New Lessons Every Day

I have found myself learning so much every day I am with students.  I am more aware today of the diversity in my town than ever before.  It is fascinating to walk into different schools and be cognizant of each different dynamic across town.  It is a great lesson in flexibility and adaptability for any substitute teacher.   Strategies that work with students in one neighborhood school may not work with students in another.  I have found that academically there is a level of continuity between the elementary schools and this is encouraging.

For the next two weeks I will be working in the same fifth grade class in a school in the north end of our town.  The building itself is one of the older school buildings in town.  I heard one person liken the school to a little parochial school.   I connect to that statement on many levels!  Much of my experience has been in the satellite schools around town that were all built in the 70's.  The older in town buildings are multi floor, brick buildings with old radiators and oversized windows.  They have a charm that the newer buildings lack.

During my time with these students not only will I cover all the required academic materials but I am hoping to soften the underlying social dynamics that seem to disrupt all levels of learning in class.  I'll be using morning meeting, closing circle and a myriad of reminders throughout the next weeks in the hopes of effecting at least a small change.  We shall see.  I'll be starting with the following:

So Much To Say!

The past twelve weeks have been enlightening.  I have spent time in a myriad of classrooms and that time has reenergized my passion for education.  Exciting work is being done throughout my school district.  In the elementary grades programming seems to be shifting toward teaching children as readers, mathematicians, scientists and historians rather than teaching subject matter to children.  The old adage of teacher being the 'sage on the stage' is replaced with the teacher as a 'guide on the side'.  I have always felt more comfortable facilitating learning rather than disseminating information.  As educators we must use a wide variety of approaches in order to reach all of our students.  Direct instruction has not been eliminated from classrooms.  It looks very different.

One of the benefits of being a substitute teacher is that I am able to see how other educators set up and run their classrooms.  I have been carrying a camera along with me to each assignment so that I can document the best of the best!  The following images are from a 5th grade classroom that I have spent time in as a classroom sub as well as a moderate special needs sub.  This particular group of students looped with their teacher so the class has a well developed sense of community.  I particularly enjoy how the class is set up for comfortable learning.  The environment is language rich without being overly busy.  This teacher uses the CAFE model for teaching reading strategies.  The classroom is quite large and she is fortunate to have two areas where she can meet with groups.

I will try to post pictures from at least one classroom a week.  It is helpful to see what other educators are doing.   It is an exciting time to be an educator.  There is so much work to be done but the rewards far outweigh the effort.  Just yesterday a group of 4th graders created a book for me during their weekly free time declaring I was the best substitute teacher ever!  High praise from children who only just met me and who could have been doing just about anything else during their Friday free choice time.  

In The Classroom

Today was my first day back in a classroom as a substitute teacher this school year.  I think it is interesting that my first day back was in the same position as my last day last year.  I was in the 4th grade for the morning.  I must say it felt odd seeing all the things I used last year being used in different ways.  It was wonderful interacting with the children and reconnecting with my colleagues.   I had lunch with the fourth grade team and then assisted in a different fourth grade class and two first grade classes.  The afternoon was productive and went by in a flash.  I walked into the cafeteria and was thrilled to see so many of my friends from last year!  What a pleasure to see their happy faces.   I hope I'll see them again, very soon!  

For now this blog will serve as a place to share ideas I find throughout my district as well as anecdotes from my adventures in substitute teaching.  With any luck next year I will be sharing tales from my own classroom.  

Summer Blooms

Well even as we feel the pull of the fall season, summer is still going strong in the outdoor classroom at IBES!
My daughter and I spent time in the garden last week photographing the beautiful flowers.

Field Day-2012

It's been months since field day.  I snapped hundreds of photos that day and it has taken me all this time to organize my pictures into a slideshow.  Great memories were made during field day.  Honestly it was the best field day I have ever experienced.  Enjoy the slideshow!

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Summer Ideas

Well it is usually sometime after July 4th when kids are looking for something to do.  The newness of sleeping in and staying up late has worn off a bit and the dreaded "I'm bored." statement escapes their lips!

If any of my 4th grade friends from last year are uttering such unspeakable words then they should head over to the Words for Writing section on my web page and start writing!   Remember you have a summer notebook to hold all of your amazing ideas.   I'll be adding more writing lists throughout the summer.  If you want to share your stories with me you can send them to me through my website.  I would love to read what you are writing.

Maybe you are not interested in writing today.  Well you are in luck there are amazing books out there to read.  I think there is nothing better than sitting on my back deck with a good book to take me to far away places. Right now I am working on two books and I'll be adding  a third in about a week.  I am still reading Rick Riordan's The Son of Neptune (Heroes of Olympus, Book 2) I know that if I dedicate an afternoon on the deck with this book that I'll be happy I did so and might even finish it in one day!  Another book on my reading list this summer is Opening Minds: Using Language to Change Lives by Peter H. Johnston. It is an amazing book that expands on his first work Choice Words.  I have always believed that what adults say to children and how they speak to children leaves lasting impressions.  Johnston has shown through his research and writing that not only are lasting impressions left but how children view themselves as learners is directly impacted by the language used by the adults in their lives.  Next on my reading list is a book off of the Plymouth Public Schools summer reading list.  I've ordered several books for my children and myself to keep us entertained throughout the rest of the summer.  I'm looking forward to reading The Other Side of the Island by Allegra Goodman.

Perhaps you are looking for something a bit more interactive to keep you busy in the next few weeks.  Well you are in luck!  I have found an amazing blog full of fantastic, interactive science activities.  The Kitchen Pantry Scientist is a great resource for scientific, summer exploration.   My young friends, please be sure to check with your adult before you attempt any of the experiments you find.  It is important to be safe!