Monday, November 21, 2011
Status of Education in the ICCSD and Iowa
Superintendent Steve Murley presented information about the current status of education in our district and state at the November DPO meeting. This presentation is available for viewing online: http://prezi.com/2mhvb4plmtdw/transforming-public-education-again-dpo-11911/
Sunday, November 20, 2011
1st Annual Mini Dance Marathon
Weber's 1st Annual Mini Dance Marathon was held on Friday night to raise money for the UI Children's Hospital. Our students, staff, and families enjoyed a night full of dancing fun! The dollar amount raised will be shared soon, but we think it will be around $3000.00. WOWZA!! A special THANK YOU goes out to Robyn Phillips, Diana Frisbie, and the Weber Student Council. Thank you Weber families for living our virtues through our words and our actions in this special service project!
Borlaug Elementary
Check out Borlaug Elementary's new website and Mrs. Shoppa's blog at http://www.edline.net/pages/Borlaug_Elementary_School
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Weber Chess Club
The Weber Chess Club is off to a great start this year! We have 75 registered members and more signing up each week. As you know, Weber has earned a reputation for producing some of the best elementary players and teams in the state, and we hope to continue that tradition this year.
Here are some of the highlights of our club activities and events:
The Chess Ladder
This is by far the most popular feature of the club. Essentially all the players are ranked on the ladder and have the opportunity to move up by winning matches against higher ranking opponents (up to 10 spaces ahead of them). Participation on the ladder is voluntary, but the kids all seem quite excited about it. We remind them every once in a while that its okay to lose sometimes, because that is how you become a better player.
Skills Sheets
We have charts for beginning chess skills and we encourage kids to master each one. The skills range from very basic (setting up the board) to intermediate (checkmating with one king and one rook). We hope that by the end of the year all our players have earned stars for each skill.
Chess Library
This year we are hoping to add books and software that can be checked out for use at home. There are some really fun books and computer games for players at all skill levels. The Iowa City Public Library has a pretty large collection. If you have items that you are willing to donate/lend, or if you would like to support the club by helping us acquire some (donating purchased items or donating money), we would be very grateful. Of course, we do collect money at the beginning of the year which should allow us to buy some products, but most of that is typically spent on t-shirts, our big tournament, etc.
Student Coaches
We have a lot of new club members, including some younger kids that haven't played before. We try to give them extra attention so they understand the rules and learn the basics. This year, some of our older veteran players have volunteered to help coach the younger kids, which is incredibly helpful considering the large group.
Rules and Etiquette
We just have a few rules to keep things orderly:
1) Backpacks, coats, etc. should be put in lockers and classrooms if possible. The kids have a tendency to pile their stuff up right in the walkway.
2) Kids need to participate in chess activities.
3) Chess etiquette is important for the benefit of the players and all the other kids in the room. These are pretty much the same as the Weber core virtues. Chess is a thinking game, and it helps if everyone is kinda quiet. Also, we like the idea of shaking hands after each match.
Tournaments
This winter we'll be having our 6th annual free chess tournament for all Iowa City elementary students. This is a big event... in fact, its the largest chess tournament of any kind in the entire state. Players compete individually and as part of the school teams. We'll send out more information sometime in December or January.
Also, we are fortunate to have an active chess community between Iowa City and Coralville. Chess tournaments occur frequently, and they can be quite fun and exciting. Other than the Weber tournament, participation requires a small fee and a membership to the US Chess Federation (easily done at the tournaments). I'll forward on e-mails about upcoming chess tournaments (including one this Saturday - see the info at the end of this e-mail). Please send an e-mail or stop by chess club on Friday mornings if you have questions about the tournaments. Keep in mind that they can take up most of the day, and also that you might need to make space on your mantles for all the chess trophies.
Thank you to parents and students for all your efforts that make our chess club such a magnificent success. In particular, thanks this year to the parents that haved helped so far: Travis Kraus, Peer Saleem, Jim Cochran, Upasna Dixit, Dennis Mascardo, and Gretchen Vigil (hopefully we haven't forgotten anyone). Or course, all parents are welcome on Friday mornings to help out, hang out, play chess, or whatever.
Here are some of the highlights of our club activities and events:
The Chess Ladder
This is by far the most popular feature of the club. Essentially all the players are ranked on the ladder and have the opportunity to move up by winning matches against higher ranking opponents (up to 10 spaces ahead of them). Participation on the ladder is voluntary, but the kids all seem quite excited about it. We remind them every once in a while that its okay to lose sometimes, because that is how you become a better player.
Skills Sheets
We have charts for beginning chess skills and we encourage kids to master each one. The skills range from very basic (setting up the board) to intermediate (checkmating with one king and one rook). We hope that by the end of the year all our players have earned stars for each skill.
Chess Library
This year we are hoping to add books and software that can be checked out for use at home. There are some really fun books and computer games for players at all skill levels. The Iowa City Public Library has a pretty large collection. If you have items that you are willing to donate/lend, or if you would like to support the club by helping us acquire some (donating purchased items or donating money), we would be very grateful. Of course, we do collect money at the beginning of the year which should allow us to buy some products, but most of that is typically spent on t-shirts, our big tournament, etc.
Student Coaches
We have a lot of new club members, including some younger kids that haven't played before. We try to give them extra attention so they understand the rules and learn the basics. This year, some of our older veteran players have volunteered to help coach the younger kids, which is incredibly helpful considering the large group.
Rules and Etiquette
We just have a few rules to keep things orderly:
1) Backpacks, coats, etc. should be put in lockers and classrooms if possible. The kids have a tendency to pile their stuff up right in the walkway.
2) Kids need to participate in chess activities.
3) Chess etiquette is important for the benefit of the players and all the other kids in the room. These are pretty much the same as the Weber core virtues. Chess is a thinking game, and it helps if everyone is kinda quiet. Also, we like the idea of shaking hands after each match.
Tournaments
This winter we'll be having our 6th annual free chess tournament for all Iowa City elementary students. This is a big event... in fact, its the largest chess tournament of any kind in the entire state. Players compete individually and as part of the school teams. We'll send out more information sometime in December or January.
Also, we are fortunate to have an active chess community between Iowa City and Coralville. Chess tournaments occur frequently, and they can be quite fun and exciting. Other than the Weber tournament, participation requires a small fee and a membership to the US Chess Federation (easily done at the tournaments). I'll forward on e-mails about upcoming chess tournaments (including one this Saturday - see the info at the end of this e-mail). Please send an e-mail or stop by chess club on Friday mornings if you have questions about the tournaments. Keep in mind that they can take up most of the day, and also that you might need to make space on your mantles for all the chess trophies.
Thank you to parents and students for all your efforts that make our chess club such a magnificent success. In particular, thanks this year to the parents that haved helped so far: Travis Kraus, Peer Saleem, Jim Cochran, Upasna Dixit, Dennis Mascardo, and Gretchen Vigil (hopefully we haven't forgotten anyone). Or course, all parents are welcome on Friday mornings to help out, hang out, play chess, or whatever.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Report to Parents Regarding Iowa Assessments
Students in grades three through eleven in the Iowa City Community School District take the Iowa Assessments (IA) in the fall of the year. The assessment was formerly known as ITBS and ITED.
Why are the tests given?
The results of IA are one way to measure student academic achievement. Other ways to measure academic achievement include classroom performance in activities, projects, and quizzes. The tests are given to identify the strongest areas of learning and the areas where improvement may be needed. The results also allow you to see how much your child has grown from year to year.
What is measured on the tests?
The test is made up of a series of tests that cover important information taught at school. Specifically students take the following tests: Reading, Language and Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies.
A set of scores are generated for each student.
What should parents do to prepare their children for the tests?
- Encourage your child to answer the questions as best they can.
- Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep before test day.
When do parents receive results from the tests?
Test administration occurs in October over a one-week period. During the following week make-up tests are given and then the tests are scored. Typically the district receives the results early in December. Upon receipt of the results 1) teachers analyze results of the classroom for instructional purposes and 2) individual student scores are uploaded into the district student management system. Parents may access their child’s scores through PowerSchool as soon as they are uploaded and elementary parents can expect to receive hard copy of reports during the second conference of the school year, either in February or March. It is the district’s position that parents should receive an explanation of the scores from the classroom teacher and have them connected to classroom performance. This is best done during a regularly scheduled conference. Secondary parents can expect the results distributed in December.
Why are the tests given?
The results of IA are one way to measure student academic achievement. Other ways to measure academic achievement include classroom performance in activities, projects, and quizzes. The tests are given to identify the strongest areas of learning and the areas where improvement may be needed. The results also allow you to see how much your child has grown from year to year.
What is measured on the tests?
The test is made up of a series of tests that cover important information taught at school. Specifically students take the following tests: Reading, Language and Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies.
A set of scores are generated for each student.
What should parents do to prepare their children for the tests?
- Encourage your child to answer the questions as best they can.
- Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep before test day.
When do parents receive results from the tests?
Test administration occurs in October over a one-week period. During the following week make-up tests are given and then the tests are scored. Typically the district receives the results early in December. Upon receipt of the results 1) teachers analyze results of the classroom for instructional purposes and 2) individual student scores are uploaded into the district student management system. Parents may access their child’s scores through PowerSchool as soon as they are uploaded and elementary parents can expect to receive hard copy of reports during the second conference of the school year, either in February or March. It is the district’s position that parents should receive an explanation of the scores from the classroom teacher and have them connected to classroom performance. This is best done during a regularly scheduled conference. Secondary parents can expect the results distributed in December.
Developmental Reading Assessments
Weber teachers are busy giving all students the Emergent Literacy Assessment (team 1) or the Developmental Reading Assessment. Testing will be completed by the end of September. You may feel free to contact your student's teacher to see results. Please note that a new edition of the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) for grades kindergarten through three has been adopted by the District. This assessment gives a comprehensive view of the reading and writing behaviors of children. The scores indicating proficiency are different in this new edition because new parts have been added to the assessment. If you notice a change in your child’s proficiency score, it may reflect the more comprehensive nature of the new edition of the assessment rather than a decline in your child’s skills and ability as a reader.
Gina Ferrel's Welcome Speech to ICCSD Staff
Welcome Speech for ICCSD, August 15, 2011
“Standing on the shoulders of giants.” I remember first hearing these words 15 years ago, when I began teaching at Weber Elementary, and I just couldn’t figure out what this saying meant. I couldn’t tell if the giants were a good thing, or a bad thing, and whether standing on them was something I was supposed to do or not! The other night I did a little research on the origin of this saying, and I found out that it has been used by many people, including John of Salisbury, a 12th century theologian and author. In a treatise he wrote in 1159, Salisbury said: “We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. We see more, and things that are more distant, than they did, not because our sight is superior or because we are taller than they, but because they raise us up, and by their great stature add to ours.”
So fast forward 15 years, as I stand in front of so many dedicated, inspiring, talented, driven, passionate administrators, educators, and staff members, the meaning has become crystal clear. So many of you supported me when it was hard, guided me when I wanted to learn, accepted me when I gave it a try, and forgave me when I messed up. You raised me up so I could see more, and I have had the most amazing experiences and have learned so many invaluable lessons from you. I was asked to share these lessons with new teachers last Friday, and I hope these ideas will resonate with you as well.
Since our district is continuing to focus on differentiation this year, I couldn’t help but think about what to do with you new teachers who heard these ideas just the other day. So, new teachers, I’m going to give you a special extension task: whenever I say something funny, please elbow the people on your right and left if they’re not laughing. So here are The Top Ten Most Important Lessons I Have Learned. An alternate title might be: It’s A Long Way Up Here, Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants, So If You Want To Just Listen To What I Have to Say, I Can Save You The Trip.
Number 10: Piet Hein (Pete Heyn) said, “The road to wisdom? Well, it’s plain and simple to express: Err and err and err again but less and less and less.” So when the first day of school comes around, if you haven’t had any sleep because you were hired just four days ago, and if after the FIRST hour of school, a student wets his pants because you forgot to tell him where the bathroom is, and if after TWO hours of school, you can’t believe it’s only BEEN two hours, and if after THREE hours, you’re wondering when the helicopter moms are going to leave…and YOU’RE saying “When’s lunch?” more often than your students are, and if in the afternoon, you find yourself wondering if it’s too early in the school year for a movie or a study hall, and if at the end of the day, you accidentally send one of your brand new ELL students home on the wrong bus, and then you go cry in the bathroom because you can’t believe you have to do it all over again tomorrow, and you haven’t even had any time to get any PLANS ready for tomorrow, and then you wonder why school can’t be three months ON and nine months off because it’s a lot easier to err less and less and less when you’re sitting on your couch, with your favorite mug of coffee, reading a really good book…but then you do come back the next day, and the next, and the next, and some things get easier, and some things get harder, and you realize that these are just the twists and turns on the “road to wisdom.”
Number 9: Walter Lippmann said, “When everyone thinks alike, no one thinks very much.” Make an effort this year to get to know your custodians, secretaries, para-educators, lunch ladies, etc. Lots of people pass this along as advice to new teachers, but when I say “get to know them,” I want to challenge you to TRULY get to know them…as people…because they deserve your respect as much as the teacher who teaches next door to you or the administrators who hired you. Don’t just get to know them so that you can get the newest desk or extra office supplies, as the traditional advice seems to suggest. I hope you will get to know them because they are people with families, and outside interests, and a lot of knowledge about students, parents, teachers, administrators, and the community. Remember, they see the school from a very different, yet very valuable, perspective. Recognize and acknowledge the gifts that they bring to your school every day.
Number 8: Here is my next quote: “The thing I remember best about successful people I’ve met all through the years is their obvious delight in what they’re doing and it seems to have very little to do with worldly success. They just love what they’re doing, and they love it in front of others.”—Mister Fred Rogers You MUST have laughter in the workplace. This has always been one of Chris Gibson’s favorite sayings, from when she was a teacher at Weber and even now as our FABULOUS Weber Dolphin principal. We laugh…a lot…and our students and parents see it and are a part of it too. Whether it’s because a teammate who is dressed up in a feathery pink boa, huge glasses, and a rainbow wig runs through your room right in the middle of a lesson just because she has some free time…or because while you’re being observed by your principal one of your first grade math students walks in in a full out cat costume complete with ears and tail and it’s nowhere NEAR Halloween…you MUST have laughter in the workplace. Physical benefits of laughter: boosts immunity, lowers stress hormones, and relaxes your muscles. Mental health benefits: eases anxiety and fear, relieves stress, improves mood, and ENHANCES RESILIENCE. Social Benefits: strengthens relationships, enhances teamwork, helps defuse conflict, and promotes group bonding. I can’t think of a better way to share your “delight in what you are doing,” and to enhance the effectiveness of your school, than through laughter.
Number 7: This lesson was passed on to me from my sister Jayne, who is an elementary school counselor. She said: “Always erase the chalk board with up and down strokes so your butt doesn’t shake.” Now you might have seen Saturday’s Press Citizen, where my sister’s quote was one of the first things mentioned in the article about the New Teacher Luncheon. As soon as I saw it, I called her and I was like: Jayne, you’re famous! You’re advice made the paper. And she was like: So was my name in there with it? And I was like: Um…no…but mine was. And she was like: Well, why didn’t you tell them MY name? And I was like: Well, Rob Daniels didn’t ask me what YOUR name was! So since I have you all here, my sister’s name is Jayne Ellen Rouse, and her cell number is….
Number 6: Aristotle said, “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” Go to your professional development classes, meetings, and workshops with the mindset of being an active, respectful participant, and have the goal of taking away at least one new piece of learning each time. As we all know, there are all kinds of professional development…sometimes it inspires you to try new things, engages you as a learner, and has really good snacks…and sometimes…well…it doesn’t. But even if it’s not as exciting as Oprah’s Favorite Things, remember that someone put in extra hours and is giving you his/her best, so give that person your best right back, and take the initiative to learn new things, make connections, and set a good example for your colleagues.
Number 5: “ Great minds discuss ideas, mediocre minds discuss events, small minds discuss personalities.” Eleanor Roosevelt Try not to gossip about your colleagues. Ok, I could go along and act like I’m really good at this “not gossiping” thing, but I actually was just gossiping out in the hallway before we started. I struggle with this one because sometimes I just feel like I need to vent. But, I can tell in my gut when it’s crossed the line from venting to gossiping…I get that little stomach ache. So vent to someone you trust when you need to, and then detach from the negative feelings and move on…aka…get back to work. You will be a better teacher, colleague, and person for it.
Number 4: (SOCKruddies) Socrates said, “Wisdom begins with wonder.” Read good, highly recommended professional literature. The more you read, the more knowledge you will gain, and the more your students will learn. Have the courage to try some new things in your classrooms and let new learning motivate you to think differently about your students, parents, and colleagues. Keep your interest in learning alive, so that you can keep close to what you expect your students to do every day. If someone suggests an excellent book, article, or website, take a look at it. Make it a priority to read and learn with your colleagues. A strong district and school will build that into its professional development, and a strong teacher will read whether the professional development calendar tells her to or not.
Number 3: Mother Theresa said “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” So get involved…in your team, school, district, and community. Volunteer for a committee, help with your school’s professional development, sign up to help with the school carnival, go to a sporting event, join the union, go to school board meetings, become part of a district initiative, stop at a student’s lemonade stand, or drive through the music auxiliary car wash. You will learn about students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community leaders, sometimes more than you ever wanted to know, but you will also get to see how the pieces of this puzzle fit together. You are more than just one teacher teaching your students in your classroom, so make the effort to see how your drop in the ocean ripples out to affect the greater community.
Number 2: Carol Ann Tomlinson said, “Excellence in education is when we do everything that we can to make sure they become everything that they can.” Push yourself to differentiate your instruction so that you can push your students to the highest possible level of achievement. Figure out WHAT your students know, understand what they NEED to know, and PLAN OUT how you’re going to get there. Will this be the same for every student? No. As many of you know, Carol Ann Tomlinson has done wonderful work with differentiated instruction, Carol Dweck is a great resource if you’re interested in fostering a “growth mindset” in your students, and a book I’m currently reading, NurtureShock, by Bronson and Merryman, challenges much of our “common sense thinking” about children. All of these authors, and many others, are crying out for educators to realize how important it is to teach children differently. It’s not easy, but it’s essential.
Number 1: Gabriela Mistral said, “Many things can wait. Children cannot. Today their bones are being formed, their blood is being made, their senses are being developed. To them we cannot say ‘tomorrow.’ Their name is today.” Look your students in the eyes every day, when they walk into your room, and when they leave, and listen to the chatter of your students before the teaching starts. That careful observation will tell you who is having a birthday, who lost a tooth on the bus, and who missed breakfast. You’ll know who is dating, who is breaking up, who made the team, and who got cut. You can learn so much from your students when they don’t know you’re listening, and you can use that to your advantage. You can use that to build relationships and to get students to “buy in” to what you want to teach them. If they know you care about their lives, they just might care about yours.
Finally, in closing, I want to tell you about two students who have changed me as a teacher and as a person. First, there’s Sophia. Picture long, curly, unruly, red hair, all smiles and freckles and happiness and butterflies and rainbows. And sitting next to her, there is a student who is fighting every demon imaginable…a student with severe anxiety, learning issues, anger issues, and every other issue you can think of. Sophia was the only one that could reach him on a regular basis. His anxiety would start to build, and using a soft, calm “teacher” voice, she would talk him right down. Sophia could get him to do things I wouldn’t even dare try. And the amazing thing was that she knew what she was doing…she knew how her little drop of water affected the whole ocean.
Equally inspiring is my other young friend and his struggles with Tourette’s, which was finally officially diagnosed half way through the year. He was a very bright child in terms of his illness, very aware of what he was up against, and many times he would verbalize his concerns, needs, and struggles to his parents. Thank goodness for a very open, caring relationship between his parents and those of us working closely with him; it was truly necessary for us to work as a team to best serve their son. I watched videos about children’s struggles with Tourette’s that brought me to tears, learned about the anguish and pain his parents were going through, which kept me up at night, and watched as my classroom became the most loving, compassionate, safe learning and living environment right before my very eyes. Helen Keller said, “The highest result of education is tolerance.”
So those are the lessons that inspire me and challenge me. They push me to create a classroom of compassion, hope, joy, laughter, learning, and friendship that will ripple out into the bigger school, community, and world, one drop at a time. I hope, in this new school year, that you will get to experience those moments in teaching that take your breath away. I hope that you will recognize those students who are there to make you become a better teacher, and I hope you will even meet a few students who are there to make you become a better person. Dr. Ernest Boyer said, “You can’t have an island of excellence in a sea of indifference.” Whether you are the giants, or you are standing on their shoulders, now more than ever, we need to raise each other up to make sure our drops in the ocean make a difference. Thank you.
“Standing on the shoulders of giants.” I remember first hearing these words 15 years ago, when I began teaching at Weber Elementary, and I just couldn’t figure out what this saying meant. I couldn’t tell if the giants were a good thing, or a bad thing, and whether standing on them was something I was supposed to do or not! The other night I did a little research on the origin of this saying, and I found out that it has been used by many people, including John of Salisbury, a 12th century theologian and author. In a treatise he wrote in 1159, Salisbury said: “We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. We see more, and things that are more distant, than they did, not because our sight is superior or because we are taller than they, but because they raise us up, and by their great stature add to ours.”
So fast forward 15 years, as I stand in front of so many dedicated, inspiring, talented, driven, passionate administrators, educators, and staff members, the meaning has become crystal clear. So many of you supported me when it was hard, guided me when I wanted to learn, accepted me when I gave it a try, and forgave me when I messed up. You raised me up so I could see more, and I have had the most amazing experiences and have learned so many invaluable lessons from you. I was asked to share these lessons with new teachers last Friday, and I hope these ideas will resonate with you as well.
Since our district is continuing to focus on differentiation this year, I couldn’t help but think about what to do with you new teachers who heard these ideas just the other day. So, new teachers, I’m going to give you a special extension task: whenever I say something funny, please elbow the people on your right and left if they’re not laughing. So here are The Top Ten Most Important Lessons I Have Learned. An alternate title might be: It’s A Long Way Up Here, Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants, So If You Want To Just Listen To What I Have to Say, I Can Save You The Trip.
Number 10: Piet Hein (Pete Heyn) said, “The road to wisdom? Well, it’s plain and simple to express: Err and err and err again but less and less and less.” So when the first day of school comes around, if you haven’t had any sleep because you were hired just four days ago, and if after the FIRST hour of school, a student wets his pants because you forgot to tell him where the bathroom is, and if after TWO hours of school, you can’t believe it’s only BEEN two hours, and if after THREE hours, you’re wondering when the helicopter moms are going to leave…and YOU’RE saying “When’s lunch?” more often than your students are, and if in the afternoon, you find yourself wondering if it’s too early in the school year for a movie or a study hall, and if at the end of the day, you accidentally send one of your brand new ELL students home on the wrong bus, and then you go cry in the bathroom because you can’t believe you have to do it all over again tomorrow, and you haven’t even had any time to get any PLANS ready for tomorrow, and then you wonder why school can’t be three months ON and nine months off because it’s a lot easier to err less and less and less when you’re sitting on your couch, with your favorite mug of coffee, reading a really good book…but then you do come back the next day, and the next, and the next, and some things get easier, and some things get harder, and you realize that these are just the twists and turns on the “road to wisdom.”
Number 9: Walter Lippmann said, “When everyone thinks alike, no one thinks very much.” Make an effort this year to get to know your custodians, secretaries, para-educators, lunch ladies, etc. Lots of people pass this along as advice to new teachers, but when I say “get to know them,” I want to challenge you to TRULY get to know them…as people…because they deserve your respect as much as the teacher who teaches next door to you or the administrators who hired you. Don’t just get to know them so that you can get the newest desk or extra office supplies, as the traditional advice seems to suggest. I hope you will get to know them because they are people with families, and outside interests, and a lot of knowledge about students, parents, teachers, administrators, and the community. Remember, they see the school from a very different, yet very valuable, perspective. Recognize and acknowledge the gifts that they bring to your school every day.
Number 8: Here is my next quote: “The thing I remember best about successful people I’ve met all through the years is their obvious delight in what they’re doing and it seems to have very little to do with worldly success. They just love what they’re doing, and they love it in front of others.”—Mister Fred Rogers You MUST have laughter in the workplace. This has always been one of Chris Gibson’s favorite sayings, from when she was a teacher at Weber and even now as our FABULOUS Weber Dolphin principal. We laugh…a lot…and our students and parents see it and are a part of it too. Whether it’s because a teammate who is dressed up in a feathery pink boa, huge glasses, and a rainbow wig runs through your room right in the middle of a lesson just because she has some free time…or because while you’re being observed by your principal one of your first grade math students walks in in a full out cat costume complete with ears and tail and it’s nowhere NEAR Halloween…you MUST have laughter in the workplace. Physical benefits of laughter: boosts immunity, lowers stress hormones, and relaxes your muscles. Mental health benefits: eases anxiety and fear, relieves stress, improves mood, and ENHANCES RESILIENCE. Social Benefits: strengthens relationships, enhances teamwork, helps defuse conflict, and promotes group bonding. I can’t think of a better way to share your “delight in what you are doing,” and to enhance the effectiveness of your school, than through laughter.
Number 7: This lesson was passed on to me from my sister Jayne, who is an elementary school counselor. She said: “Always erase the chalk board with up and down strokes so your butt doesn’t shake.” Now you might have seen Saturday’s Press Citizen, where my sister’s quote was one of the first things mentioned in the article about the New Teacher Luncheon. As soon as I saw it, I called her and I was like: Jayne, you’re famous! You’re advice made the paper. And she was like: So was my name in there with it? And I was like: Um…no…but mine was. And she was like: Well, why didn’t you tell them MY name? And I was like: Well, Rob Daniels didn’t ask me what YOUR name was! So since I have you all here, my sister’s name is Jayne Ellen Rouse, and her cell number is….
Number 6: Aristotle said, “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” Go to your professional development classes, meetings, and workshops with the mindset of being an active, respectful participant, and have the goal of taking away at least one new piece of learning each time. As we all know, there are all kinds of professional development…sometimes it inspires you to try new things, engages you as a learner, and has really good snacks…and sometimes…well…it doesn’t. But even if it’s not as exciting as Oprah’s Favorite Things, remember that someone put in extra hours and is giving you his/her best, so give that person your best right back, and take the initiative to learn new things, make connections, and set a good example for your colleagues.
Number 5: “ Great minds discuss ideas, mediocre minds discuss events, small minds discuss personalities.” Eleanor Roosevelt Try not to gossip about your colleagues. Ok, I could go along and act like I’m really good at this “not gossiping” thing, but I actually was just gossiping out in the hallway before we started. I struggle with this one because sometimes I just feel like I need to vent. But, I can tell in my gut when it’s crossed the line from venting to gossiping…I get that little stomach ache. So vent to someone you trust when you need to, and then detach from the negative feelings and move on…aka…get back to work. You will be a better teacher, colleague, and person for it.
Number 4: (SOCKruddies) Socrates said, “Wisdom begins with wonder.” Read good, highly recommended professional literature. The more you read, the more knowledge you will gain, and the more your students will learn. Have the courage to try some new things in your classrooms and let new learning motivate you to think differently about your students, parents, and colleagues. Keep your interest in learning alive, so that you can keep close to what you expect your students to do every day. If someone suggests an excellent book, article, or website, take a look at it. Make it a priority to read and learn with your colleagues. A strong district and school will build that into its professional development, and a strong teacher will read whether the professional development calendar tells her to or not.
Number 3: Mother Theresa said “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” So get involved…in your team, school, district, and community. Volunteer for a committee, help with your school’s professional development, sign up to help with the school carnival, go to a sporting event, join the union, go to school board meetings, become part of a district initiative, stop at a student’s lemonade stand, or drive through the music auxiliary car wash. You will learn about students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community leaders, sometimes more than you ever wanted to know, but you will also get to see how the pieces of this puzzle fit together. You are more than just one teacher teaching your students in your classroom, so make the effort to see how your drop in the ocean ripples out to affect the greater community.
Number 2: Carol Ann Tomlinson said, “Excellence in education is when we do everything that we can to make sure they become everything that they can.” Push yourself to differentiate your instruction so that you can push your students to the highest possible level of achievement. Figure out WHAT your students know, understand what they NEED to know, and PLAN OUT how you’re going to get there. Will this be the same for every student? No. As many of you know, Carol Ann Tomlinson has done wonderful work with differentiated instruction, Carol Dweck is a great resource if you’re interested in fostering a “growth mindset” in your students, and a book I’m currently reading, NurtureShock, by Bronson and Merryman, challenges much of our “common sense thinking” about children. All of these authors, and many others, are crying out for educators to realize how important it is to teach children differently. It’s not easy, but it’s essential.
Number 1: Gabriela Mistral said, “Many things can wait. Children cannot. Today their bones are being formed, their blood is being made, their senses are being developed. To them we cannot say ‘tomorrow.’ Their name is today.” Look your students in the eyes every day, when they walk into your room, and when they leave, and listen to the chatter of your students before the teaching starts. That careful observation will tell you who is having a birthday, who lost a tooth on the bus, and who missed breakfast. You’ll know who is dating, who is breaking up, who made the team, and who got cut. You can learn so much from your students when they don’t know you’re listening, and you can use that to your advantage. You can use that to build relationships and to get students to “buy in” to what you want to teach them. If they know you care about their lives, they just might care about yours.
Finally, in closing, I want to tell you about two students who have changed me as a teacher and as a person. First, there’s Sophia. Picture long, curly, unruly, red hair, all smiles and freckles and happiness and butterflies and rainbows. And sitting next to her, there is a student who is fighting every demon imaginable…a student with severe anxiety, learning issues, anger issues, and every other issue you can think of. Sophia was the only one that could reach him on a regular basis. His anxiety would start to build, and using a soft, calm “teacher” voice, she would talk him right down. Sophia could get him to do things I wouldn’t even dare try. And the amazing thing was that she knew what she was doing…she knew how her little drop of water affected the whole ocean.
Equally inspiring is my other young friend and his struggles with Tourette’s, which was finally officially diagnosed half way through the year. He was a very bright child in terms of his illness, very aware of what he was up against, and many times he would verbalize his concerns, needs, and struggles to his parents. Thank goodness for a very open, caring relationship between his parents and those of us working closely with him; it was truly necessary for us to work as a team to best serve their son. I watched videos about children’s struggles with Tourette’s that brought me to tears, learned about the anguish and pain his parents were going through, which kept me up at night, and watched as my classroom became the most loving, compassionate, safe learning and living environment right before my very eyes. Helen Keller said, “The highest result of education is tolerance.”
So those are the lessons that inspire me and challenge me. They push me to create a classroom of compassion, hope, joy, laughter, learning, and friendship that will ripple out into the bigger school, community, and world, one drop at a time. I hope, in this new school year, that you will get to experience those moments in teaching that take your breath away. I hope that you will recognize those students who are there to make you become a better teacher, and I hope you will even meet a few students who are there to make you become a better person. Dr. Ernest Boyer said, “You can’t have an island of excellence in a sea of indifference.” Whether you are the giants, or you are standing on their shoulders, now more than ever, we need to raise each other up to make sure our drops in the ocean make a difference. Thank you.
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