School is out. It’s 9:00 am and I’m in my PJs waiting on my 6 yr old to get up so we can get ready for a dance dress rehearsal. I, like most teachers, love summer break. This year we get 2 extra weeks because of some blind state legislation but I’m going to wait until kids are losing it in October or I’m in school on Saturday to complain about the new calendar. I’m going to enjoy this summer, it’s nice to be home & not because I’m in pain from a surgery…or two!

As teachers we often complain kids’ brain turn to mush over the summer. Local news always run a story or two about how we need to keep exercising their brains. English departments assign summer reading (boo I hope not as bad as the depressing book our 6th graders have to read) to keep brains active during the break. But what about you as a teacher? Are you letting your brain go to mush?

As teachers we need to be the example of lifetime learners. This is a time we can learn something new without the added stress and worry of paperwork, RTI, IEPs, grading, and a day full of kids which can be stressful enough. I believe we need to rest but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn also. Take just one day and attend a PD session offered by your district. Look for local/state conferences or even better treat yourself to a much needed get-away and find a conference out of town. I understand your kids may be home & no one to keep them, then find a webinar. There are numerous out there and some even “on demand.” Read a book! Or if you are still resistant to Twitter or haven’t been on in a while nows the time to connect. I know that’s one thing I’m looking forward to, I’ve been a “post and run” tweeter lately and I’m missing out on a lot! If anything set up a Google Reader account and read a blog post a day!

Take advantage of what is out there. It always makes me sad when teachers want to do the best for their students but turn their nose up to PD opportunities. Again it’s summer, you can do what you want, so choose the PD that is right for you. This isn’t anything that is mandatory by your school with 100 slide PowerPoints, this is about what you want.

Do it. Learn something. I’m pretty sure not many people regret learning something new that will make their career even more awesome! And most of all, have a great summer!

Imagine you had a first date with someone. Immediately (s)he started talking about marrying you, y’all’s kids, even grand kids. No matter what happened after that part of the date you probably wouldn’t be able to get past that beginning conversation unless that was what you wanted too. When something begins and everyone involved has different goals it becomes unenjoyable.

Last Friday (and will happen again on Tuesday) 800 math and special ed teachers were in my school going through AMSTI (Alabama Math Science Tech Initiative). I wasn’t taking part of the training but after checking all the rooms and fixing the tech problems that magically appeared over night (or could be because they came in and unplugged everything) I got a feel for what the classes would be about. I saw a lot of manipulatives and chart paper. It was easy to see that the focus would be on teaching and learning strategies.

During the day I got a text from a friend who was in the sessions saying if they say the phrase “raise test scores” one more time she was going to be sick. As the day went on that was a huge complaint from people I talked to, that this was all about test scores. One even said, “just give me your big binders, transparencies (yes they gave out transparencies!!), and let me go home” and when I asked her why she said she was hoping for lesson ideas that did not focus on test scores.

Two weeks ago I had to go to SIOP training. This is a training that focuses on methods for teaching ELLs. Really what it came down to was using best teaching methods that reach all students. The sessions (3 days worth) were boring due to fact it was canned PPT and workbooks but I learned a lot because the instructor always came back to the reason WHY we were learning this. It always focused on student learning, a lot of focus on Blooms and getting kids beyond just understanding and answering questions on a test.

You see the difference in the two PD? The WHY. I know that AMSTI has great ideas and really does teach good learning strategies and according to teachers attending the AMSTI trainings, when they return tomorrow they will be finally focusing on the “how” not the “why.” BUT no matter how great the learning practices are if the reason behind does not align with our goals as teachers it is not effective. (FYI Most teacher’s goals are not to have students pass the test, just in case you were unaware.)

You know when we first started teaching it was drilled into our head that lessons had to relate to the kids and have real-world application, the same applies here. When teaching teachers you still need keep that focus. Teacher’s #1 goals are not raising standardized test scores, well at least GOOD teachers do not have that goal. Stop making that always the focus.

As teachers we are bad about learning these strategies and tucking them away in the back of our mind then pull them out during walk-throughs because we know they are on the check list. If we realize that these methods really do promote student learning and use them we will see results. We have to push past that “improve scores, everyone needs to pass” mindset and realize that there are good methods being taught, it is the delivery of “why” that bums us out. You keep your focus, the kids, and the rest will work itself out. Don’t get discourage by it.

I remember when I was in college I used the internet for 2 things, emailing friends/boyfriends and looking for lesson plans (we had to write 3 page lesson plans constantly for our education classes). I pretty still use the internet for the same thing – connecting with others and learning new things for my classroom. I remember a professor telling us “no need to re-invent the wheel as long as you don’t copy and paste and give credit where credit is due” when I asked him what he thought about us searching for lessons online. I think teachers get so wrapped up in live, paperwork, school, we go with the simple, less engaging lesson we did last year or came up with in the haste to turn in lesson plans to our admin we forget there are awesome lessons online.

When you do start looking for online lessons, where do you start? If we Googled it we are back to being swamped again with this time having to sift through 939,395,293 results. The Adobe Education Exchange is a great place to search for awesome lessons without getting overwhelmed. It is very easy to search and the ideas are great! There is even a place where you can look up other teachers who are on the exchange. Great way to connect!

Here are some cool lessons I found in a search for “science” lessons:

Angry Animals (For all the Angry Bird lovers out there! This is too cool)

Volcano Eruption (My kids do a similar project, I think this is much better than what we were doing!!)

Take the time (which I know is precious) and browse through the site, it will be worth it. Even if you do not have access to Adobe in your school it is a good place to start ideas, and may be good to use to persuade the powers that be to get Adobe!

Enjoy the search!

(This post is crossed posted on Tools and Apps Y’all)

 

Just in case someone did not tell you, I want to: Happy Teacher Appreciation Day. If your day was like mine, you probably did not hear one kind word or receive any encouragement during your 8 hour workday. You may like me receive the complete opposite. I am sorry. Please never be discourage. Please know that if you do what you can, you are reaching at least one child, and may be more. When you want to scream or cry but smile instead, that may be the only smile that child received. (Then find a friend and scream and cry with them.)

I know we have a thankless job. I’m not pointing it out to complain. I’m pointing it out to remind you that you are right where you are supposed to be with the children whose lives you are supposed to be part of. Some personalities may clash. Some may be ungrateful for what you do. Keep going. We don’t always want to, I know right now it’s taking all I have to keep going.

I want to say thank you to you. I hope you feel appreciated. If not, know you are not alone. The year is almost over. 12 days. We can make it.

I always thought “It’s like riding a bike” was a lame statement. Growing up I loved riding bikes, I lived in a neighborhood that had HUGE hills and it amazes me I could peddle up them as a 4 feet, 50 pound, 9 year old.  We would even take our pink Huffys in to the woods, up the mountains, and to the old abandoned water tower. We when I think about riding bikes, this is what I think about doing.

There is NO way I could do any of that now. It would take me a year of constant training to get back to that. So when someone says “It’s like riding a bike” they are leaving something major out. While you may still be able to keep your balance, you aren’t going to have the endurance or even the love you had before.

Last week, I went back to work/school. I had been off 9 weeks so I was pretty nervous about going back. I had 3 or 4 people tell me “It’s like riding a bike, you’ll do fine!” So I walked into my classroom trying to catch that balance of before. I did still have the balance. I was able to go through the motions, catch up with the kids, find out where they were curriculum-wise and start from there. Balance was there.

Endurance and love were not as easy. It was hard adjusting to not having my days to focus on what I wanted to. It was hard being around people for hours at a time. I was used to my drama free little bubble for 8 to 10 hours a day. It was a rough personal adjustment. Professionally, I had to adjust. Even though I was home I was working, just a different “work.” I was working on Edcamp Bham stuff (the week after surgery I had 72 emails on just edcamp, I don’t even remember answering/reading), I was trying out products for companies (I fell in love with a science probe lol), looking at websites and giving feedback, attending conference calls about products, reading blog post & books (A LOT OF THEM!).  So my days weren’t wasted, just different. Being in a classroom with 150 kids throughout the day and writing lesson plans that I actually have to find the energy and time to do was a huge change. Plus the kids had to get used to me getting back as well!

I have learned (or was reminded of) a lot through this journey. I was reminded that teaching is fun. I have a fun job! I enjoy the energy of schools and what kids bring with them and how annoying that energy can be when not used for good. I was reminded how hard teachers work. It is a non-stop job! I am tired at the end of the day. Unfortunately, I was reminded that even though I enjoy my job, I know being in the classroom is not final calling in life. I am more than sure I am ready to move on to the next step in my career and I’m pretty bummed I am not given that opportunity. But I have to put that in the back of my mind for now and focus solely on the kids who are part of my life now. I cannot believe there are only 19 more days of this year left! It is time to wrap it up. I hope my students this year learned more skills than basic science. That was my number one goal.

Then it all starts again next year with new kiddos. It’ll be simple, because it’s like riding a bike…right?