Overcoming weaknesses

Sucky October happend around this time last year. Looking back, I don't think I've ever been as stressed, tired & miserable as I was then. I worked harder than ever to seemingly fail everyday - which takes a toll on you both mentally & physically.

This October is like a breath of fresh air in comparison - mostly because of an acquired skill developed all throughout last year. I'm now able to collaborate with a network of people (sounds silly, but it's a skill to me!!!)

As a college student, I hated group projects. I preferred working by myself. I kept up this mentality when it came to planning. I placed myself on my own island last year. I didn't lesson plan with others, share resources, etc...mostly because I didn't think I knew what I was doing. Little did I know this wasn't just affecting my health & happiness - it spilled over to the kind of education my kids received.

This year, I am in charge of everything math-related, while other members of my 1st grade team take care of literacy, writing, science, social studies, literacy centers, homework, parental outreach...everyone has their place, & I've never been prouder to be part of such a great crew! They are amazing. We meet 1-2 times a week to work, bouncing ideas off of one another. I am surviving this year because of them.

Advice to anyone in over your head as a 1st year teacher: ask for help from your fellow peers! You will be in such a better place because of it.

Silence

Selective mutism. I've never heard of this label before, until this year.

One of my students is labeled selectively mute. She did not speak one word day 1 of school. Nor day 2. The whole first week, actually, was pretty silent.

The silence was frustrating. I was frustrated. Seeking to understand, I reached out to friends, roommates and mentors. What is this label all about? How am I supposed to help this student? How can they be most successful? Turns out, my frustration = my investment.

Today, she spoke, in a complete sentence, in front of the whole class ツ

Baby steps.

First Grade Life

Week 1, year two, of teaching is in the books.

I don't remember week 1 as a first year teacher, although I do have recall performing under pure adrenaline, minimal sleep & a lot of caffeine. This week was so much different.

It was so much BETTER.

I felt prepared. Although the consistency of adrenaline, sleep & caffeine were reminiscent of the year prior, the fear of the unknown lingered less. Even though I'm instructing in a different content area, my 1 year experience as a teacher made all the difference.

I have 26 students in my homeroom - two of which do not speak Spanish. I'm hoping that my classroom size decreases within the next few weeks as student distribution will be leveled. We shall see!

First graders are funny...& they even think I'm funny (finally, someone laughs at my jokes). I'm still learning how to manage small children, but I'm really excited for what this year will bring.

A horned frog pillow - doesn't it just scream Reading Corner?!

The classroom, pre-setup

Final product!

So proud of my storage seats!

A wonderful 1st day gift from a team member!

I ended up separating the tables Thursday. 6 kids at 1 table=too much!

40 days

It's been about three months since I've updated my blog.

THREE MONTHS.

Before beginning my journey with Teach For America, I would maintain my travel blog consistently, & LOVED doing so. As April, May & June 2013 rolled around though...I felt burned out from teaching. So much so that it was hard to reflect in writing, because all I wanted was a break from work. The end of the year felt like a monotonous schedule of teaching, cleaning the classroom, prepping...

Forty days of summer is what it took to finally feel excited about work again. I can truly say I am ready to be back in the classroom - to meet my new students (this year I'll be teaching 2nd grade).

Those forty days consisted in a bit of travel to Austin, Denver & New Orleans, a lot of quality time spent with good friends & family, & an internship with a company that focuses more with my Advertising/PR major I received from TCU. I feel as if I've [re]discovered what makes me happy & what kind of balance I need to have between work/play.

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PS - My birthday is coming up...& I could not think of a better gift to receive than a classroom library full of books for the 2013-2014 school year (wink wink)! Just think, $10 = 1 book. For more information, see my Donor's choose account here. Thanks!

Goodbye, standardized testing!

The final two STAAR tests are this Tuesday (Math) & Wednesday (Reading). These past few weeks have included monotnous reteaches of various skills the class has not yet mastered - such as making inferences, equivalent fractions, etc. In order to spice up my reading lessons, I've encompassed some STAAR games that my kids do together:

MONDAY – Trashket Ball: For each correct answer, students get a sheet of scrap paper. At the end of the lesson, students get to crunch up each piece of paper and make a shot into the trash can which is placed at the front of the room. The person with the most “paper balls” into a basket wins. 

Trashketball aftermath

TUESDAY – Connect Four: Students work on reading passage & raise their hand after they complete four problems. Check the four problems, & if all four are correct in a row, students have connected four & win a point for their team. If one is incorrect, take a point away from the team.

WEDNESDAY – Super Sleuth: Create large posters/charts divided into 9-12 squares. Write a question in each square. Students walk around & answer questions at different posters & initial the square. Students can only initial one box. Have students explain their answer so other students learn from their peers. 

THURSDAY – Beach Ball: Write question numbers pertaining to reading passage on a beach ball. Teacher throws ball to student. Whatever work their right thumb lands on, they must answer that question – explaining where they found their evidence. 

FRIDAY – STAAR Vegas: Students read STAAR passage for homework & complete the attached questions. Students then get 10 minutes in class to meet with their team to discuss their answers. As a team, they bet "money" for each answer choice they've chosen. If their answer is correct, they get to keep their "money". If the answer is incorrect, the teacher gets to keep the "money".

Thank goodness STAAR ends this week! 

April events:

I received this wonderful letter from a beautiful student

We wrote letters to Boston

Last, but DEFINITELY not least, we achieved 100% mastery on 4.10A
points on a number line!!!

I'M SO PROUD OF THEM :)

3, 2, 1...GO!

Tomorrow begins day one of STAAR Writing. I think I am just as nervous as my kids, but realize that a Monday before state testing cannot perform miracles; therefore, today was dedicated as a "pump up" day.

Three different Horned Frog speakers came to the class to discuss goals & dreams & overcoming obstacles. Kids discussed their own big goal & vision. As a class, we confided in each other with any worries & doubts. Today was great, but I understand that these next two testing days will be tough for my babies.

Please keep my kids in your thoughts!!!

Five tips my co-teacher & I gave to our class for tomorrow:

1. Pace yourself
We know you are excited to tear apart your STAAR writing test tomorrow...

But when you don't pace yourself, you could end up like this mid-test...

2. Organize your thoughts so you don't sound like this girl:

3. Revise & edit your draft

4. Stick to the prompt


5. BREATH & BE CONFIDENT!
In order to avoid this happening (0.20 - .45)...

Tell yourself THIS:

Productive struggle

I went to a fantastic training session called the Productive Struggle last weekend, where we discussed how students should be the creators of their own education. They must struggle productively to reach each objective we, teachers, set for them. A teacher's job is to create an environment in which students can make their own discoveries in order to proceed in the learning process. After this session, I felt inspired to create such an atmosphere...but I need to overcome a few obstacles I have created for myself.


You see, I have mom syndrome - I'm afraid to let my babies go, let them walk, fall down a few times, & then fly away. My students are older & wiser presently than they were 212 days ago, and yet I am afraid to give them too much power in the classroom environment. I'm afraid to have my classroom student-led.

Except when I think about it, I am in the classroom for them. I already went to college. I know how to multiply, divide, read, write...They are the ones that need to learn.

My students are ready to lead my classroom, & I am confident that they will retain even more knowledge than before because they will be their own creators of knowledge. So, as my MTLD said, I must recite this mantra:

• I can release control & my classroom will not go crazy.
• Struggle is necessary for growth, & I am hurting my students by not allowing them to struggle.
• When I build on their intuition & prior knowledge, my students are capable of incredible things.

Other life happenings:

Hours upon hours were spent lesson planning at Avoca, my second home

I won a chin-up contest at recess...small victories

I had 40 students in my class one morning because a substitute didn't show up

The new DFW Teach For America office stole my heart - what a great
place for creativity and work

I officially became a teacher with a class photo