What Are You Reading?

What are you reading? A very important question in today's world where we often listen to books and read short articles online and choose not to read a book just for the shear pleasure it bring. Authors write books to inform, persuade, and entertain their readers. We cannot always do something even reading just for the happiness it brings; sometimes we need to read with purpose.

I read my Bible for the joy it bring as well as for instruction and understanding it brings. I just finished a good book on Christianity by Dr. Warren Wiersbe. He stressed some important ideas modern Christians need to consider and note. The title of the book was "God isn't in a Hurry". This is important to remember as the world gets more instant. If we want to review a fact we just google it. Bam! The best things in life take time. Growing spiritually is one of them. 

Professionally, I am reading "Think Like Socrates...Using Questions to Invite Wonder and Empathy Into the Classroom" by Shanna Peeples. Asking the right questions is so very important. I am excited to dig deeper in this book. Often we need to ponder our questions and revise them as we work with our students. It is enlightening to understand that our students have some of the questions we have. One question I have is ..."What do people think of me?"  In the first chapter Ms. Peeples states that what our students really want is for us to listen to them. We all want to know that someone hears our questions and concerns.

Just this weekend I was reading a short book with my niece. It was just for fun. The authors intent was just to entertain the reader. We were entertained and enjoyed our time together. At this time I am not reading book personally just to be entertained. I think I will explore my library, as I have purchased a few new books recently.

Pen Pals Versus Text Messaging

I am on a mission to bring back the pleasure of written correspondence with a "pen pal" to the students at my school. I enjoyed learning new things from my pen pals as a teen and still enjoy corresponding with friend and family. We often use the Internet in these correspondence as it takes less time to exchange the messages, however I think we should take time and visit with our paper and pen as well. There is something pleasurable about checking your mailbox at the local post office and finding out you’ve got mail that isn’t a bill.  

I enjoy a letter written on any kind of paper, but I like teaching my students the joy of personalizing their writing paper by purchasing  stationery or adding some artwork to their correspondence. 

It also gives narrative writing an authentic purpose. A gives them the opportunity to scruntize their grammar skills. It reminds them to add details to their writing so their pen pal can interact with their story. I remind them they want their friend to see, hear, smell, taste, and touch the things about which they are writing. 

They also get the opportunity to use their reasoning skills as they ask questions to learn more about their pen pals. They become friends with someone they have never seen. Global friendships and understanding are created one person at a time. 

Realizing Relationships

Last year was my first year as an instructional coach at Burch PK-8. When the PK-4 school at which I  taught for several years and the middle school in the same community merged the position became available.  The new position seemed familiar and alien at the same time. I knew most staff and programs we were using but not from this prospective. I grew during the school year and I am now ready to begin my second year as instructional coach. My experiences last year taught I must get into the classrooms even more to support both new and veteran teachers. Each group of teachers have their own set of strengths and weaknesses to address. We all do.

As I begin planning for this year I want to spend time in every classroom. I will make sure every teacher has what they need. This summer as I went to training sessions around my home state of West Virginia I keep hearing one word repeated "RELATIONSHIPS"!  The first step for me will be to add depth to the relationships I have with the staff in my school. Yes, I call it my school! In order to take pride in my school I must own a stake in the success of the school. Every year we should learn something new about our colleagues both personally and professionally.

I must address curriculum issues which will certainly arise as the year begins. The basic housekeeping tasks will be first. Do we have enough books and licenses for software we will be using? More important to the learning will be assisting teachers as they unpack their standards and plan lessons. I want to inspire them to create experiences not just create a good lesson. I have been inspired by Dave Burgess' book "Teach Like a Pirate". Don't settle for a good lesson instead plan lessons which inspire and challenge your students. My job will be to help ignite a fire in the teachers in my building as they plan such lessons and stoke the fire when necessary.

WV Technology Conference

West Virginia Technology conferences are places where among the laptops, document cameras, and  projectors you find lego bricks, chart paper, and markers! Educators today definitely use technology but we also value more traditional learning tools as well. Everyone was tweeting and adding thoughts and ideas on many social media platforms, but discussion about the sessions were also held in the rooms, halls, and meal halls  of the conference center. Some of the discussions which caught my eyes and ears were about creating opportunities for our students to think, collaborate, and build new additions to their world. 

We must enable them to learn by  providing  them with the tools they need. Booker Watson, III pointed out that having a tool available is pointless if there is no access. Our students deserve to have these resources whether it's internet resources without service, crayons, or a new book. We must use every avenue available to secure them! 

  

We must encourage our students by listening to what they are  thinking and discover their passions. The teachers from Spring Mills High School made me rethink data. They weren't talking about test results  but the data we get when we build relationships with our students by talking with them and watching how they interact with others. At times students need grouped using test scores but many times they thrive by using valid relationship data.

We must empower our students by always be prepared for class and challenging them to think as they create authentic projects to positively change our world. Shannon Miller and Derek Oldfield gave examples of how this can be accomplished. Every program and resource we have isn't always necessary as educators we must decide which tool to use with today's lessons and bring it on with our passion! 

I Am a Teacher, I Am a Learner

I have been teaching for 33 years. As I reflect on why I teach,  it is my calling. If I were a nurse or an accountant I would still find a way to teach. My love for young children led me to choose elementary education. I am a lifelong learner  and always find opportunities to learn  and to share what I learn with others. The smiles and bright eyes of my students every day motivate me to continue finding new instructional materials, resources and teaching methods.  My young students keep me continuously  looking for new instructional methods and materials to keep them engaged in the lessons I design.

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Skyping with Students

Several years ago I was introduced to Skype as a teaching tool. I joined a community of educators and guest speakers who were using Skype in the classroom. I joined several projects and collaborated with a third grade teacher at my school  to hold mystery Skype conferences with other classes in the United States. Our students enjoyed meeting students from other states. This was a good place to begin our adventures in video conferencing.

The next year we joined the Global Read Aloud Project with Pernille Ripp and colleagues. Our students connected with a class in California as we read and held weekly discussions using the book Marty McGuire for seven weeks. We learned lots during this time. We secured an inexpensive external microphone and a set of speakers to add audio quality. We also established a speakers chair where  the microphone sits during conferences. Since no participant goes to a conference without a plan,  every  week we used  discussion questions created by both classes.

Last year we kicked off our year of Skyping video book conferences with the Global Read Aloud Project in early October and quickly found other classes  to connect with throughout the school year. We utilized different books expanding our reading horizons. Our students found their voice and confidence as speakers due to the requirements of the sessions.

One first grade teacher wanted in on our fun lessons last year and her class took part in the author study section of the Global Read Aloud Project. Her class connected with other classes by sharing activities on a padlet wall and by e-mail. We even took part in an old school post card exchange with other classes from around the globe. After the Global Read Aloud Project we connected with a librarian from Florida who held a weekly read aloud with our first grade students. She still does!

We are always looking for opportunities to expand our Skyping boundaries. We seek ways to develop the geography skills, comprehension skills, speaking and interpersonal communication skills of our students.  My colleagues and I continue to take our students to new heights using this tool for instruction and collaboration.

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