Let's start with the positive, shall we? With a short writing time today, I decided to change my plans and have partners write poetic pep talks for next week when we are taking state tests. Jam* wrote more than he's ever written. Four teammates finished and took their poems out to the hall to record with some mad beats from Flocabulary. I plugged one team's poem into Ditty. (I need to find out how you can change the tune or theme on Ditty.) They seemed to "get it" and want to help their teammates feel good about their abilities to take the test and manage stress. Except for the one poem about a phone and being alone and wanting a pep talk. Someone didn't give clear enough directions, it looks like.
Now for the growth area. Maybe the lesson felt like a disaster because a peer was in watching me and doing a mock evaluation. No. I don't think that was it. It just was a disaster. Let me back up. We are teaching theme so that we can compare and contrast themes from books by the same author with the same or similar characters. I had them draw a theme from Dog-of-the-Seawaves. We had created themes a few days earlier with friendship and love. But did I use those? No, I did not. (For one, I couldn't find them.) I rationalized saying to myself that they can whip out another theme. (Wrong turn #1)
Students went and wrote other themes, but finished at staggered times (of course...didn't think that through). So when we went to throw our snow balls and record evidence under the theme, there were like 4 students doing it. The whole activity was an exercise in futility. Students were frustrated and so was I. Fail.
So, what to learn here?
Growth Areas
1. Keep track of your papers
2. Model, Model, Model
I did not model this activity well enough or often enough. (Shout out to Mr. Myers who suggested we need to do more of that before we send them out on their own. In this case that would have helped tremendously.)
3. Plan more meticulously
Can I do this? How?
1. Get trays for papers
2. Err on over-modeling
3. Think through things more thoughtfully (list steps?)
I'm not going to make big goal plans for myself, but I see now where this is going. I just wrote things down. I am making myself more accountable by seeing my growth areas and thinking of what I want to change and improve.
I'll call that a good day's work. Even with the fail.
*I will use random food names for my students. Just to keep things light and anonymous.
Disclaimer: Please investigate any apps or websites that I mention carefully to make sure they work under your circumstances and for your kids before you use them. Sorry to state the obvious. I just don't want to send anyone down a surprise path. This way anyway. Other surprise paths, sure!
