A Year Later

I have to admit it. I'm a blog post writing slacker. No shame either. Life happens.  Teaching happens. All the times I thought "what a great blog post this would make" and life over took happened.  Great, incredible things were happening.  As a teacher, we seem to capture those moments and now, well summer is here and it's time to reflect and share.

Honestly, it was my BEST year teaching ever!  Some will say "you got lucky with the group you had" and yes, the Firsties were a great group.  A lot of hard work went into making them such a great group.  They accomplished beyond my own goals.  They led the way and I followed.

Alternative seating was a staple in the classroom.  Their choices lead to their learning.  I challenged that learning.  Through four Donorschoose.org grants, the classroom moved into the 21st Century. The class had 3 Chromebooks, a wireless color printer/copier, and a camera.  Our fourth Chromebook came from a grant written from a teacher's car/home insurance company.  The class loved every opportunity to set their own learning goals and outcomes.

A variety of writings were published.  Firsties had the choice of publishing handwritten stories and articles or using Google Docs or publishing on our Kidblog site.  It just wasn't writings from Writers Workshop either.  We began our day by writing in Quick Write notebooks..about anything important to them. For many, those were shared on our Kidblog site.  It wasn't just writing it became on opportunity to respond as well.  "Ms. Mason, can I respond to writings on the blog?" became a frequent question. And they always wanted more.

Firsties engaged their learning on http://www.tumblebooklibrary.com/. They were choosing to read and watch about topics of their personal interest.  If it was in the news, there was someone learning about it on tumblebooks. Seriously. One day, as I looked over at a student who was engaging their learning about Mohammed Ali.  He had just passed away. Talk about real world inspiring learning.

My next move? A Google 21st Century classroom.  

Oh, and writing more about those moments over the last year.

Letting Go

I know....I know.  My last blog was in October!  Time gets away from all of us.  It does.  There is nothing we can do about it...well, we can we can embrace each day to the fullest, do what makes us happy, be with the people who make us happy.  So I'm getting a little sappy and sentimental.  Doesn't every one at the end of a year.  Enough of the sappy. Back to business of teaching.

It's been a busy time since October.  I took the time to really look at my classroom and figure out ow to make it a home.  A home.  It really is a home.  A home for 24 little bodies 7 and 1/2 hours a day. We all work at creating the cute bulletin boards, organized focus areas and who are we really doing that for?  Is it the kiddos? Is it administration? Is it for us?  We spend a great amount of energy on how WE want our classrooms to look like but isn't really our kiddos space?

Going into this school year, it really became my goal to sit back and let the Firsties take charge.  Take charge of it all...their learning...the classroom environment...everything.  Oh, I have brought items into the environment. Every the bargain hunter, I found a great chair, computer desk (in perfect condition!), and lamp at Goodwill. Take really good look around your house...what aren't you using? I realized I had a floor lamp in my bedroom I never used.  Well, it's in the classroom now and gets used every day. Write a Donorschoose project.  I have 4 Wobble stools and 2 bean bags on the way. Items I could never afford and school couldn't. I even have asked parents for donations...and received two wonderful table lamps and end tables.  Ask and you shall receive.

But its not creating a cute space for me or administration or parents or out "cuting" the teacher down the hall.  It's about letting go and letting the kiddos take control.  When the take control, the learn. Simple as that.  Active engagement equals learning.  Let them choose their spot.  Let them sit under a table or tucked in a corner. Let them sit in a group around a coffee table and chat.  Listen closely to their conversations.  It's about their LEARNING!! And yes, my Firsties are learning.  Oh, and there are times when I do have to step in and help make choices but rarely.  I have the confidence and TRUST in my kiddos that they will make the choice to be in a location and be actively engaged. We teach them how to choose their own books, we let them write about their personal topics, why shouldn't we let them make the choices about where and how they learn?

In December, my principal came in for an unannounced observation. Did I freak out?  Did my stomach clinch and pray that my Firsties would be actively enagaged? Did my heart sink and what to crawl under the table? No...No...and No.  I kept teaching the strategy group I was with and watched 20 First graders be actively engaged in Read to Self.  I had ONE...ONE student I had to redirect.  A simple "Are you actively engaged?" set him back to focused reading.  I know whatever my principal comments, my Firsties were doing what they needed to be doing.

Will I be always tinkering with classroom set up?  Sure..it's in a teacher's genes.  But it's the Firsties room, I just am there to facilitate their learning.  As I tell them, I teach what goals they need to reach, its their decisions on how they actively engage in those goals.  Sure...I'll ask our custodian next week to lower some tables and take away some chairs.  It's all about more choices. More active engagement.

Lastly, you need to begin with that conscious decision of letting go.  Was it hard?  Yes and no.  Yes in the way I am the teacher who wants everything to look neat, organized, and that box of letters better be in the right place.  I had to have control. No,  in the way I'm not spending hours at school creating cute bulletin boards...I still have one empty! And it's OK. Someday there will be something there.  I better get the Firsties working on that.  Or spending hours on seat labels, creating the perfect library, or all those tiny micromanaged details. Letting go means I get to focus on learning and expanding 24 little minds.

How will you let go?

An Amazing Journey

It's been a great beginning to a great school year.  Why? One word...Mindfulness. From the first day of school every day, my Firsties and I meet twice a day to discuss how we can be mindful, at the beginning of our day and right after recess.  I know some are going to think its just another passing phase in education.  It's not...its about life.  My goal as a teacher is to teach life skills. Reading is a life skill...math is a life skill.  Understanding yourself, knowing how to focus and be aware of yourself, remain calm and treat others with respect and dignity is a life skill.  And it's an amazing life skill to see when a 6 year old puts it into action.

As I said my class begins each day with a Mindfulness Meeting.  We gather sitting in a large circle facing each other.  Yes, I get down on the floor and sit as a member of our Family. We being our meeting with focusing on our breathing.  I purchased this very inexpensive chime from Amazon which I ring to begin the meeting.  Our meeting takes no longer than 10 minutes.

The purpose of the chime is for the class to spend the time the chime rings focusing on their breathing and to focus.  I talk about letting go of all of the distractions we bring to our classroom so we can focus on being aware of our learning and being in the moment of our learning.  There is a great video, "Just Breathe", that explains focusing on breathing and our emotions.  And its done by Kindergartners, so it's kid friendly.  It's done by Mindful.org. ( The Firsties loved it!)

We then either read a short book teaching a mindfulness lesson...some great ones are Charlotte and the Quiet Place and Mindful Monkey, Quite Panda.  The list is truly endless! We may just take some time and talk or we may complete a lesson out of Mind Up.   Just a hint...we take a whole week to complete one lesson.
 

It's a wonderful series of lessons developed by the Hawn Foundation. There a two editions, PreK-2 and grades 3-5.

So what's the gain of this time?  My Firsties discuss problems among themselves...no intervening from me.  None.  I have stood back and watched.  They work it out.  If someone is overly upset it's not uncommon to hear "Take 3 breathes so you can calm down first".  Learning time is focused.  The Firsties recognize that they are in charge of their learning.  They are making the decisions of how they are learning...its a self directed classroom.  I truly just facilitate.  I have the opportunity to step back and focus on teaching.  And we're a Family. We care about and treat each other like a family.

I was recently asked by one of my building's Learning Coaches what my end of the year goal was for this group.  She stumped me.  What did I want for this group ultimately?  My answer to her this week was I want my students, my school family, to be able to actively engage themselves in their lives and to empower themselves with the knowledge that they make those choices. I know if she reads this, I've extended and changed my answer a bit....that's what being Mindful is about...reflecting, being aware and having a growth mindset.  I'm growing every bit as much as my Firsties.  It's an amazing journey to be on with them.

It's a busy beginnng

I know, I've been slacking on blogging.  It's the beginning of the school year and you know that means a never ending list of to dos.

I spent much of August setting up my classroom. Well, a few days anyway. In between all of those last minute summer jobs, I spent my time working on changing my classroom theme to a Mickey Mouse room.  It's been a hit!! Its so rewarding to hear the kiddos walk by my room and comment on how "cool, Ms. Mason's Mickey room" is and hearing my  Firsties proudly tell others "that's my room!"

My blank canvas to start with...I left all of my bulletin board paper up from last year. It was perfect going from a bee theme.

 I saw these great crate benches on Sun, Sand, & Second Grade and could not resist making them.  I have 3 benches all in a Mickey fabric. Here's the link for the easy, peasy directions Sun, Sand & Second Grade.

 I was wondering Wal-Mart and found this great plastic container...then while wondering JoAnn Crafts I found a great Mickey Mouse scrap booking sticker page and poof! A great container for positive behavior tickets!

Teachers Pay Teachers has to be my FAVORITE teacher site.  I found freebies and very reasonable purchases to create my Daily Five, FACE, number line, and calendar areas.  I found the freebies at Live Laugh and Love to Learn, Kindergarten Magic, Sheila Parrot, Heather Bingham, Teaching is Awesome.  I made purchases at Ear's What's Happening, Teaching is Awesome, Owl-ways Learning with Kristina Stankovich, Teachablity, Katy LaPlace (she also has a teacher binder set), and Sarah Thebo.

With a little help from Schoolgirl Style, I created tissue fan table signs and lantern Mickeys.  The lantern Mickeys were inspired my second favorite teacher site, Pinterest,  They were super easy. I painted the top of a red lantern black, cut out yellow construction paper buttons, and black construction paper ears. The hardest part was trying not to get burned by the hot glue gun. Failure on that goal..instant burn blister. 

 I love my word wall.  Each of the Mickeys and letters was cut out with my Cricut.  I used both the Mickey shapes and Mickey font cartridges. The letters were made into sticker for easy applying.

Having friends that sew is a great thing! One friend made me pillow case covers and another made my classroom curtains. I have to say the friend who made the curtains wasn't so sure of my design.  She had faith and went with it. She loved them when they were done!

My teacher area is even Mickey-fied! And I love the wall to display the Firsties creations!

Our saying when we leave each day is "See Ya Real Soon!"

Finally, the wall outside of the classroom greets all of the school.  The Firsties locker tags are even Mickey themed!

I'd love to know what you think about my theme.  

Next up....we have been focusing on Mindfulness in the classroom...I'll share what we have been doing.

August?

How can it be August? Seriously? August!!  The big plans of slowly working on projects around the house and preparing for a new classroom theme have become OH NO!! I'VE GOT TO GET THESE DONE!! As in YESTERDAY! 
My Facebook feed has been full of teachers preparing, setting up classrooms and what have I done? Nada, A big fat ZERO.  Oh, I've done things.  I took a long weekend trip to Northern Michigan over the Fourth of July. I've completed the Advanced Writers Project with the National Writing Project. I've shopped multiple times at Target...it's an addiction.  
The time has come...my lists are now made for day by day of what I need must do. The countdown truly has begun...my last two weeks of summer. And here I am...writing a blog post.  What's still calling your name to be done before school starts?

Mindfulness In the Classroom

Mindfulness begins with living in the moment.  Accepting those events in your life and approaching them in a thoughtful manner. Mindfulness means that we truly are listening to those around us. Mindfulness means many things to me.  Personally, it means I am taking the moments in my life and dealing with them head on, making decisions in a thoughtful manner.  Mindfulness to me means I am looking for the good not only in myself and my actions toward others but also the good and actions toward me.  In the classroom, I have experimented with this idea of mindfulness and how a group of busy 5 year olds can begin to develop mindfulness toward each other.  

My experiment began in January, when I was frustrated with classroom behavior.  The crying, tattle telling, and physical aggression toward each other was at a point of over ruling the classroom environment. And how was I going to bring peace to the classroom. I discovered my students were filled with wonder about my own mindfulness journey and were daily asking me if I was going to my yoga class. They opened this closed door of creating calm, soothing learning environment.  I simply began my journey on introducing yoga breaks to the classroom and teaching the class to breathe. To focus on their breathing, not what their neighbor was doing, themselves.  Next, we began focusing on mentor text which taught a life lesson—compassion, respect, listening to others.  I talked with the class about “centering themselves”, taking time throughout our day to sit calmly, quietly and picture ourselves listening to others, thinking about what words would we use with others to show appreciation or problem solve.  We would begin each morning and afternoon with quiet time thinking about those interactions.  The students quickly assimilated this new routine.  Our only light was that of the sun shining through our classroom window, gentle music from a relaxation CD would be playing, and as I walked around this tranquil room I would repeat several  statements to the students: “Picture yourself listening to others”;  “How are we a family”; “Think about the kind words you use with others”; “Picture how you want to be listened to by others”;  and “Think about how you are in charge of your own day”.                                                                                                           

The results of my plan…5 year olds talking to one another; children seeking others to discuss activities/share their work; and 5 year olds reminding other 5 year olds to work through situations in the classroom.  The greatest reward however was hearing from parents about the carryover at home.  My plan made a difference.  You can also create this Mindfulness in your own classroom.  Take the small step of teaching your students to listen to others from their heart.  Take 5 minutes each morning for a yoga break. I highly recommend GoNoodle online.   How do you implement Mindfulness in your classroom?