Why We Cry

(First written in September 2014).

My husband and I dropped off our elder child at college on Wednesday.  August 20, 2014 will remain in my memory much like the date of his birth.  Of course, I cried.  I am still crying.  I told a coworker that I wasn't done crying yet.

My brother also saw the arrival of his first child lately.  I asked my brother and sister-in-law if they cried when my niece finally arrived.  Their answer was not just yes but, "We both bawled."

Countless parents in Wharton will cry Monday when they send their young children off to school.  Some parents might cry when they drop off their high school freshman, too.  

This morning, just two days after my son stepped into the college world I pondered what made us spontaneously cry.  Tears sprung to my eyes the second I hugged him goodbye.  Why?  After all, I will see him on Saturday.  Why in the world do we cry?

What would make a parent of the bride cry?  I can understand with ease why we cry at death, in our selfish worlds.  We will just plain miss the loved one that has passed away.  What, however, makes us cry at transitions?  Is it fear?

At 5 a.m. I lay in bed and wondered.  

I think it came to me that transitions, like birth, Kindergarten, college, and weddings seem to be occasions in which we cry the most.  It was the transition we cried over, not always the person. 

Lessons from the Other Side of the Desk

My first year of teaching back in 1989 was in Katy, and it was a great one.  I had twenty or so second graders and there were at least seven of us teaching second grade, if memory serves me.  I was extremely surprised when my principal nominated me for the "First Year Teacher of the Year". Mrs. Ursula Stephens felt that I had something worth showing off at the district level.  It truly meant the world to me that she felt that strongly about my work that first year.  I later went on to earn the district title for that award and while I was honored, I couldn't equate the district honor with the campus honor. You see, she had seen me in action.  I wasn't merely what someone had written up on a piece of paper.  In hindsight, I understand that I couldn't become that teacher without a strong team and teamleader.  I was blessed to be across the hall from Anne, my teamleader.  Still twenty-five years later, I can apply a few simple reflections on my teaching:

1.  Seeing is beleiving.  I see students every day, and I almost always get their best.  If a parent asks me how a child is doing I will tell them "great" and not to worry. (If I was concerned I would have already called.)  Sometimes parents stress when a child dips to an 88 after being an all A student.  Though I am a Math specialist, I don't fall victim to the picture painted in a gradebook.  Instead, I look wholistically at the child.  What factors are influencing learning?  Does the student feel a valued member of something bigger?  Do I need to spend more time in a small group setting with certain students?  Am I encouraging growth rather than compliant learning in the classroom? Am I praising children enough to empower them to strive for more?

2.  Postive words have power.  Those kind words from my first year have given me strong legs on which I stand.  One principal's unconditional belief in me has carried me through an few rough years.  I haven't taught for 25 years, several years I stayed home with my boys.  I think my positive words have helped to form them as leaders in their class.  That was a teaching job, too. I took my niece under my wings that first year.  She was a second grader at a neighboring school within the district.  She loved putting stickers on papers and helping me with administrative tasks, in return I gave her a side insight to her second grade experience; she's a teacher now. Though I am not the only teacher she had contact with, I like to beleive that I helped.

3. Teamwork is the structure behind then learning.  We didn't have meetings to quite the depth we do now but everyone in the first team of mine had a purpose.  Sometimes my purpose was only to listen and learn from experienced teachers.  Nonetheless, teamwork gave support.  Your children belong to a team-----it's called my classroom.  When one of us is strong, we all on get stronger.  When one of us is waivering, it can pull the momentum down.

4.  Each person, though part of a team, still needs to be recognized as an individual.  I was that kooky teacher who would stand on desks or chairs to get my point across.  What did that tell my students you ask?  That it was perfectly okay that Marjorie had to stand to complete her assignments, if that is what she needed to do, so long as it didn't interfere with the learning of others.

5.  We all continue to learn for a lifetime.  I still know that I can do better.  Is that the nature of our journey here on earth.  What can I do to become better at what I do?

Homework-Part 2

What if homework was actually fun? What if homework often involved the family? What if students wanted to do homework? What if homework could work around your busy schedule? (GASP!***)

It will be all this and more.  Students will be given a homework folder on Monday with tasks from which to choose.  Choice is something everyone values and appreciates.  The "homework folder" is turned in on Friday with at least four activities done.  Parents are only required to initial the activity the child completed and help the student remember to return the folder on Friday.

Some questions you might have:

1. Can students choose anything?  Yes, but students are ask to fulfill a requirement on which categories must be done.
2. Can my child do more than four?  From that I state a resounding, "YES" the more practice the better!
3. What makes you certain that my child will "want" to do these tasks? For each task completed and initialed by you, he/she earns a star.  After a designated number of stars are earned by the entire class, a treat is given. (It could be extra recess, or a game day, etc.) Many of the activities are creative and fun.
4. What choices will he/she have? Ideally, students should complete at least one task from each major area.  You will see this in the "homework folder".  Some of the choices are games for math, writing including some family writing, reading, spelling, and science or social studies thrown in as well.
5. How will you know if my child actually does what I initialed if it's just playing a game.  Teachers know.  It becomes apparent very quickly when students have not been building fluency.  
6. Are there any repercusions if my child doesn't get at least 4 stars.  Yes.  Grades will show.  Students also might not be able to participate in the extra activity.  

It is my belief that the very best "homework" your child does is read.  All learning stems from being an effective reader.  Copying spelling words five times each doesn't merit much learning, especially words which he/she already knows how to spell.  Every year I tell parents that students need to practice math fact flash cards, and every year about half the students do.  These activities are meant to drive your child to want to do better.

Let's give this system a try.  I am going to love and I am sure your child and you will too!

Supplies.................. and Surprise!

You might be slightly surprised to know that even the most organized teacher also has a hidden secret.  We all hoard school supplies.  

Yes, it is true!  I can be found on an aisle in Target, Walmart or the grocery store stocking up on pencils, pencil bags, markers, sticky notes.... you name it.  You might also find me inhaling the beautiful smell of a new box of Crayola Crayons.  There is not scent like it in the world, trust me.  When you buy your child's supplies, try it.  You would be amazed what the power of smell can trigger in your memory.  I have tons of favorite supplies.  I recently bought 50+ composition books, of course to use with your children.  I absolutely love all things paper (see the dozen things column).

If your child is in my class, there is a wee bit of info not found on the school supply list.  No worries, it won't cost a thing.

1.  I will be sending some supplies back home.  With as many kids in the room as we have, textbooks, etc., it is better if some supplies stay at home. That being said, keep a special place for these supplies for your child. Designate a spot where he/she can find what is needed when we run low at school (if it happens).

2.  Your child needs a public library card.  They are free with the exception of the travel expense.  A parent must be with the child when he/she applies for the card.  The card need not come to school but I do expect it to be used.  This is a class with a crazy intense amount of reading.  Some of my students last year finished over 50 chapter books!  (Can you tell I am proud?)

You will also need to register your email address with me.  I do A LOT of communication through email, and Google for the Classroom.  This means sometimes, kids need to send me projects via the web.  

What was your favorite school supply as a new student?

Homework-Part 1

The question is, "What do you have for homework tonight?"

Homework. It's a word that can send a chill down a student's spine.  Parents don't like it, and quite frankly teachers don't either.

Wait.  Did you just say that "Teachers don't like homework?"

Yes. However, teachers know it is necessary.  This is what homework should do:

1. Review content taught.  Most students need to see new content seven or more times before it is learned.  There is not enough time in the school day to cover that.
2. Build fluency.  That sounds like reading, but it's not just reading.  Fluency is how well we do something or with what ease we do something.  This can mean reading, or math operations, or just about anything else.
3. Keep student's minds engaged.  Television is not usually a positive influence. 

Homework usually involves something like reading, copying spelling words, finishing incomplete work, 'review for a test' (and let's be honest----parents really don't like that one).  These are all good and necessary but what if we could do something that would create accountability and encourage homework could be more than a pencil and paper every night.  

Stay tuned for HOMEWORK-Part 2

Summer of Productivity Part 2

Let no dust settle.

Yesterday while cleaning windows, I started about 100 other small projects as well.  I mean, if you are going to clean the window sills, shouldn't you also clean the baseboards?  If you clean baseboards in a carpeted area, aren't you obligated to vaccuum up that dust.  One thing lead to another and by the time I crashed, I had started several "projects".  Cleaning out closets is on the list.  I guess I am guilty of having too many "windows" open--- always having my hand in many things.

This morning Noah and I awoke early to head to the neighboring town for dental appointments.  Mine was for cleaning and exam, his was for wisdom teeth extraction.  Our appointments were at 7 a.m.  Believe it or not, Noah was done before I was.  He did fine but was disappointed he didn't get any gas--- he does favor the horizontal position. 

This afternoon I was a training assistant on using QR codes in the classroom.  What a fantastic opportunity to get kids engaged using 21st century skills!  Immediately after the session, I am already thinking about running to my classroom to pick up a few resources.  Again, crazy, right?  Second day of summer vacation and I already have a list of things I need to retrieve from my classroom. I also need to take some things to school which I have around here (thank you closet clean out) that I can use in my classroom.  Thank goodness we don't have to turn our keys into the front office.

Let no dust settle, onward to more tasks.

Summer of Productivity Part 1

This summer is going to be remarkable.  Remarkable in that in addition to enjoying the break from school, things are going to get done. Things that I have been mulling over will get done and things which just come upon me will get done.

Day 1 of summer vacation, here we go! 

Noah and I undertook the daunting task of cleaning all of the windows in our home. Now before you gasp, let me tell you, our home is not huge.  When we moved here we downsized by about 40% in square footage and about 200% in windows. I miss those windows.  Moreover, I miss the vast amount of light that poured into our country home and the views in all four directions.  Today, however, I didn't miss them at all.  We have only 12 windows here and glass panes in three doors.  There were 13 windows in just our master bedroom, dining room, and living room and they were large in our former home.  But today Noah and I cleaned those windows inside and out and scrubbed the screens.  We have been in this house over three years, I think we have cleaned them once before or at least some of them.  All but two of the windows had the screens installed inside out.    

The day was perfect for it. Overcast skies and a breeze made the job bearable and it helped that we started about 9 a.m.  In addition to spending time with Noah and checking something off of my list, I gained a little insight.

 

I was hesitant to let go of the school year.  Crazy, right?  It wasn't about the work, I was ready to step away from teaching for a while.  It is a bit like being a mother bird to 20 hungry beaks all the time.  It can sap the energy right out of you.  I did, however, have a wonderful group of kids.  I encountered very few discipline problems, very enthusiastic learners, great proficiency in the standardized testing.  I couldn't ask for more. It was time to let go.

Cleaning the windows helped me see clearly that sometime we become so accustomed to what we have that we don't even know what we are missing.  Like the fine layer of dust on my windows, my time with my students (and occasionally their parents) my view was getting clouded.  Just like students need many teachers to help mold their character, teachers need many students to help them grow.  

My windows are now beautifully clean (I even caught my son admiring himself in the reflection) and my view on the future is quite clear too.