Let's just say I have something weighing on my mind.
I am not writing this to be dramatic or anything, it's just that my blog is like my diary and writing is a way that I process and think. I have a decision to make and I am pretty sure what I want to do, but I kind of have to put a few pieces of the puzzle together before I can truly decide. I am usually the type to have a tough time keeping secrets. I can keep other people's secrets, but I have a hard time not sharing what is going on with me because I am all about full disclosure. At this moment, I am not ready to share on the blog, but I will, once I truly get it figured out. I just read a post the other day about how blog readers are not super fond of cliff hangers...I am not intending to lure you in only to keep some big unexplained secret, but like I said I am still processing and thinking. When the time is right, I will share, I promise!
I find it really hard to focus on other things, when something really importance is hanging in the balance. I have to study for the driving test (again), I have to create a pre-test for one of the classes I am taking, and I have to collaborate with my partner in Portland via a phone call at 3:00pm so that I can get enough info about her student to create said pre-test. Nothing crazy, but enough things to result in my stress level rising right now. I would say I am a pretty determined person, so once something gets in my head, it's there until I make it happen. Right now, it's just there and hopefully I can get this situation figured out sooner rather than later or I might go nuts.
Anyway, I guess I just need kind words today and I know if I can count on anyone, I can count on bloggy friends for that!
Off to a good start!
After my excitement about having 94 followers yesterday, there was a mysterious disappearance of 1 follower leaving me with 93. I wonder why? Hope I have not bored or offended anyone!
Yesterday I had my first quilting lesson with my amazing Domestic Goddess teacher Lucinda and I finished my first block. I decided on a using three different blocks throughout the quilt, 2 different star patterns and one plain block to showcase the cute animal Noah's Arc print fabric I chose.
I think that the colors look a bit Christmasy, however the other two fabrics that are not used on this block are the ones that are really cute (with the Noah's Arc prints) and they really bring these colors together in a nice way. I don't think the final product will look like it's meant for holiday time.
Yesterday was honestly the first time I ever used a sewing machine in my entire life, but I thought it went really well. At first I was super hesitant, but as the lesson went on, I gained confidence and I was proud of the outcome. Lucinda is a fantastic teacher because her teaching style really resulted in me doing my own work. She showed me how, but then stood back and made sure that I could then do the steps independently. When I was working with her, I was really thinking about my post from yesterday and how some teachers (myself definitely included) do too much for their students which results in the students not truly having mastery over the task/material or whatever it is. Lucinda was an excellent model of what teachers should do. I feel like I could make another block with even less help next time, which is exactly my goal---to gain independence with these sewing/quilting skills.
I am having my next lesson on Friday of next week and I can't wait. The one problem I did run into was using the fabric cutting tool because it was meant for a right handed person. Luckily the blade was able to be switched to the other side, so I could use it without trouble. I rarely run into issues that prevent me from using certain tools as a left handed person and typically I don't need to use items, like scissors, specifically for lefties, but in this case I really did. Lucinda gave me a list of some of the items I need to purchase so that I can do my own cutting from now on. That way, when I am paying for her time, it is just for sewing and not for the part that I could prepare before my arrival.
Tonight a few of my teacher girlfriends are coming over to watch The Bachelor with me. My husband invested in a lot of fancy electronic toys that allow us to record shows from his parent's house in Cali and then watch them in Germany either on our computers or on our TV. My husband is awesome. What would I do in Germany without my trashy American TV show??
I heart Tivo, Slingbox, and Slingcatcher big time!!
A nice pitcher of Sangria is chilling as I type this. I love having the girls over and we are already hooked on the show despite our huge disappointment in some of Jake's selections. I really thought that overall it was a pretty lame bunch considering what a nice guy he seems to be. But as I mentioned to one of my friends...in this economy, surely not as many people are willing to give up their jobs to go on a reality show when it's likely that they won't find love and they will be back home and jobless within a few weeks....That sounds so cynical, but I remember a few seasons back, there was a teacher who left her job and then got sent home after two weeks or so...
Hope everyone has a great Friday.
***
Here's the finished block that I worked on yesterday.
Yesterday was honestly the first time I ever used a sewing machine in my entire life, but I thought it went really well. At first I was super hesitant, but as the lesson went on, I gained confidence and I was proud of the outcome. Lucinda is a fantastic teacher because her teaching style really resulted in me doing my own work. She showed me how, but then stood back and made sure that I could then do the steps independently. When I was working with her, I was really thinking about my post from yesterday and how some teachers (myself definitely included) do too much for their students which results in the students not truly having mastery over the task/material or whatever it is. Lucinda was an excellent model of what teachers should do. I feel like I could make another block with even less help next time, which is exactly my goal---to gain independence with these sewing/quilting skills.
I am having my next lesson on Friday of next week and I can't wait. The one problem I did run into was using the fabric cutting tool because it was meant for a right handed person. Luckily the blade was able to be switched to the other side, so I could use it without trouble. I rarely run into issues that prevent me from using certain tools as a left handed person and typically I don't need to use items, like scissors, specifically for lefties, but in this case I really did. Lucinda gave me a list of some of the items I need to purchase so that I can do my own cutting from now on. That way, when I am paying for her time, it is just for sewing and not for the part that I could prepare before my arrival.
***
I heart Tivo, Slingbox, and Slingcatcher big time!!
A nice pitcher of Sangria is chilling as I type this. I love having the girls over and we are already hooked on the show despite our huge disappointment in some of Jake's selections. I really thought that overall it was a pretty lame bunch considering what a nice guy he seems to be. But as I mentioned to one of my friends...in this economy, surely not as many people are willing to give up their jobs to go on a reality show when it's likely that they won't find love and they will be back home and jobless within a few weeks....That sounds so cynical, but I remember a few seasons back, there was a teacher who left her job and then got sent home after two weeks or so...
Hope everyone has a great Friday.
Whoa, Yay, and Boo
The whoa: I just realized that I have done over 300 posts on this blog! Yesterday's was the 301st and this is the 302nd. I wish I had realized when it was the 300th because that seems like a milestone.
The yay!: I have 94 followers. woot! woot! Welcome to my newest followers and thanks to everyone for stopping by and checking out what is going on with Sneaker Teacher. I am So excited to be creeping closer and closer to 100 followers. That will definitely not slip by without notice and will be cause for celebration.
The (long) boo: I am having a bit of regret today with regards to the subject of learned helplessness. I think in the field of special education, there are many students who rely too much on their teachers and assistants because too much is done for them. Essentially they learn to be/act helpless because they are pretty sure that if they don't act someone else will act for them.
I am completely guilty of this sometimes and I was today. I was in a classroom where the teacher asked me to help a student get his writing binder organized. She had passed out sheets for each section that outlined which papers they were supposed to have and in which order. We had begun this organization process earlier in the week, but this particular student did not finish and still did not have his papers organized in his binder. My Thursday schedule only allows me 25 minutes in this classroom, so rather than doing the right thing and putting my friend in charge while I supported, I did way too much of his organizing for him. Now don't get me wrong, I didn't just let him sit back and take a snooze while I worked on his binder, but there was definitely a lot more effort on my part than his.
Now what lesson did I teach him? Basically that if he can't keep his things organized, his teacher will do it for him.
Whoops!
Yeah, that was me in my stellar teacher moment of the day.
At least I admit to it, right?
I think that often (too often) students learn how to get others to do things for them. This especially occurs in the world of special education and I have to say that I think time is a signifcant contributor to why it happens. Often, students with special needs, whether physical, behavioral, or mental, take a longer time to complete tasks. They might need directions explained more than once, they might not be able to physically move as fast as other kids, or they might simply be avoiders, but whatever the reason, tasks can take longer. Often, we don't have as much time as we need. We are victims to the clock, the bells, and the school schedule which prevents us from being able to see some tasks through to completion, especially if they take a long time.
Yes, I could have put my friend in charge of his own book, however I would have had to leave before it was completed and then I would not be able to monitor whether or not it was up to his teacher's standards (which is what happened the last time and which is why his binder was still not organized).
Despite my behavior in taking the reigns and managing this organization project, I really truly believe that both parents and teachers should encourage their children and their students to do as much as they can independently. The more that the adults do for the children, the less children do for themselves. They learn to rely on others too much and don't gain important skills that lead to increased independence.
When I organized my friend's binderI kind of robbed him of a learning opportunity. From this point forward are his things going to always be in the right place? Probably not....because I did not truly make him accountable for his own organization and responsibility. I did it for him.
I feel bad, but at the same time, I am glad that I was able to reflect on this and decide what I would do differently next time. Sometimes the students are not the only ones learning....
The yay!: I have 94 followers. woot! woot! Welcome to my newest followers and thanks to everyone for stopping by and checking out what is going on with Sneaker Teacher. I am So excited to be creeping closer and closer to 100 followers. That will definitely not slip by without notice and will be cause for celebration.
The (long) boo: I am having a bit of regret today with regards to the subject of learned helplessness. I think in the field of special education, there are many students who rely too much on their teachers and assistants because too much is done for them. Essentially they learn to be/act helpless because they are pretty sure that if they don't act someone else will act for them.
I am completely guilty of this sometimes and I was today. I was in a classroom where the teacher asked me to help a student get his writing binder organized. She had passed out sheets for each section that outlined which papers they were supposed to have and in which order. We had begun this organization process earlier in the week, but this particular student did not finish and still did not have his papers organized in his binder. My Thursday schedule only allows me 25 minutes in this classroom, so rather than doing the right thing and putting my friend in charge while I supported, I did way too much of his organizing for him. Now don't get me wrong, I didn't just let him sit back and take a snooze while I worked on his binder, but there was definitely a lot more effort on my part than his.
Now what lesson did I teach him? Basically that if he can't keep his things organized, his teacher will do it for him.
Whoops!
Yeah, that was me in my stellar teacher moment of the day.
At least I admit to it, right?
I think that often (too often) students learn how to get others to do things for them. This especially occurs in the world of special education and I have to say that I think time is a signifcant contributor to why it happens. Often, students with special needs, whether physical, behavioral, or mental, take a longer time to complete tasks. They might need directions explained more than once, they might not be able to physically move as fast as other kids, or they might simply be avoiders, but whatever the reason, tasks can take longer. Often, we don't have as much time as we need. We are victims to the clock, the bells, and the school schedule which prevents us from being able to see some tasks through to completion, especially if they take a long time.
Yes, I could have put my friend in charge of his own book, however I would have had to leave before it was completed and then I would not be able to monitor whether or not it was up to his teacher's standards (which is what happened the last time and which is why his binder was still not organized).
Despite my behavior in taking the reigns and managing this organization project, I really truly believe that both parents and teachers should encourage their children and their students to do as much as they can independently. The more that the adults do for the children, the less children do for themselves. They learn to rely on others too much and don't gain important skills that lead to increased independence.
When I organized my friend's binder
I feel bad, but at the same time, I am glad that I was able to reflect on this and decide what I would do differently next time. Sometimes the students are not the only ones learning....
Classroom Blogs
Today I was thinking about different ways blogs could be used as a teaching tool in the classroom. I can only imagine the possibilities with older students, but I am mostly thinking in terms of the little guys. Even though I am working with older students now, my mind is always processing teaching information in terms of first grade. Since I taught at that level for three years, it's pretty ingrained.
I was thinking about the process of teaching young learners how to write and how to think about writing and the process of writing. Often times teachers conduct sessions of shared writing where a piece is brainstormed by a group effort. The teacher does the writing, but the whole group is pooling together ideas, giving input, and responding the secretly planned out questions being innocently posed by the teacher who is very consciously carrying out a specific lesson about writing while attempting to simply come up with a spontaneous piece.
With the use of certain technology elements, such as an interactive whiteboard or a document camera/projector combo (if they are available), this practice could be modernized a bit by introducing the wonderful world of blogging!
Some of the ideas I was mulling over:
Imagine the excitement if comments appeared from parents, other teachers, or even the principal in response to student writing!? Oh, I can just imagine the fun!
Again, this is one of those moments where I wish I had my own class. I would definitely try out a class blog and see how it could be used to enhance instruction in writing and editing. At a school like the one where I currently teach, where each student has his or her own school email address and older students are expected to utilize an online server to access homework assignments posted by their teachers, I think that a classroom blog would be well received by parents. At my other school, I am not sure if all of the families would have access to computers for viewing a class blog, but it would still be a great tool for use in the classroom for instruction during the school day. Also, students could try out posting comments during a whole group computer class if they don't have computers at home.
Just thinking...
I was thinking about the process of teaching young learners how to write and how to think about writing and the process of writing. Often times teachers conduct sessions of shared writing where a piece is brainstormed by a group effort. The teacher does the writing, but the whole group is pooling together ideas, giving input, and responding the secretly planned out questions being innocently posed by the teacher who is very consciously carrying out a specific lesson about writing while attempting to simply come up with a spontaneous piece.
With the use of certain technology elements, such as an interactive whiteboard or a document camera/projector combo (if they are available), this practice could be modernized a bit by introducing the wonderful world of blogging!
Some of the ideas I was mulling over:
- Writing a daily class post to reflect on the events of the day and what was learned. (Great time for a bit of review!)
- Inviting students to comment for homework sharing something they learned or liked about that day.
- Using a blog post (conveniently infused with errors) to teach about conventions or writing strategies. Students could help to edit the piece to make it ready for publishing.
- Using a class blog as a great place to publish students' writing for their families to see.
- Having a Student of the Week create a post about him or herself. (Student could hand write it and teacher could type it up or student could type it him or herself depending on age and classroom time allowance).
- Using a blog as a way to communicate with and update parents (which only works if parents own computers or have access to one).
- Having a great place to showcase class pictures.
Imagine the excitement if comments appeared from parents, other teachers, or even the principal in response to student writing!? Oh, I can just imagine the fun!
Again, this is one of those moments where I wish I had my own class. I would definitely try out a class blog and see how it could be used to enhance instruction in writing and editing. At a school like the one where I currently teach, where each student has his or her own school email address and older students are expected to utilize an online server to access homework assignments posted by their teachers, I think that a classroom blog would be well received by parents. At my other school, I am not sure if all of the families would have access to computers for viewing a class blog, but it would still be a great tool for use in the classroom for instruction during the school day. Also, students could try out posting comments during a whole group computer class if they don't have computers at home.
Just thinking...
What do you think about classroom blogs?
Drumroll Please....
It's bloggy makeover day for Sneaker Teacher!!!
I finally had the guts to change my blog design and put my own creation out there for everyone to see.
It was a big step because I LOVED the design that Leslie made for me. She rocks.
But I kind of think I rock too. (sorry, horn tooting...shameless!)
What do you think?
I think I am in love.
Mostly because this is my design and it's all me.....bold colors, teacher stuff, cute fonts.
I found tutorials online and figured it out. So fun. So rewarding. So time consuming!
Just like you need to change up your wardrobe or your style every once in awhile, I think the same goes for your blog design.
Now that changing my blog has eaten up tons of my time, I need to go do something productive!!
I finally had the guts to change my blog design and put my own creation out there for everyone to see.
It was a big step because I LOVED the design that Leslie made for me. She rocks.
But I kind of think I rock too. (sorry, horn tooting...shameless!)
What do you think?
I think I am in love.
Mostly because this is my design and it's all me.....bold colors, teacher stuff, cute fonts.
I found tutorials online and figured it out. So fun. So rewarding. So time consuming!
Just like you need to change up your wardrobe or your style every once in awhile, I think the same goes for your blog design.
Now that changing my blog has eaten up tons of my time, I need to go do something productive!!
Good Readers
As I was sitting in the office of one of my team members today working with my fourth grade friend, I noticed a really great poster on the wall. It was pretty small and not too flashy, but I really thought it was an excellent resource and reminder for students. It listed some good reading skills/strategies that should be employed before, during, and after reading with a little image next to each one.
After my friend left, I copied down the info on the poster so I could make my own (travel size) for myself and students who might find it useful. I used my Boardmaker software to add the images and I will laminate it tomorrow at school so it stays in good shape.
Take a look!
Good Readers
It is so important that young readers realize that there is a lot more to the act of reading than just saying aloud or silently passing their eyes over the words. Being an active reader means constantly thinking, connecting, and working hard while reading in order to really understand the text, story, or reading selection. This chart will hopefully be a good visual reminder for some students and help them to remember that it's okay (and important) to go back and reread if they miss something or to get clarification for words/parts of the text they don't understand. I also like how it encourages students to create a picture in their head as a way to better recall what is happening in the story.
Even the older students (5th graders) that I work with need a bit of help remembering how to be "good" readers. They get intimidated by more difficult texts, yet some of these skills can help them break down some of those challenging texts by using strategies that help them experience success in understanding and remembering.
Please feel free to print and use this "Good Readers" chart. I only ask that you leave me a comment and let me know that you liked it! :0)
After my friend left, I copied down the info on the poster so I could make my own (travel size) for myself and students who might find it useful. I used my Boardmaker software to add the images and I will laminate it tomorrow at school so it stays in good shape.
Take a look!
Good Readers
It is so important that young readers realize that there is a lot more to the act of reading than just saying aloud or silently passing their eyes over the words. Being an active reader means constantly thinking, connecting, and working hard while reading in order to really understand the text, story, or reading selection. This chart will hopefully be a good visual reminder for some students and help them to remember that it's okay (and important) to go back and reread if they miss something or to get clarification for words/parts of the text they don't understand. I also like how it encourages students to create a picture in their head as a way to better recall what is happening in the story.
Even the older students (5th graders) that I work with need a bit of help remembering how to be "good" readers. They get intimidated by more difficult texts, yet some of these skills can help them break down some of those challenging texts by using strategies that help them experience success in understanding and remembering.
Please feel free to print and use this "Good Readers" chart. I only ask that you leave me a comment and let me know that you liked it! :0)
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