What is my biggest take from the book?
I think we are very lucky to be in the school we are. There must be some awful schools when it comes to homework, assessments, and all of the above after reading all of the common sense approaches to teaching. We are also very lucky to have support staff to help us along the way.
My excitement lies with the formative assessments (as much as I hate them right now!) because I see that as a great way to help our students succeed in the new common core curriculum. We need to be constantly looking for ways to improve ourselves as teachers and our students. This will be a great tool to help us get through to a higher level of common core. I am nervous about how this is all going to pan out in the end, don't get me wrong, but I see this as a way to help us through the tough roads.
Time is my biggest fear. When do we have time to get all this done though? Between all of our day to day tasks, and helping that last couple students get up to the rest of the class, I see us losing a lot of valuable time "waiting" for some of the students to "get" it. We currently teach to that middle group of kids and we lose the high fliers at times and the low students, but I see us losing more of that middle group too without the right time management, guidance, and extra help to get everyone moving along. We all do our best ever day, even when we don't want to, we put our best face on and help the kids with what they are currently battling with.
Grading is also my biggest enemy, and why? BECAUSE there always seems to be a growing pile of papers, even when I spend all day grading I never seem to find the bottom of that pile.... there has to be an easier way!! Especially now with the feed back I try to put on papers, not just a grade or number wrong, I always try to put a little something more. Then I hand it back, life is great, another pile off my desk and BOOM they fix their mistakes (because common core says we should let them!) and that pile is back on my desk.... didn't I already grade that paper two times?? I am so happy when they take the initiative though and get that opportunity to improve. It makes me feel like I succeed too. Until I grade the paper and then see its another reteach moment.... Lets stay in at recess and do it again to improve our learning, but is it fair Sally has a hard time learning so now she loses all of her recess? If I don't take the time during recess then when? Should Sally stay after school?
Those are the constant battles of teaching. Those who can do... those who can't teach?!?!? Who ever thought teaching was an easy job? As I finish this blog tonight I realize I better cut it short, we have Mother's Day Projects to do right away in the morning, and papers I need to get graded. Its only 8:00 I have time right??
All in all I am happy to read these books and look at everyone's view on teaching. There are many ideas that will always spark an interest and help someone out. Its the easiest professional development we can do too.
It makes me think we should write a book. What would that title be?? 7:00 AM Ramblings? Could Leah proofread for us? Maybe Ashley could work on citing our sources? How about some good quotes from Brian or Kevin? Those would be great informational based ideas for teachers! Brenda B could add a little history for us, and Brenda O could write the spanish edition for us!! Kari and Andee you could set it to music and we could make a fortune!! Chels will be in charge of our art design (lord knows if you make a 6 foot giraffe with 1st graders you can do anything!) We can't forget about our marketing campaign, that would have to be Mike, Jason, and Jared... we need someone who wears a suit when they are out selling our books. I will just sit back with Stewart and we will give you guys all the advice you need and add our comments when you need it. I am sure I forgot someone here who is going to help us in the process of our book, but we know if I am awake, its mostly just listening to myself talk through class so I don't fall asleep! :)
We are lucky to have had these opportunities. We need to get more people to take advantage of this though honestly. Its hard to get moving in one direction when only some of us are seeing where we need to start moving. I am also getting really confused reading one book with you guys and then talking about last years books with others, I might not be blonde, but sometimes I wonder!!
