Rabbit Hole and Gratitude

I stumbled upon this blog post this weekend: 

90 of the Hottest Tech Tools according to Education Experts

Oh my.  Talk about a rabbit hole!  I'm not sure if you call it a rabbit hole if you truly understanding that you are most definitely not putting FIRST THINGS FIRST, but are having so much fun that it is worth setting aside pesky priorities.  

How invigorating!  How exciting.  I knew what I was doing, but have to admit, that I'm not sure if I could have stopped even if I wanted.  There is something about reading about fresh, new options and ideas that is invigorating.  Stay tuned and I will report what I found later.  

This I know.  Though I am not 100% "prepared" for the week (yet), I am totally ready to hop back into school tomorrow.  Why? one might ask.  Here's why:

1.  This week we get to test out a Global Expedition with Mr. Jerlecki on Tuesday.

2.  We are continuing our study of great women and I am looking forward to some more thinking and discussing and reading and writing this week.

3.  I get to work with other classes exploring some new venues, activities, and challenges.

4.  I got groceries, so I have good food in the house and a bottle of wine, too.

5.  We get to go to the park this week. 

6.  Dentist appointment Tuesday morning, which I don't love, but it does give me a little more wiggle room in the morning.

7.  Team Awesome 174 is going to explore Write About, a blogging platform that I want to learn more about.

My kiddos are keeping gratitude journals in Book Creator right now.  We are finding ways to wire our brains for gratitude.  Someone in another class said a wise thing the other day.  They were talking about appreciation and she said, "Well, you don't have to LIKE it, but you can still appreciate the thought." (in reference to a gift)  I think that was a great thought.  Even the things that don't go well this week or are hard or frustrating or bumpy, I can appreciate the learning I am dos
ng and the growth I am experiencing because of those challenges.  Too Pollyanna?  

Right?  No such thing on a Sunday night as being TOO Pollyanna!

Joy in our hearts

Joy in our community

Joy in our learning       

                                                                 

Good Day Sunshine

As I walked my kiddos out the to bus today I caught myself listing all the things that went wrong today. Like, that is the instinct I have.  That's a pretty shitty thing to do to myself.  But how to change?  I need to build a new habit.  Obviously this is not gonna "just happen".  Time for a new goal!

I'm all for reflecting, and that is where my mind goes at the end of the day.  Oh my.  I just noticed that I connect reflecting with things I've done wrong.  I can't believe I just did that.  Like, I reflect on things that I want to do differently next time.  

Aha moment happening!  Reflecting on the good things does this (just making this up off the top of my head):

1.  Puts a smile on your face and calms your weary heart
2.  Helps you to see what went well, so that THAT can keep happening
3.  Brings to the front of your mind happy moments from the day

I haven't read the research, but that kind of reflecting just HAS to make me a stronger and happier teacher.  Right?  

I'm gonna give it a try.  Most certainly can't HURT to try and run through the positive in my mind first.  You know another reason I start with the negative?  "If I don't, I can't get better."  "If I don't focus on the negative, I will become a slacker and accept status quo."  Which really is ridiculous when I stop and think about it.

That's a goal I can get behind.  If I can remember. Maybe some kind of visual reminder.  I'll let it simmer.  Here's what I am going to think about every day after school.  See if that helps.

Good Day, Sunshine! oh YAH!

Procrastiosity

http://blog.qsample.com/the-hero-guide-to-destroying-the-death-star-of-procrastination/procrastination-meme/

What is the phenomenon called when you put something off and then the longer you wait, the more grand the something has to be when you actually do it?  There's gotta be a name for that.  Procrastination + Grandiosity =  Procrastiosity?  That's what I've done with posting on my blog here.  But if I am only posting for myself, that need not matter.  So here I am, Self.  With some reflecting to do.

Today I tried something different.  During read-to-self, I went around and talked with each child for 1 minute.  Today was casualish, like, "How's it going?" and "How's your day going?" and, "How was your break?"  I had wondered if a minute could count for anything, but you can actually get a lot said/heard in a minute.  I. loved. it.  

Now I need to think about how to incorporate this kind of practice in different ways, so I get more one-on-one time with my kiddos.  I think I will experiment this week and see where it leads me.  Have speed-conferences about reading or writing.  

Really amped up what I had our student of the day do today.  I said, "Man, I am working you hard."  He replied, "I kinda like it."  Shoot.  Another reminder I am doing too much!  Bring on the leaders.  

The end of the day always seems to be a bit of a struggle for us.  This article came across my desk and so I am trying to implement this routine.  A Lovely Silent Well Behaved way to End Each Day

https://www.smartclassroommanagement.com/2018/04/07/a-lovely-silent-well-behaved-way-to-end-each-day/

Timing was a little off today, but I already so improvements.  Must train them better tomorrow (i.e. let them know what the system is, exactly).  

It was a good day today.  I can actually say I had fun today.  

Oh!  Tried out the Authentic Literacy Template form Focus given to us by our fearless curriculum leader.  Figuring out how to best use it with my kiddos, but today we did a poem and it was quite invigorating.  

One thing I need to "fix": Class discussion.  I gave it 10 minutes and 7 students had a chance to talk.  The others were not listening very well.  It is supposed to help everyone, so I need to think about how to get more participation.  Tomorrow I will try Wagon Wheel.  I think some collaborative structures will hold the answer for me. 

Joy in our hearts

Joy in our room

Joy in our learning

What in the day?

What in the day?

Reflections on the day

1. I introduced my students to making tutorial screencasts to teach others how to use an app.  Oh my, were they excited! (So was I because people would WAY rather listen to them than to me!)  

First posted screencast was for Toontastic.  Thanks, JS!

2.  We read Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters and talked about possible themes in the book.  They've come so far in their understanding of theme.  I put their assignment in a Seesaw Activity, so that was a first for me.  I love it that they know more than I do!  

Here's BS's theme and support.  Good job! (Oh how I love 💜 teaching themes!)

3.  Introduced new fluency passages.  We are studying themes, so the passages are about themes.  It is so awesome that they have this routine down.

All in all a sunshine kind of day!  

Goal for this week?  

Made at recite.com

Joy in our hearts

Joy in our room

Joy in our learning

Here's what I know about Team Awesome 174

1.  They love to sing. 🎼🎵🎤
2.  If given the chance, most will dance. 

When talking with my principal the other day he asked me, "When are they at their best?" then continued to say,  "Use that structure more often." 

3.  RAZ Kids tops EPIC and Front Row.  
4.  Spelling City, Flocabulary, and Ed City are equally enjoyed.
5.  Team Awesome 174 appreciates having choices.  📕📚📰📖📝

So this got me thinking.  
When ARE they at their best?

6.  They are creators and thinkers. 💡
7.  They love to post on Seesaw and Twitter.
8.  Making a video is right up there in preferred activities.  📹🎞📽

And I narrowed it down a bit.

9. When a story is being told, they are enraptured. 
10.  Sharing is important to them. 

And here's what I came up with for myself as their educational leader.  I narrowed it down to four things I need to remember as I plan lessons and experiences for Team Awesome 174.

😎 Read aloud to them every single day.  #morereadaloudsin2018 (Okay, so this is already one of my goals.  Carry on...)

🐰 Loosen up.  Choices matter.  I find myself wanting to control all content distribution at all times.  I am thinking that is not entirely as necessary as I think it is.
  
🍑 Play a song during transitions.  It makes everyone happy.

🏆 Give them more opportunities to work with partners.  Trust them.  😀😀

Now to think of what this means for implementation.  The song and read aloud are rolling.  What about the choices and partners?

I'll be back when I figure that out!  

Joy in our hearts

Joy in our room

Joy in our learning

Share something you are excited about in your classroom

So, our agenda for our meeting this morning came through an email last night.  

Item #1: Share something you are excited about in your classroom.

Well, I am glad you asked. It is funny that yesterday I had an exciting and delightful day with Team Awesome 174. So I am happy to share! Some of the things I am excited about?

Fluency-Poetry-Flocabulary-Themes

1. Fluency Practice  

I let the students pick a poem from 5 different ones this week. I was curious which ones they would pick. (Would they pick the "easiest" one?) Some interesting results. Many chose the easiest poem. But it was surprising who chose the hardest one. I listened to one boy read his and had to grin from ear to ear. Because of the nature of the poem, he started singing it. (Did you know you can make QR codes for Seesaw posts?)

2.  We used the book of poems by Doug Florian (one of my FAVORITE poets) yesterday titled Insectopedia.  

One of the members of this book group wanted to record it onto Seesaw.  I said sure and he went into the middle room to record.  He stayed there for 27 minutes!  These poems are not easy.  His fortitude amazed me.  

3.  I 💙 Flocabulary so much!  I love raps!  I love it when students create!  Some of my students have started writing raps with the vocabulary they are learning.  Here is one that J wrote: 

4.  I always get excited when theme is the subject of the hour.  We watched the story of the The Monkey King yesterday and talked about the themes in that story (sacrifice, changing behavior, greed).  Then later we read Half Chicken (Journeys 2nd Grade Vol. 2) and one of the students notice a part where the fire sacrifices itself for the sake of the chicken.  Making connections is VERY exciting, wouldn't you say?

And one last thing, if I may.  

As you can see, we are getting our read aloud in!

What are you excited about in YOUR classroom? Do tell!

Now what about that Twitter goal, Ms. Hostetler? Ok, ok...I'm on it!

Follow us @teamawesome174

Joy in our hearts

Joy in our room

Joy in our learning

Keeping the love alive for the standards

Every get bored with the standards?

Do you get bored with the standards sometimes? Here are some thoughts and ideas about keeping the love alive.

Thanks to the contributions of Katie Bradford!

PS I know some of these ideas seem "obvious", but I wanted to make a list for myself to go to when I am feeling this way.

Joy in our hearts

Joy in the room

Joy in the learning