Mrs. Stephenson...truth or dare?

TRUTH OR DARE ?

The truth is that most teachers are “control freaks”!  Honestly, if you are being intentional with your planning you have to be.  The difference that I have discovered over the last couple of years is that although I have to control the outcome, I do not have to control the process.  In fact, it is most effective and engaging if I relinquish this control to my students.  

For example, in measurement my students had to learn how to convert units of measurement.  I didn’t give them the STAAR Reference Mathematics chart and teach them the strategy that I know works every time.  Instead I gave them a partner, one piece of construction paper and tape and told them to create the longest paper chain.  Then they had to measure the chain in meters, decimeters, centimeters, yards, feet and inches.  What they discovered on their own was everything I was to teach them and more!!  

Some students made those measurements the hard way at first counting every single centimeter over and over again to get “reliable results” as requested by their teacher.  Eventually, after watching them struggle for a bit, I hooked them up with a group that had discovered a much easier method.  It was better if it didn’t come from me!  They demonstrated an understanding that I had never seen before when I introduced them to their “Best Friend” (AKA- the Reference Chart) and taught the strategy that works every time. They shared their strategy with others and wrote about their discoveries. They had ownership and were completely in charge of their learning.  Of course I facilitated their learning with very manipulative questions because of my aforementioned need for control, but their knowledge was their own and it was solid!  I still gave them the chart and taught that awesome strategy, but by then they were relaxed and confident which was exactly the type of student I needed.  Less (of me) really is more! 

I have to admit that this was a difficult transition at first, but once I witnessed just how amazing the results were I was hooked!  My expectations were still the same, but most of the time many students exceeded those expectations because I gave them some breathing room.  There is so much more that I could tell you and examples to give, but I think you get the picture.  I love teaching this way and after over 20 years of teaching I have found my niche.  Now my friends and colleagues, I dare you to give up some of your control and let your students be in charge.  You too will be amazed!!!  

Shellie

Math Stations with Mrs. Haskins

Math Stations!

Well, I feel like I'm finally swimming with my math stations.  I've struggled with it most of the year.  I was constantly running out of time and feeling rushed.  I started reading articles, books and chatting with other teachers about how they run their stations.  After many frustrating days of trial and error, and worrying, I feel good about it.  My kids are looking forward to math stations daily.  If, for some reason, we are running out of time to finish them, the kids will let me know they're not happy.  "Can we do one more after lunch?!"  Currently, I have a math writing station where the kids have a problem of the day to solve.  They need to draw a picture, write a number sentence and a statement to answer the problem.  I encourage them to discuss their strategies with the others in the writing station.  I like what I'm hearing over there.  Often, they'll have time to create their own problem of the days if he finish early.  I've been really impressed with what they produce.  Time permitting, I'll share a couple each day, and we work them out.  I'm still looking to make math stations better, but I've got a great start.  

Julie

You Matter!

I had a few different thoughts in my head when I started writing this, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I wanted to be uplifting. Testing is right around the corner, We are in the long stretch between Spring Break and THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL. Not too many breaks left (Thank you snow days!)I think in this long stretch we forget what a huge impact we have on our kids and get focused on the thought “We’ve been in school for (insert length of time here)! How do they not know this?!?!”

I’m not really an open book as a person, people that I’ve known for YEARS still say “What! I didn’t know that about you!” But, here it goes…

My mom was diagnosed with cancer when I was 10. I was home schooled for four years before that, so I was thrown into the public school system and Harrison (Wylie Intermediate back then) the second semester of 5^th grade. To put it lightly, it was rough. I didn’t understand the social nuances of a bunch of kids that had been together since Kindergarten, I was reading at a level beyond my peers so I was a “nerd” and I did not understand the math AT ALL. (oh the gaps in my math education…) I was a pretty mature little 10/11 year old so I was “making it” I didn’t let them see me sweat at school, started hanging out with the band kids and slowly adapted to middle school life.

Unfortunately, my baby brother Paul had none of these adaptive skills and was sinking slowly in first grade. Paul was a mama’s boy and even at 6 he knew something was wrong. He didn’t have very much support from home, my dad had bigger fish to fry and his three older siblings were all trying to stay afloat in their own respective grades. That first semester in school was horrific for Paul. His teacher was frustrated (I mean, we’ve all been there, a below average student the second semester of school who has no support from home…) I remember my brother crying everyday not wanting to go to school and my dad receiving many notes, phone calls, etc. from his teacher

After a very rough summer, Paul started 2^nd grade. He had HUGE gaps, could barely read, could barely write and had just figured out how to count to 100. In 2^nd grade. (I can hear the whole 2^nd grade team gasping from here) Enter Mrs. D. Y’all, she changed Paul’s life. She was a tough lady, but she LOVED Paul. She came to our HOUSE to say hi to Paul (before home visits were hip again) She stayed after school with him and when we went to his school open house she gave Paul a big hug and told my Dad how much she loved having him in class. I was 11 and I remember that. She made Paul love school again, and took a vested interest in him. She made him feel like he was worth something.

This is Paul today:

He is 24, married with a BEAUTIFUL baby girl. He is finishing boot camp this week, and he will being going to school with the Navy to be a mechanic on submarines. Paul has traveled, received his associate’s degree and is all around a pretty amazing guy. (I may be biased…he’s my baby brother of course)

Mrs. D may have made an impact on Paul, but she made more of an impact on me.

She made me want to be a teacher.

I saw how she treated my brother and how she changed him during one of the most difficult times in his life. She changed my life- an outsider on her aura of awesome. I know that as teachers we get bogged down in paper work, testing, discipline, tutoring, parents…the list goes on. But, don’t think for a minute that you don’t matter. You have no idea the influence and power your actions have, even if it’s the older sister of one of your students J. 

Dyann

Sumners: Not what I expected....

What to Expect

I am going to apologize upfront for this blog attempt.  O.K., now that that's out of the way, here goes. 

I wasn't sure what I was going to say before I started typing.  I am one of those people that over think things.  Am I going to make sense, what will others think?  I am not sure of what to expect.  I know that I am one that puts things off until the last minute because I don't know what to expect.  Notice the pattern?  

I think about how my life is different than what I expected.  I never thought about teaching until Jennifer and Julie S. said I should look into it.  It wasn't what I expected.  I am thankful they encouraged me to try it.  Teaching itself wasn't what I expected.  It definitely has been challenging, but rewarding.  I know those weeks when it seems like everything is due and we're feeling the pressure, the kids don't skip a beat.  It's not what I expected.

This is what I do expect:

I want my students to walk out of 2nd grade with more than just how to succeed in school, but how to succeed in life.  

I want them to set goals and reach them and beyond, even if they don't know what those are yet. 

I want them to go through life with an open mind and open heart.  

I want them to cherish friendships and never stop learning.  

I want them to embrace the unexpected.

The life I have is not what I expected, but it is a ride that I wouldn't trade for anything.  It's better than what I expected!


Cindy Sumners

Taber's Tribulations...

March 15, 2015

My blog adventure started last Saturday when my first official spring break nap was interrupted by blogging thoughts.  I decided to finish my nap, after all I had ALL week.  

Tuesday morning blog thoughts crept back into my spring break brain.  What to write about?  Of course it has to be clever and eloquent.  I mean it’s going on the internet!  My vacationing brain provided me with nothing of the sorts.

I am always lucky that my birthday falls on Spring break, so Wednesday I thought I’ll write about my birthday.  Nah!  Too needy!

Thursday I tried to think again of a clever topic that would impress the entire internet world! (insert jeopardy theme!)

Friday I just blatantly refused to think about it.  Nope not gonna do it!  Can’t make me! 

Saturday morning sitting with my youngest watching tv and the show Dog with a Blog comes on.  I mean if a dog can do it surely I can muddle through it, so here I sit, muddling through it. 

Our blog name is Wrangler Reflections so I guess I should reflect on something, but for the life of me I can’t even begin to think school again, yet! 

So here I sit Sunday evening, on my front porch.  For real, now we have awesome weather?  Can I get a spring break do over?  I still have nothing profound, clever or even remotely humorous to share so I will leave you with this quote that stuck with me this week that I saw during my many hours wasted perusing Facebook, Pinterest, Teachers Pay Teachers and even a little Twitter. 

(I am determined to figure that thing out!)

Welcome Back!

Michele 

Finding that niche...

My first year of teaching began in August 2009. I was married and we had a 10 month baby, Olivia. I spent the prior school year at Groves Elementary in Wylie in a first grade classroom doing my student teaching. I was lucky enough in March of 2008 to be offered a first grade position at that same school.  I was so excited to not only have a job but to spend that year with my mentor!  That first year was rough to say the least!  I felt in over my head!  What was I thinking?!  I spent that year trying to stay afloat and basically emulate my mentor.  I did everything the way she did but it never seemed right to me.

I have always been envious of those teachers who had a passion for certain aspects of their job. Such as, Laura Moore, the all time guru of writing!  You can see and feel the passion for K and 1st grade writing flow out of her.  Don't get me wrong here, I love my job and seeing my students grow.  I just never felt one subject tugging on my heart strings over another. What was going to be my niche? Where would my light shine?

Something that is very critical in primary grades, and also can be a pain, are centers.  I could never get it to flow the way I envisioned it in my head.  I would actually dread this time of the day. If a school program, fire drill, or any other reason for not having centers that day came up, I was ecstatic!

I decided last school year that I needed to get this center thing under control because it was killing me...slowly...painfully!!!

Then it popped into my head, Daily 5! That was going to be my saving grace. I just knew it! So, I borrowed the book from a coworker, thank you Nancy Ward, and the rest is history!

Last year was the first time I implemented Daily 5. Oh my heavens...I was in LOVE!

This year, my Daily 5 rotations are even more solid. The kids love them!  If, heaven forbid, we run short of time, you would actually hear a sad sigh come out of their mouths! I actually get upset when I don't have time for my Daily 5 rotations.  I mean, angry might even be a better word!

Since I felt like I finally had a hold of my literacy center time, I really wanted to implement a rotation into my math time. I was determined to start the school year with this in place.  Well the school year started, however my math centers did not!  I just couldn't get it to work the way I wanted it to. See the pattern here?! I see it perfectly in my mind but then I try and implement it and nothing!

I have spent this school year mulling over this whole math centers thing. Yes, I know, I have a problem! Centers have become my passion, my thing, my niche.  I finally had a passion and I wanted, no, I needed to get this math thing right!

I finally came up with another plan. It had to work. It was going to work! A few weeks ago I tried it out. I made 3 groups for my math rotations.  There was 1 group of 5 and 2 groups of 7. If only I had enough time for 5 groups!  That would be total perfection!!!

These groups would rotate through 3 centers: teacher time, activity center, and seat work. Holy moly, it worked! It was beautiful!!  The kids loved it, I loved it!!!

So, if you've ever come into my room during my center time and I have shot you a not so happy look, I apologize. You now know why. :O) I despise being interrupted during my Daily 5 and now my math rotations!

Why do I love it so much?  I have been asked this many times!  Especially from those on my team. They think I'm crazy!  LOL

I get an up close and personal look at what my students know or don't know. I can adjust the lesson at that very moment. I can differentiate at that very moment. I can see who really gets it or who is looking at their neighbor for the answer. You can't always see that when you are doing a whole group lesson.  If I could spend my whole day in Daily 5 and math centers, my teaching world would be utter perfection!

I have finally found my niche!
Candice Alegria