To Paint or Not To Paint

I DID IT!!  I managed to have a full classroom painting at the same time and I never "wigged" out until the cleanup process.  Painting has always been the one medium I have feared in my teaching career.  While not rational, my thoughts would run rapid of all the "what ifs" when I would introduce paint.  I know learning is messy.  I understand kids need to do.  I recognize the need for artistic expression.  BUT, what if paint got on their clothes, the carpet, all over:  what would I do?!!!!

Referring to my favorite characters...Alvin Ho and Scarredy Squirrel...I devised a fool proof plan.

Mrs. Archer's Painting Preparation Process:

1.  Buy paint and brushes....check
2.  Secure painting area (a.k.a the cafeteria)...check
3.  Spend prep time sketching portraits and tracing with crayon...check
4.  Line tables with drop clothes...check
5.  Make a visual aid (chart) of clean-up jobs and the student responsible...check
6.  Pack multiple cleaning aids to the painting area...check
7. Bring a Diet Coke or Cup of Coffee for Mrs. Archer...I FORGOT!

As you can see, I was very detailed in my preparation.  My treasures painted with precision, waiting in line for their next colors.  Through their own schema, they began mixing paint to create the specific color they were seeking.  It was smooth! The portraits are amazing! (Will be sharing at a later post!)  Then, as with all projects, some began finishing at different times.  "What do I do now, Mrs. Archer?  Is it time for recess?  Are we going to recess?  Can I help do something?"  Aghhhhhh!  I forgot to plan some "what do I do when I'm done" stuff because we weren't in our classroom.  Then, it went crazy
( in my head) and my treasures were everywhere.  After much meandering, loitering, and dancing (yes,some of my treasures love to dance!)all the materials were cleaned up, spotless, and inspected.  It went well, and I'll do it again.
But, I will always remember: to take deep calming breaths (especially during cleanup),  bring a diet coke for me, and that could make all the difference!

Not Good Enough?

As part of the Daisy Troop Cookie Drive, my daughter, her friend A, and the mothers sold cookies at Old Navy today.  As all mothers do, we began chatting away on a variety of topics. (Both of our husbands travel extensively for work, so I've found another mom who identifies with me!!) Our conversation turned to school, and I soon became saddened by what she shared.

She volunteers as part of the school Kids Reads program, and mentors a young kindergarten child.  As her meetings progressed, she felt the child was reading okay and had a conversation with the teacher.  What transpired,  bothered and saddened this mom.  Because the school district has a high achieving clientele, the gap between those working on grade level and those above grade level is so great.  This kindergarten child was one at grade level and the teacher was using the mentor to help bridge that gap.  My heart cried for this young child.

This mom also shared that her daughter, A, is one of those students.  Her teacher is asking her to frontload A with material at home so that she can be ready when those concepts are introduced.  A is doing homework all the time.  I gave the mom my favorite educational website www.gamequarium.com that A can do at home, which is more fun than paper/pencil worksheets.

All afternoon I've been marinating this notion that "on grade level" is not good enough.  What are we teaching our students at the young age of 6 or 7?  Where is the differentiation?  If a true workshop model was in place, wouldn't kids like A succeed along their own continuum?  Children need to be cherished and honored for the work they do.  When I think of all the great leaders of our time, were they told they were not good enough?

Global Community?

NCTE's 21st Century Framework is my GPS for moving my students into the 21st Century, but the component of sharing with a global community is one that my colleagues and I in our district are trying to achieve, while working within the confinds of our out-dated technology policy.  Most of our student work needs to be password-protected and not shared with the outside world.  I have even had a parent concern about placing work on our school's intranet, so for me this issue is one dear to my heart.

Listening to Tim Tyson at the Dublin Lit Conference, I was convicted that I need to find global avenues for my students to share.  His students work, if  the qualifications were met, was posted for a global audience.  The students internalized his message, and he found global avenues for them to share.  After a few days of marinating on the issue while sitting through hours of  painful national testing for fourth graders, I thought of some ideas:

1.  Jeni's Ice Cream came and spoke about it's business practices as a tip-off for economics.  We wrote thank you letters to the speakers when one of my treasures said, "Mrs. Archer, are they really going to read them?"  Ouch...everything we do must have an audience and purpose.  Yes, I copied their letter on colored paper and sent them the next day.  Future ideas:  taste-testing 4 flavors and writing reviews to send to Jeni's. (thanks, Ann Marie Corgill)  It may not be global, but the audience is in our small part of Columbus. 

2.  My brief  Freedom on the Menu  read aloud blossomed into a month-long study of those who made change.  A seed was planted and through other picture books, mostly fiction, we'll tackle how my treasures can make a difference, big or small in a little piece of  their world.  Through painting, videos, photography,and more, my treasures will be creating a class video on making change.  My thought is to burn dvd's and send them out, but I've got to tackle the parent/district paremeters first.  Any other ideas?
Change the World in 5 Minutes a Day At School gave me the inspiration! (Next on my learning continuum, learning how to embed youtube videos!)

Sharing with a global community is the one facet that is limiting my treasures.  Like Tony at Learn Me Sumthin' has posted, we need to move forward, even if our hand is slapped!  It's easier to ask forgiveness, than permisson!

Kevin's Meadering Mind Podcast

Kevin's Powerful Meadering Mind:  I didn't get a chance to see Kevin Hodgson because I was in other sessions, but Tony from Learn Me Sumthin and Mary from Teaching in the Tech Frontier raved about his Meadering Mind.  Mine has been working in overdrive since the conference and I flipped over to his blog tonight and listened to his podcast reflection on Tim Tyson's technology movement in his school.  I'm posting the link    (scroll to Feb. 22) because I cannot do it justice...all I can say is WOW and AMEN!!  For those of you wanting to move faster and farther than districts will "allow", Kevin shares what it took for Tim Tyson to go up against district and technology administrators and get most of his teachers blogging weekly.
It's a must "hear" podcast for teachers, administrators, and district officials.
Enjoy!  I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Ann Marie Corgill-Dublin Lit

Earlier Lisa blogged about Tim Tyson and how he rocked the house with his message.  My post is about  Ann Marie Corgill's sessions and her book Of Primary Importance.  Whenever I find a professional book that I identify and center my workshops around, the author becomes by Book BFF.  When I began teaching fourth grade, Aimee Buckner was my BFF with her book, Notebook Know-How.

Of Primary Importance author, Ann Marie Corgill is my new BFF. (I even told her that at the conference.  I'm a teacher paparazzi!!) I saw her at NCTE, and read her book afterwards.  I'm rereading it and marking it up with my own personal thoughts.  Her message is simple:  

Children and their work needs to be celebrated and honored daily.
 

Thoughts from the book:

She believes that students succeed when teachers possess the six A's:  

Analyze, Ask, Applaud, Assist, Assess, and Advocate.

The most important thing I learned is that being you, being unique, being the teacher you are while teaching what's expected and what's appropriate for children is what matters most.

If you know the why, you can invent the how to teach it.

Believe that less is more.  If you cover less, you'll uncover more with your students.

Her book isn't a how-to, but more like a GPS guide to keep you moving in the "write" (no pun intended) direction.

I love her message, and I hope there is an opportunity for me to see her again.  But, for now, she's my new BFF.

21st Century Learning at Dublin Literacy Conference

As a committee member this year, I had the pleasure of being Dr. Tim Tyson's hostess at the Dublin Literacy Conference. Prior to meeting him, I did my homework...I read his blog, watched his keynote speech from the NECC conference, and read through the his bios. I started to think of him as my little "techno-nerd." I was nervous about meeting him. Although I am fascinated with technology and the possibilities it presents for me as an educator, I have been a slow, cautious "promising" learner when it comes to technology. I started to wonder, what would we talk about? How could I intelligently contribute to our conversations? What would he think when he soon discovered that I am a "techno-neonate?"

On Friday night, when I picked him up at the airport, my fears were quickly put to rest. He was a kind, thoughtful, reflective man who easily chatted a variety of subject ranging from our "lovely" Columbus weather to what scientific research has shown what motivates human beings...and that was just on the way to the restaurant. Over a delicious meal with other authors and committee members, I quickly realized that we, the "techno-nerd" and "techno-neonate" had a lot in common.

On Saturday morning, Dr. Tyson delivered an amazing keynote speech to start the conference off with a "techno-BANG!" As he stood up on stage, he transformed himself from a quiet, humble "techno-nerd," to an entertaining, magical "techno-WIZARD!" He waved his magic wand (ok, it was really his Ipod touch, but work with me...) and showed us numerous number of amazing applications and enticed us by showing with the possible implications for using them in the schools. The "techno-WIZARD" was on a roll! Carefully woven throughout his presentation, he urged us to to think BIG by asking us questions like...How are we, as educators, going to help our students leverage the power they have to create meaning? How are we going empower our students' so they can reach their human potential? How are we going to continue to edit and revise our thinking?

Toward the end of his magic show, I was worried. My "techno-neonate" brain was full and overwhelmed. However, I should have known, that the "techno-WIZARD" is wise to the ways of mere humans... My brain may have been full, but my heart still had room...He waved his magic wand once more, and showed a beautiful short movie created by students who also had been empowered to think BIG by Dr. Tyson. As the session ended, I wiped the tears off my cheeks, and realized that we are living during an amazing time of change. As educators, parents and citizens, it is our responsibility to use the gifts of technology to help us make our world better!

Thank you for visiting Dublin, Dr. Tim Tyson!

Small Moment in The Checkout Line

I was looking at my treasures today, thinking about the next testing days and the OAT's to come.  Have I done enough teaching the testing genre?  Will they do well?  Will they have test anxiety and not perform?  I know..tests don't make the student.  I hear you.  You're speaking to the choir.  But, it is a reality. 

Rushing  to Sam's afterschool  for a 7lb bag of mints, I smiled and waved hello to a parent I had last year.  Her son was unique and had some quirks, but he shined in technology and reading.  She didn't recognize me, so she came over for a chat.  Once she realized her son was in my class, our conversation took on more than a friendly fly-by.  She shared with me that he is a reader now and loves it.  "You brought it out in him.  He wasn't into books before, but whatever you did, Thank You.  You expected him to read and set the bar high enough for him to achieve." I thanked her, but it really was finding that book, that spark in him so he can thrive, succeed in the classroom.  It was showing myself as a reader, working through strategies in my own practice.  It was having book talks, book choice, and a devoted time to reading in the classroom.

It's these little moments that pop up when you need them most.  My treasures will take with them a love for reading.  Thank you, Mrs. S for sharing your son with me last year.  I learned from him, also.