Last month I had the privilege to present at the Kentucky Middle School Association Conference. During my session, I posed the question, "What are your greatest classroom management issues?"
Here's what Kentucky teachers had to say:
1. Class size
2. Calling out*
3. Gifted and talented students in mixed ability classes- boredom leads to disruption (One Size Does not Fit All)
4. Group work disorganization*
5. Transitions*
6. Irrelevant comments*
7. Side conversations*
8. Off-task behavior*
9. Student disorganization*
10. Consistency as a team/school*
11. Disrespect*
12. Motivation*
13. Differentiation
14. Establishing routines and procedures*
And here is my attempt to help solve one we did not tackle in the session:
Gifted and Talent Students: Idle Minds...We give it our all every day to make certain no child is left behind, but in doing so, are we leaving our gifted students bored out of their minds and suffocating their intellectual growth?
Some schools offer Honors classes, enabling us to provide these students with the challenging curriculum they need and deserve. But what about those that don't?
Our school is not only taking on this issue, we're pursuing it full force through Rigor and Relevance. Through inquiry learning, where students are presented with tasks where they learn by doing, rather than listening to the teacher, all are able to learn. Providing higher level questioning, opportunities for discovery, and a more hand-on approach for all, boredom is negated, and no child is left behind.
Give an example, you cry? When teaching modes of writing, maybe instead of giving students passages to read and asking them to tell if it is a persuasive, expository, or descriptive piece, you ask them to listen to samples of songs on the internet and find one containing lyrics for each mode of writing. Talk about high interest.
When teaching formal vs. informal writing, instead of reading students formal and informal passages, why not give them lyrics to a popular rap song (clean version, of course) and as a class, model writing it formally? Then allow them to choose a song of their own and write it in formal language. Music is an underused tool in motivating students to learn.
In Social Studies, instead of lecturing on Federalists and Antifederalists, why not hold a debate? Divide your students into two teams, the Federalists and the Antifederalists. They then choose someone to represent their party (Jefferson or Hamiliton,) then conduct research to support their positions. My kids elected to do so in costume, which took more time, but they had a ball.
Hope this helps!
* Starred items listed above are addressed in my new book The Middle School Classroom: Rx for Success. available via this link: http://www.baywestpublishing.com
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Meet the Parents
Some call it Back to School Night, some call it Open House, and others call it a dog and pony show. Whatever you call it, the intention is to bring parents, teachers, and students together, and to make introductions and small talk.
Let’s take a look at a few things you can do to keep conversations upbeat and brief, while at the same time allowing you to be the gracious host where no one feels neglected.
Back to school night basics. Post a sign outside your room with the dates of your school’s parent conferences. Provide a sign-in sheet as well so you will have a written record of all those who attended.
Stay out of your room. This is the most important piece of advice I can offer. Stand in the hallway, just outside your room, and speak to your parents there. Be warned: if you go in the room, you won’t be coming back out. Do make your room inviting, and allow parents to enter. In fact, ask each student to take his or her parent on a tour of the room.
Make your room inviting. Post student work and pictures of your students. Have a slide show running with either photos or information about your class. Have refreshments available. This way, parents are buzzing around your room, not you. (Thank you to Deirdre for the idea. She is a member of Middle School Matters, a group I started on Facebook specifically for middle school teachers. You are invited to join!)
Off topic. Limit the conversation to small talk. Thank parents for coming, maybe mention a connection you have in common, or tell them how much you enjoy the child in class. Back to School Night is a public affair, where ears are listening to everything you say, so steer clear of anything of a private nature, related to grades or behavior. These are topics better suited for a parent-teacher conference. In fact, if a parent asks you about grades or behavior during Open House, remind them of the dates of parent-teacher conferences, or offer to email and set up a conference with them at a later date.
Recruit parent talent and collect information. Take advantage of this opportunity to find out what your parents have to offer. If you are a social studies teacher, you may have a Muslim parent who’d be willing to speak during your unit on Islam. If you sponsor the newspaper staff, you may have a parent who works at the local paper and would be willing to give a tour. Set up several clipboards in your room. One for parent email addresses, one for guest speakers, one for field trips, and perhaps one for parent volunteers. Some of your parents may be stay-at-home moms who are just looking for something to do! Thank you Deirdre for this idea as well. You are awesome!
Let’s take a look at a few things you can do to keep conversations upbeat and brief, while at the same time allowing you to be the gracious host where no one feels neglected.
Back to school night basics. Post a sign outside your room with the dates of your school’s parent conferences. Provide a sign-in sheet as well so you will have a written record of all those who attended.
Stay out of your room. This is the most important piece of advice I can offer. Stand in the hallway, just outside your room, and speak to your parents there. Be warned: if you go in the room, you won’t be coming back out. Do make your room inviting, and allow parents to enter. In fact, ask each student to take his or her parent on a tour of the room.
Make your room inviting. Post student work and pictures of your students. Have a slide show running with either photos or information about your class. Have refreshments available. This way, parents are buzzing around your room, not you. (Thank you to Deirdre for the idea. She is a member of Middle School Matters, a group I started on Facebook specifically for middle school teachers. You are invited to join!)
Off topic. Limit the conversation to small talk. Thank parents for coming, maybe mention a connection you have in common, or tell them how much you enjoy the child in class. Back to School Night is a public affair, where ears are listening to everything you say, so steer clear of anything of a private nature, related to grades or behavior. These are topics better suited for a parent-teacher conference. In fact, if a parent asks you about grades or behavior during Open House, remind them of the dates of parent-teacher conferences, or offer to email and set up a conference with them at a later date.
Recruit parent talent and collect information. Take advantage of this opportunity to find out what your parents have to offer. If you are a social studies teacher, you may have a Muslim parent who’d be willing to speak during your unit on Islam. If you sponsor the newspaper staff, you may have a parent who works at the local paper and would be willing to give a tour. Set up several clipboards in your room. One for parent email addresses, one for guest speakers, one for field trips, and perhaps one for parent volunteers. Some of your parents may be stay-at-home moms who are just looking for something to do! Thank you Deirdre for this idea as well. You are awesome!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
What not to do the first week of school...
The past two weeks have reminded me that no matter how long I teach, I will always have more to learn. I take some comfort in that. In fact, one of my life's mantras is, "Things are getting better all the time." And as long as we are learning and growing, well then, I suppose that is a true statement.
Here a few lessons I've gleaned the past couple of weeks. What not to do the first week of school:
1. Do not get too worked up if you have more students than desks. This is an inevitable part of the first of year shuffle, and it always gets resolved within a couple of days.
2. Do not forget how to say the word "no" when asked to join seven new committees or to sponsor another extracurricular activity.
3. Do not worry if your room is not perfectly decorated on day one. Your room can be a work in progress. Students will learn despite your lack of decor.
4. Do not fail to listen to the little voice in your head that tells you to stay an extra hour after school to make sure your mobile labs are functioning properly before the children use them.
5. Do not forget to update your sub folder from last year. While you're at it, just for laughs, take a look at the "Helpful Students" you highlighted at the beginning of last year. What were you thinking?
6. Do not hesitate to consult with your guidance counselor. Separate problem students who should not be in the same class together right away.
7. Do not be too lax with your students, no matter how nice they seem.
8. Do not forget your new students need to be trained. They are not mind readers, but they want to please you. Be very clear of what you expect.
9. Do not fail to have a life outside of school. When we are happy and healthy, we are better teachers. If you don't treat yourself well, you won't be good for anyone else.
10. Do not hide in your room. Build relationships with your colleagues. You will want and need their support year-round.
Here a few lessons I've gleaned the past couple of weeks. What not to do the first week of school:
1. Do not get too worked up if you have more students than desks. This is an inevitable part of the first of year shuffle, and it always gets resolved within a couple of days.
2. Do not forget how to say the word "no" when asked to join seven new committees or to sponsor another extracurricular activity.
3. Do not worry if your room is not perfectly decorated on day one. Your room can be a work in progress. Students will learn despite your lack of decor.
4. Do not fail to listen to the little voice in your head that tells you to stay an extra hour after school to make sure your mobile labs are functioning properly before the children use them.
5. Do not forget to update your sub folder from last year. While you're at it, just for laughs, take a look at the "Helpful Students" you highlighted at the beginning of last year. What were you thinking?
6. Do not hesitate to consult with your guidance counselor. Separate problem students who should not be in the same class together right away.
7. Do not be too lax with your students, no matter how nice they seem.
8. Do not forget your new students need to be trained. They are not mind readers, but they want to please you. Be very clear of what you expect.
9. Do not fail to have a life outside of school. When we are happy and healthy, we are better teachers. If you don't treat yourself well, you won't be good for anyone else.
10. Do not hide in your room. Build relationships with your colleagues. You will want and need their support year-round.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Laying the Foundation
In The Middle School Classroom: Rx for Success, I include a chapter called "Laying the Foundation." The purpose of the chapter is to outline every conceivable task teachers take on prior to the start of school. This year I felt it was only natural to use "Laying the Foundation" myself when setting up my own classroom. It would allow me to see the chapter through the reader's eyes while at the same time, provide me with a foolproof way of getting everything done.
And it did exactly that. I just got home from setting up my classroom, and have done so in record timing. Most years, it takes three to four days...decorating, running copies, "nesting." Not this year! In just one-and-a-half days, I am ready to go. I honestly will not know how to feel on staff development days. It will be the first year I can be mentally and physically present, instead of thinking, "When will this be over so I can work in my room?"
OK, so I haven't done everything. But I have done all I can do to this point, without my student rosters. And it feels good.
And it did exactly that. I just got home from setting up my classroom, and have done so in record timing. Most years, it takes three to four days...decorating, running copies, "nesting." Not this year! In just one-and-a-half days, I am ready to go. I honestly will not know how to feel on staff development days. It will be the first year I can be mentally and physically present, instead of thinking, "When will this be over so I can work in my room?"
OK, so I haven't done everything. But I have done all I can do to this point, without my student rosters. And it feels good.
Friday, July 25, 2008
I Heart PowerSchool.
Many teachers cringe at the mention of the word, but I love in-service. I really do. I guess I'm just a big nerd; always have been, always will be.
I love the interaction with other teachers, and meeting new people. More than that, I love learning new things.
Yesterday I attended a PowerSchool In-Service, and had more "wow" moments than I can count. This program has so many bells and whistles. I could choose to be overwhelmed or amazed. I went with amazed, and I am honestly excited about how much it is going to simplify all of the tedious little tasks required of a teacher on a daily basis.
For one, we can click on absent students and send attendance electronically. Awesome. The only bad news is we now must send attendance to the office after every class, not just first period. That will take some getting used to...hopefully I will remember!
The amount of information it provides for parents is unreal. They can log on, and actually see their student entered as present, tardy, or absent as they move through their daily schedule. (Kids are going to hate this.)
The gradebook makes our previous programs seem antiquated. Parents can see their child's current grades, as well as missing assignments, late assignments, and due dates. Teachers can choose to post immediately or set a future date and time for them to post. We can enter reasons justifying grades, comments, upcoming assignments, notes about behavior - all of which can be viewed by parents. I believe this is going to cut the number of parent conferences we have in half (at least!)
As a club sponsor, I really like the bulletin feature. In the past, whenever I wanted to post an announcement or event for Student Council I had to walk all the way to the office, fill out a form, and get it approved by administration at least 24 hours prior to its posting. Now I can just send it electronically. Oh how I love anything that saves time.
Wait, there's more! (I heart PowerSchool. And parenthetical commentary. Can you tell?) Student emergency information and class schedules are at our fingertips. We can also see grades, assignments, and attendance in other teachers' classes. Some teachers are going to hate this, but I think it's great. It will allow me to see what my kids are learning in all of their classes, and to see if other teachers are having the same issues I am with a particular student.
I haven't used it yet, and I'm sure we will all go through the inevitable learning curve - that love/hate relationship we all experience when faced with new technology. For me, I am motivated by the mere potential of something to revolutionize my life. I think PowerSchool has that potential.
I love the interaction with other teachers, and meeting new people. More than that, I love learning new things.
Yesterday I attended a PowerSchool In-Service, and had more "wow" moments than I can count. This program has so many bells and whistles. I could choose to be overwhelmed or amazed. I went with amazed, and I am honestly excited about how much it is going to simplify all of the tedious little tasks required of a teacher on a daily basis.
For one, we can click on absent students and send attendance electronically. Awesome. The only bad news is we now must send attendance to the office after every class, not just first period. That will take some getting used to...hopefully I will remember!
The amount of information it provides for parents is unreal. They can log on, and actually see their student entered as present, tardy, or absent as they move through their daily schedule. (Kids are going to hate this.)
The gradebook makes our previous programs seem antiquated. Parents can see their child's current grades, as well as missing assignments, late assignments, and due dates. Teachers can choose to post immediately or set a future date and time for them to post. We can enter reasons justifying grades, comments, upcoming assignments, notes about behavior - all of which can be viewed by parents. I believe this is going to cut the number of parent conferences we have in half (at least!)
As a club sponsor, I really like the bulletin feature. In the past, whenever I wanted to post an announcement or event for Student Council I had to walk all the way to the office, fill out a form, and get it approved by administration at least 24 hours prior to its posting. Now I can just send it electronically. Oh how I love anything that saves time.
Wait, there's more! (I heart PowerSchool. And parenthetical commentary. Can you tell?) Student emergency information and class schedules are at our fingertips. We can also see grades, assignments, and attendance in other teachers' classes. Some teachers are going to hate this, but I think it's great. It will allow me to see what my kids are learning in all of their classes, and to see if other teachers are having the same issues I am with a particular student.
I haven't used it yet, and I'm sure we will all go through the inevitable learning curve - that love/hate relationship we all experience when faced with new technology. For me, I am motivated by the mere potential of something to revolutionize my life. I think PowerSchool has that potential.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Printastic!
Well, last week marked several milestones in the life of my little book. It's cover is officially complete and looks great (see image, right). The bound galleys arrived and have been sent out for review, and I met my deadline to apply for IPG, the distributor for self-publishers (wish me luck!) The galleys are "printastic;" all of my hard work now looks and feels like a real book.
Finding the right printer hasn't posed as much of a challenge as I imagined. In fact, all the folks I've corresponded with so far have been more than helpful, and I'm learning something new everyday.
Once I decide on a printer, it looks like the smart thing to do is a run of 500, and see if those bad boys sell. Then, I will do a larger run of 3,000 or 5,000. I understand this is pretty much standard for a new book, especially a first-time self-publisher.
Next comes the scary part...sharing the book with other people. Yes, I do recognize that's the whole point of writing a book in the first place, but I do feel vulnerable - putting my ideas out there for everyone to see. Vulnerable...and excited.
Monday, June 23, 2008
It's an evolution...
If you've ever attended a teachers' conference, then you know what it can do to motivate and invigorate the mind. Just surrounding yourself with other people who do what you do and actually enjoy it, can give you the jump start you'd been craving. I recommend it for ANYONE, no matter what your field...meet people who understand what you do. I love my co-workers, but getting an outsider's point of view really helps put things in perspective!
I was a presenter at the Tennessee Association of Middle Schools Conference, and while I spent a large portion of the weekend rehearsing and rewording what I was going to say, the majority of it was spent absorbing the positive energy from the other presenters and attendees. I came with a message to share, but we all left rethinking the way we approach our kids.
Middle school teachers everywhere would benefit from hearing what Jack Berckemeyer has to say about teaming and how teams who provide consistency benefit their kids. He truly understands the middle school student, and we were all entertained by his high energy and use of humor. I think I speak for everyone in attendance when I say I wish I had a teacher like Mr. Berckemeyer teacher when I was in middle school.
I was equally affected by Ken O'Connor and what he had to say about grading. I now recognize that late work, missing assignments, completion of classwork and homework are behaviors. Ken says the grade we report to parents should be based on student achievement: whether or not students grasp the concepts we are teaching. In Canada and Australia, they do exactly that. They have separate columns on their report cards to notify parents as to whether or not their kids are completing work and how timely. They do not count classwork and homework as part of the students' grade!
Everyone in the room had the same question for Ken: if you don't grade classwork and homework, how can you expect your kids to do it? His answer was that if completing work is a BEHAVIOR, not completing it should result in a CONSEQUENCE, not a GRADE. He would call home, and have the kid stay after school every day until he completed the assignment. What a completely different way of thinking about how we grade. And it makes good sense.
As for my presentation, I have to say, I'm pleased with the overall result. The teachers and administrators who attended my session were very kind, willing to share, and I received a great deal of positive feedback and suggestions I will incorporate in the future. It was clear to me what worked and what didn't. The audience was the most responsive to specific suggestions they can use in their classroom. They especially seemed interested how to let kids know you are on their side and creating a positive classroom climate. I was pleasantly surprised to find this out, as that pretty much sums up my philosophy on how a classroom should be run. I will try to gear future sessions more in that direction.
One thing is for sure...my message continues to be an evolution.
I was a presenter at the Tennessee Association of Middle Schools Conference, and while I spent a large portion of the weekend rehearsing and rewording what I was going to say, the majority of it was spent absorbing the positive energy from the other presenters and attendees. I came with a message to share, but we all left rethinking the way we approach our kids.
Middle school teachers everywhere would benefit from hearing what Jack Berckemeyer has to say about teaming and how teams who provide consistency benefit their kids. He truly understands the middle school student, and we were all entertained by his high energy and use of humor. I think I speak for everyone in attendance when I say I wish I had a teacher like Mr. Berckemeyer teacher when I was in middle school.
I was equally affected by Ken O'Connor and what he had to say about grading. I now recognize that late work, missing assignments, completion of classwork and homework are behaviors. Ken says the grade we report to parents should be based on student achievement: whether or not students grasp the concepts we are teaching. In Canada and Australia, they do exactly that. They have separate columns on their report cards to notify parents as to whether or not their kids are completing work and how timely. They do not count classwork and homework as part of the students' grade!
Everyone in the room had the same question for Ken: if you don't grade classwork and homework, how can you expect your kids to do it? His answer was that if completing work is a BEHAVIOR, not completing it should result in a CONSEQUENCE, not a GRADE. He would call home, and have the kid stay after school every day until he completed the assignment. What a completely different way of thinking about how we grade. And it makes good sense.
As for my presentation, I have to say, I'm pleased with the overall result. The teachers and administrators who attended my session were very kind, willing to share, and I received a great deal of positive feedback and suggestions I will incorporate in the future. It was clear to me what worked and what didn't. The audience was the most responsive to specific suggestions they can use in their classroom. They especially seemed interested how to let kids know you are on their side and creating a positive classroom climate. I was pleasantly surprised to find this out, as that pretty much sums up my philosophy on how a classroom should be run. I will try to gear future sessions more in that direction.
One thing is for sure...my message continues to be an evolution.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Finding Cover
When I first met Yvette, my fabulous cover artist, I shared my concept for a plain (possibly white) background, with a large amber prescription medicine bottle that POPS on the page. The label of the bottle would contain my book title and name.
She was relieved I didn't want the stereotypical apple or classroom of kids (not that there's anything wrong with that), and I was relieved she saw so much possibility in the vision.
Today we met at our "office" (Starbucks), and shared ideas. She was very modest in saying the initial designs were rough, lots of things she would like to improve. What I saw was amazing. Until today, I had no idea how many variations were possible: open bottle, tilted bottle, spilled bottle, shelf of bottles, bottle that wraps around the spine, bottle that wraps around the entire cover, bottle floating, bottle on table, old glass bottle, stock image bottle, photograph a bottle, bottle with homemade label...the list went on.
We both left enthusiastic, inspired, and caffeinated, although I'm sure Yvette would want you to know she's not a coffee drinker (green tea). :D
She was relieved I didn't want the stereotypical apple or classroom of kids (not that there's anything wrong with that), and I was relieved she saw so much possibility in the vision.
Today we met at our "office" (Starbucks), and shared ideas. She was very modest in saying the initial designs were rough, lots of things she would like to improve. What I saw was amazing. Until today, I had no idea how many variations were possible: open bottle, tilted bottle, spilled bottle, shelf of bottles, bottle that wraps around the spine, bottle that wraps around the entire cover, bottle floating, bottle on table, old glass bottle, stock image bottle, photograph a bottle, bottle with homemade label...the list went on.
We both left enthusiastic, inspired, and caffeinated, although I'm sure Yvette would want you to know she's not a coffee drinker (green tea). :D
Friday, June 6, 2008
Two Worlds
A writer lives the life of a recluse. Days, weeks, months, (and in my case years) were spent curled up with a laptop...writing, revising, proofreading, formatting...sacrificing time with family, friends, determined to get my thoughts on paper and out to those who will benefit. Sometimes I felt as though I was an open channel, the words flowing supernaturally out of me; it's indescribable. I never felt such a sense of urgency or responsibility to complete anything in my life.
Now I live the life of a publisher, and let me tell you, it's quite a ride. Since school has let out for the summer, I've gone completely OCD, micro-managing every single detail. I can hardly sleep, the excitement in my chest is so intense...I feel like I could burst. Thoughts constantly rushing through my head..to do lists for the next day, marketing strategies, what I will say at my next public speaking engagement.
Two very different worlds: the quiet life of a writer, the fast-paced life of a publisher. I look forward to sharing a glimpse of both. I'll keep you posted through all of it. :)
Now I live the life of a publisher, and let me tell you, it's quite a ride. Since school has let out for the summer, I've gone completely OCD, micro-managing every single detail. I can hardly sleep, the excitement in my chest is so intense...I feel like I could burst. Thoughts constantly rushing through my head..to do lists for the next day, marketing strategies, what I will say at my next public speaking engagement.
Two very different worlds: the quiet life of a writer, the fast-paced life of a publisher. I look forward to sharing a glimpse of both. I'll keep you posted through all of it. :)
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Yet Another Milestone...
I read a quote the other day, "If you don't have a website, you don't exist." Well, I'm thrilled to say we do exist. We've officially launched our website!
Check it out: www.baywestpublishing.com
Like every other aspect of this process, designing our site has truly been a learning experience and a labor of love. Every day presents an exciting new challenge.
Check it out: www.baywestpublishing.com
Like every other aspect of this process, designing our site has truly been a learning experience and a labor of love. Every day presents an exciting new challenge.
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