Concluding Post: An Open Letter to My Students

To My Amazing Students: Past, Present, and Future,

            Whether this is hello again or for the first time I want each of you to know that you have, are, or will impact my life in a wonderful way.  With that said, I am writing to you so that you may come to understand the person who cares so much about what she does which is teach, in every sense of the word.  Various parts of this letter will be dedicated to different groups.  To begin I will address those I have taught, then my current students, and finally my future students.  I truly hope after reading this, each of you will know where I am coming from and have an appreciation for decisions I have made regarding your life and others based on being a student of mine.

            It’s astonishing because as a kid you never think that your teacher will always remember you.  At least I never realized that.  I figured each year they got a new class and therefore built new relationships that replaced the old ones.  Little did I know that if my teachers were anything like me, not only did they remember but, they took what they learned from their students with them forever.   This is what you have done for me.  As many of you know this by now, I love to tell stories so in order to give you a grasp about who I am as a teacher and how I came to be this way, that is just what I shall do.  

            There is this magical thing that happens when someone learns something.  Some say it is a light bulb that turns on in your mind.  Well, I always envisioned it as a sense of enlightenment where you now know something you didn’t before.  It makes you feel complete.  The first time I caused someone else to experience this, I knew my calling was to be a teacher and this was at seven years old.  I always had friends come over and play in my basement.  We would play board games, Barbies, and house.  The funny thing about playing house is that my idea was always to have my friend play the student and I play the teacher, so I guess you could say we were playing school.  I would write on a chalkboard I had and make worksheets for my friends to complete.  I am sure they rather have done anything else, but my memory of this resembles all parties enjoying it.  On one occasion of playing house or school, I made a worksheet with addition problems.  The problem was that  my friend was a grade below me and she didn’t know how to add two digit numbers quite yet.  I had learned how to regroup and carry the tens place over that year in school and was eager to show her.  We went over several problems and then it happened.  She got her “aha” moment!  My friend got to that point where she understood what she had learned and was eager to try it on her own.  The feelings of satisfaction I had gotten from teaching her that concept were truly rewarding.  I have always been one to want to help others, but this was different.  This wasn’t simply picking up a pencil, cheering her up, or holding the door for her.  I had taught her something she didn’t know how to do and it felt great.  I will never forget what that felt like and each time I taught you something knew, I want you to know that I felt those same feelings of excitement.  Watching you get your “aha” moment was more of a gift than any picture or special note you could have written, although, those were always wonderful too.  I hope this gives you an idea of who I have always been even before I officially became a teacher.

            To my Spartans, typing that name seems silly but it portrays what we are, which is a team.  There is no other way to describe us.  We have our wins and our losses.  We have pregame pep talks and post game reflections.  We compete against ourselves and other classes.  But we aren’t just a team, but a winning team.  To me our days together are the games and if I had to say what kind of statics our record would show, it would be a winning one.  The reason why I choose the word team is because that what teaching and learning looks like to me.  When we learn new concepts and master those concepts, we are winning.  When we follow directions and exemplify positive attitudes, we are winning.  Even when we reflect on what didn’t go well during the day, we are winning because we are learning what we need to do better for the future.    I view myself as your coach and one who pushes you to come up with the answers on your own which is why when I call on you I don’t let you pass the ball or simply quit.  I coach you and then you come up with it all on your own.  That, to me, is a winning team. 

            Similarly to teams, we have so much to look forward too.  I have gorwn fond of our Reading Challenges.  The looks of excitement on your faces when you passed your goals and we earned a trip to Michigan State University was one of my favorite days and I look forward to that day we will have.  Everyday we are earning something as you have discovered.  This is because I think it si important to always be looking forward to what lies next.  The feeling of knowing we worked for something and get to celebrate it never dies with this format.  Your biweekly drawings are an indication of this for positive behavior.   Don’t forget the fact that we track our wins, ties, and losses as a method for earning a celebration.  I want you to know that in life, no matter the situation, there is always something to look forward to if you allow it.

            When thinking of my future students, it automatically makes me think of the past and present.  If it weren’t for my past and present students, I would not become the person I will be to you later in life.    For some things I will need to change and others may just need simple tweaking.  I have also learned things about myself that have helped me learn my students which will help me with you in the future.  I thrive on positivity and have realized so do my students.  If I am stressed or upset at a situation I need positive outlooks to get me out of that mentality.  Everyone has life experiences that are going to effect how he or she is in the classroom.  I could get in an argument with my significant other, hear terrible news, or just be exhausted and seeing my students thinking positive helps me to not dwell on those things.  I need to take this knowledge of myself and incorporate it with my future students.  I have had students with many obstacles preventing them from achieving their personal best and I should have taken that into consideration and used it as a tool to gear them in positive directions.  I can’t expect a student whom is always alone and just had a major transitional life period and expect them to want to practice math problems.  I can and will however, let my future students feel supported, encouraged, and not alone and aid in supporting them while they practice those math problems.  I am vulnerable as will be my students so I need to allow for positive classroom relationships even when it seems impossible because then learning will occur.  I am a very goal oriented person and the more I reflect on this, the more I believe so are most people.  I will always provide goals for you so that you are always moving forward to your next “aha” moment.  I want you to feel how intelligent you are.  I want you to value what an education can do for you.  I have always and will always have members of the community come to visit and share their life experiences because I want you to know what is out there.  I want you to know and feel that you can truly be whomever you want to me.  As cliché as that sounds, it is the truth and I will show you that.

            Lastly, I want all of you to know, my past, present, and future students, that I have always reflected on my practices with you.  Did I make the right decision, how will this effect him/her, are they truly understanding the concept, how will this impact their future, are all a sample of questions that I have always asked myself and will always continue to do so.  You need to know this because you should also do the same.  Maybe not ask yourself those same questions, but reflect.  It is an important process to better oneself and I think teaching is helping others be better.  Whether it be emotionally, academically, spiritually, or in another way.  Never settle for what is, but strive for what could be.  You are your best advocate, and I am so lucky to be a coach cheering you on always as you venture throughout life.  Until next time.

Yours Truly,

Miss Dennings

Cycle Five: What Constitutes a Successful Curriculum?

Cycle Five: What Constitutes a Successful Curriculum?

            When it comes to thinking of a successful curriculum, many questions arise.  How can this success be measured?  Who is deeming the curriculum as successful?  Who is it supporting?  In reflecting on the question at hand, the readings throughout the semester, watching the news, and the current readings for this cycle, I am not going to attempt to answer all of the questions.  I found three main components I deem as important when answering this cycle’s question however this is my opinion at which you may or may not agree.  Those three components are: Proper organization of schools, support for academics and living environments,  teacher support, and methods of measuring.

            The first mentioned component is having a proper organizational system in place.  The first thing that comes to mind is class size.  I have 27 students and think this is too many.  The Lansing School District has many schools at which contain as many as 28-32 students in a class.  I also think this is too many.  Don’t get me wrong.  I love each of my students and have a very well behaved group of kiddos.  However, could my classroom benefit from a lower teacher to student ratio?  Of course!  Yu cannot expect one person to give adequate time to make sure all students are reaching their full potential when you have so many.  There was a day in November.  I believe it was the day before Thanksgiving.  I had 17 kids that day.  I remember thinking how personal it felt, I was able to help many students, and it just seemed like a more conducive environment.  Another organizational aspect is scheduling.  It is imperative to break apart the day to ensure there is little to no monotony.  You should never have students doing the same subject for more than an hour.  I also think in order to help with focus.  Students should have an hour lunch with options during this time such as athletic, computer, reading, or other areas of interest.  Student should also have two recesses a day.  I am an elementary teacher so my focus is with the little guys.  I think in the hour lunch period, recess should be included.  I also think towards the end of the day another 20 minute recess should be provided.  Students are at school for 7 to7.5 hours a day.  Let’s allow them time to be kids.  I also believe the school schedule should allow for time with a councilor if needed.  One councilor per school is not enough.  Students have many life experiences and most need guidance.    I think one councilor per grade or per two grades would be beneficial.  It also needs to be easy to access the school councilor.  Something that would help allow this could be if he/she pays each class a visit once a week to discuss a topic and at the end of the session students can make an appointment if needed to see him/her privately.  Organization can help produce a supportive curriculum to students and teachers.

            Another component of a successful curriculum is having academic and life support.  Core subjects and values should be taught.  You cannot have one without the other and still be successful.  Academics are important but if you only teach academics you are really focusing on the median group of students and not those from extreme situations.  When it comes to teaching academics, daily objectives should be taught.  In teaching these objectives it should be implemented that the students are aware of these objectives so they must be mentioned during the lesson.  It should also be mentioned how they will learn the objective and how this objective relates to the real world.  We also need to focus on the quality verses quantity aspect of teaching objectives.  I find it quite sad that each year I am told that it is impossible to teach all of the 4^th grade social studies objectives.  Why not eliminate some and spend quality time diving into objectives to the point where students are demonstrating mastery of an objective verses merely breezing through it just to say it was taught.  To go along with the objectives, student work must also be shown in new ways.  Bulletin boards should be achievement boards at which students are active members of. The objectives taught, vocabulary, and student work should be shown.  Students should have multiple forms of work shown that shows their growth in the area being taught.  These are just some ways of providing academic support as well as support for home life.

            My third component can be misconstrued.  Teacher support is a method of producing qualified teachers.  I work at a Charter School where we are given raises based on our abilities, which are assessed, based on weekly observations, parent feedback, and student test scores.  I find this to be a good thing.  I am always trying to put forth my best.  The first reason is for my students, but the second reason is because I will be rewarded for it.  I personally think teachers in public schools should be paid more similarly to charter schools.  I think teachers should be paid on the quality of work they produce just like it is at any other job.  I also think it is the school’s responsibility to ensure that the teachers have all the resources and support possible to do their best.  Training and professional development should be offered via the administrative team and conversations of progress and concern should always be voiced so each teacher knows where they stand and how they can improve.  The teacher’s time should also be valued.  This is a job where you are constantly thinking ahead, on the spot, and having to make thousands of decisions a day.  An hour lunch would help for rejuvenation; planning time should never have meetings so the teacher can accomplish tasks, and staff meetings should be based on teacher need development.  If you take care of the teacher they will take care of the student, which is the reason we are all here.

            The final component of a successful curriculum is measurement.  How do you know it is successful?  Talking about standardized tests could be an entire dissertation in itself.  My take on how to incorporate these are simple.  There needs to be a tangible way to collect data for schools across the nation.  Standardized tests offer that tangible data.  Should this be the only method?  Heavens no.  I believe students need to demonstrate application of what has been taught and standardized tests limits that application.  In real world scenarios, students are not givn a paper and pencil to make decisions.  They apply what they know and generate ideas/concepts.  There needs to be a balance of using the standardized test to get a general idea but also take into account student classroom performance. 

            The last item I want to point out is that successful curriculum should be reflected upon and updated.  What works in 2012 may not work in 2042.  We need to have aim talks and reflection of practices.  This will help reach that goal in  mind which is a successful curriculum.  

Sources

http://www.wickedlocal.com/topsfield/news/x760606811/Tri-Town-School-Committee-picks-new-math-curriculum#axzz1rIiaOg4N

This article is about a school who adopted a new math program. What interested me in this article was the fact that the spokesperson for the new math program advocated that it implements the common core standards at which are being encouraged nationwide.  These standards encourage critical thinking and problem solving.

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/04/05/roy-roberts-reveals-emergency-plan-to-overhaul-detroit-public-schools/

This article hits close to home as it talks about our neighboring city of Detroit.  We all know that inner city Detroit is a sad place and the hardship of this is who is impacted.  The kids.  I was pleased to see how they are restructuring their schools by passing the administrative levels to the schools.  With a big district as DPS it is imperative they do not treat all schools the same way.  

http://www.quickanded.com/2012/04/expanding-learning-time-and-doing-it-well.html

The issue of extending learning time was the topic of this blog.  This would be another organizational piece to the success of curriculum.  I believe this would depend on the district.  My school is implementing what is called a balanced calendar.  The same amount of school days in a year, the same 7 hour time frame each day, but school starts three weeks earlier and therefore 3 supplemental weeks are distributed.  This will close the gap of summer erosion and offer breaks during those long months during the year which will hopefully help student learning.

http://www.kipp.org/

One of our articles discussed a similar school system  which reminded me of the KIPP program ( I believe they were briefly mentioned as well).  As a school, we saw Waiting for Superman and I was impacted by KIPP.  As a charter school teacher for a different company it was interesting to see similarities between us and KIPP.  I am not on thwe charter school bandwagon if you will.  The more I continue my research and reflect, I believe a balance between public schools and charter schools would be the Utopian experience.

http://www.nhaschools.com/Pages/default.aspx

In my reflections I often mention what I know based on my experiences.  I only have experience in charter schools as I am finishing my third year.  Someday i hope to get experience in a public school before venturing off into the world of school restructuring and shaking things up a bit to help our future.  To give you more information about my company and the ideas that have been mentioned in my reflections, I feel this website will be of help to get a view of my background thus far.