018

31 Teaching Truths

Photo by Fischer Twins via Unsplash

24. Lead.

If you've been following these 31 Teaching Truths, you might sense a progression in the last few days. #21 was Trust yourself. An important stance, but we should never forget that the smartest person in the room is all of the people in the room, so #22 was Build a PLN. The ultimate PLN is a professional organization in your content area, so #23 was Join a professional organization.

As important as it is to be a joiner, the ultimate challenge lies in being the one with the vision, the energy, and the stamina to lead. You'll never know what you're made of until you put yourself out in front and lead.

Franki is one of my leadership heroines. She has led in every building where she's served, she's led in our district, she's led professional thinking with her books (kudos also to her co-writer on many of them, Karen Szymusiak), she's led local and statewide organizations, and now she's on the brink of becoming the president of NCTE. Three cheers for Franki!




Friday, March 23, 2018

31 Teaching Truths

Photo by Fischer Twins via Unsplash

23. Join a professional organization.

A professional organization for your content area is the ultimate PLN. Language Arts teachers, consider joining NCTE. Math teachers, think about joining NCTM. The publications and conferences these organizations offer (you can join the national organization or the statewide affiliate) are invaluable.



Poetry Friday -- Fable


Flickr Creative Commons Photo by James Havard

Fable
by Ralph Waldo Emerson

The mountain and the squirrel 
Had a quarrel; 
And the former called the latter ‘Little Prig.’ 
Bun replied, 
‘You are doubtless very big; 
But all sorts of things and weather 
Must be taken in together,
To make up a year 
And a sphere. 
And I think it no disgrace 
To occupy my place. 
If I’m not so large as you, 
You are not so small as I, 
And not half so spry. 
I’ll not deny you make 
A very pretty squirrel track; 
Talents differ; 
all is well and wisely put; 
If I cannot carry forests on my back, 
Neither can you crack a nut.’



Laura has the Poetry Friday Roundup this week at Writing the World for Kids.



Thursday, March 22, 2018

31 Teaching Truths

Photo by Fischer Twins via Unsplash

22. Build a Professional Learning Network (PLN).

Because as good as it is to trust yourself (see #21 yesterday), sometimes you need the "hive mind" to come up with the best idea for how to teach that lesson. Your PLN can be as close as your grade level or content team, or as far-flung as fellow educators on Twitter.


Wednesday, March 21, 2018

31 Teaching Truths

Photo by Fischer Twins via Unsplash

21. Trust yourself.

Come up with your own idea about how teach that lesson. Think about the process you use to make meaning when you read, think about how you go about organizing your thinking for a writing piece. Trust yourself.