Would I want to be a student in my classroom? After reading Chapter 1, Teaching With Intention,probably not! I wouldn't mind being a student in Mrs. Moreno's class though!I feel as though I am too structured most of the time.
I'm not trying to make excuses,but when is there time to do more than voyager and math? Oh, and don't forget AR! I would love to read about The Underground Railroad with my students and have them add ideas to charts and have a little station where they reflect on readings and such but WHEN??
I agree Jolene! There is no time to sit back and explore and enjoy the things that add meaning to learning. Between reading and math and AR and the other things we need to spend time on we seem to lose focus on the things we remember as children in school. I still remember Charlie and the Chocolate Factory that my 6th grade science teacher read to us. He made it so real and even ?? years later, I still remember what an impression that made on me. The luau we had in 4th grade social studies when we studied Hawaii is another. I would have to say that with those things considered, I would have to say no to that question but at the same time I would also say yes. We are doing great things with these children and I look forward to seeing where we go from here.
Would I want to be a student in my class? Well first of all Mrs. Bailey rocks!!! jk I can hear you laughing now. I try to make learning fun and interesting for my students. I can remember when I first started teaching how I would do fun and cute activities with students and I still have students come up to me now telling me they remember this or that from my class. (Keep in mind these are students from several years past - when we did not have voyager or DIBELS). I am not knocking voyager by any means, bc I did not have the scores that I do now either. But in the most recent years of my teaching it seems like all they remember are voyager and timing.? Anyway I do agree Jolene and Jeanine, it is hard to find the time, but I think that is with everything! It is hard to find that balance and that is one thing I struggle with daily.
Having said all that, maybe we should start out slow and try to add something new or at least a new and exciting way to present what we already teach. I know I need to change and I am looking forward (like Jeanine said) seeing where we go from here.
If I was a child, I would love to be a child in my classroom! My teacher greets me with a smile and kinds words every morning. My teacher has created a daily routine so that I know what to expect throughout the day. As a child, I am learning and having fun at the same time. Every day I learn a new skill that I can go home to share with my parents.
If I was a child, I would love to be a child in my classroom! My teacher greets me with a smile and kinds words every morning. My teacher has created a daily routine so that I know what to expect throughout the day. As a child, I am learning and having fun at the same time. Every day I learn a new skill that I can go home to share with my parents.
"Sometimes" is a great answer, Lyn! I think we all have those days that really click and those days that never seem to flow. Some days the stress of doing more, and more....etc. really gets me and I don't feel as if I am as FOCUSED as I need to be for the children. Sometimes it seems as if I am trying to 'get through' so MUCH that nothing gets done as WELL as I feel it should be done. As Angie mentioned, I really miss some of the memorable lessons that we used to have time to do. I feel like I've learned so much with Voyager. I love the grouping, the very direct and explicit instruction, and the way that now I KNOW how each child in my classroom is reading. No child can hide! LOL I also really like how the program BUILDS in a very systematic manner. On the other hand, I feel greatly limited by the scripting. I miss the richness of involving the children in literature that goes beyond the program. But there is no time! What I am asking myself, is HOW can I better incorporate some of the richness and love of literature into the day? I don't want the sound of that timer to be what my students remember from being in my classroom. I want them to remember feeling loved and to take with them a great love for READING!
OK, I am agreeing with everyone here! Would I love being in my classroom if I were a child??? Sometimes. I am feeling the pressure Angie, Jeanine, Jolene and Donna mentioned. Get this done, move to this and get it done NOW!! I understand what Lyn is saying when she talks about watching the clock and having to move on. What do we do about this? I love Angie's suggestion that we tackle one new thing at a time. We love our scores with Voyager, but we don't love the rigid script and daily activities...can we change one or two things and still get great results? Can we add some of Mrs. Moreno's tactics? How do we do this? Where will we find the time? And how do we start?
I also find it interesting that Mrs. Moreno's observation took place in April. I wonder what steps she took in October to get the children ready for the April classroom. I'll bet she wasn't worried about fluency rates and timing nonsense words, or was she? Can you tell I feel like I am drowning right now? I want my students to have the experiences Mrs. Moreno's students had, but I don't know where to begin and how to begin...
I agree with so many of previous responses I have read. My answer to the question can be yes and no. Many of my students seem to enjoy the small group atmosphere in my room. A struggling student can read from a lower level text and feel successful. There are few students that I have taught though that resent the small group setting and feeling different and dislike being taken away from their classroom. These are usually the students that are keeping up with their grade level with just minimal accommodations in their classroom. There are days that I feel the pressure of the time constraints that I have to spend with my students. There is only so much I can cram into 30 minutes before I have to move to my next group or classroom. So many times my lessons are read, read, read or work, work, work and I can have short, snappy responses to my students because there just isn’t time for anything extra and I am in a rush to get the lesson done before I have to move on. But I truly feel like my students know that I love them, want to help them, and rejoice in their accomplishments. I do feel like there are many things that I do well, but there are also many, many ways I can improve my instruction.
Wow!!! What great comments! I am also a "sometimes" answer. In many ways I would love to be a student in my classroom because of the structure, neat classroom environment, etc. Then there are times like when reading chapter one that I think about how objective and goal driven I am in my profession and my day does not seem to have that same ease or relaxed atmosphere that the one in which I read of apparently did. When one of us discovers how to incorporate that true middle ground we definitely need to share it with each other.
I agree with what Jolene said! I remember doing all of those fun comprehension activities when we had other reading series and were able to create our own "teaching station" according to students' needs. I would also be a "sometimer" because I would enjoy lots of the activities in my classroom but now I question if I convey the pressure that I place upon myself on to my students. So if that is the case, then no...I wish we had more time where we could do more creative reading and math activities in our classrooms.
You all brought up some great points! TIME seems to be a thread throughout all the posts. I can remember when I taught 1st grade, as much as I would try, I was not always able to read a book to my students every single day. That bothered me a lot b/c I knew they needed that…and probably more than one book a day! I also realize that even more is being demanded of you. If I still taught 1st grade, I know I would miss the special days we used to have (Space Day, Rainforest Safari, etc) and the units we taught. Those are the things that children remember. As I thought about your posts and the grades you teach, it occurred to me that we were reading about a 3rd grade class and that makes a HUGE difference. Please remember that you are building the foundational reading skills for students. Most of your students are not ready for the type activities Debbie Miller observed. Can we build to that? Yes, we can. I love the idea that Angie had about changing one thing at a time. We have the luxury of a great reading program…it has flaws and drawbacks… but your students have also been very successful b/c of it. I believe that we can look for ways to make it better fit our needs. Be thinking about that! Would I want to be a student in my class? I believe so! Because of the students I work with, I try to plan activities and lessons that the children will enjoy and engage them all in learning. Sometimes it is not always easy…but I try. I know that most of them enjoy coming to my room. A teacher commented to me recently, “Just what do you do down there? They love to go with you.” With struggling readers, getting them to love to come to my room for another reading lesson an accomplishment!
I have to go along with everyone else. Sometimes I would like to be in my class and others not so much. Students in my classroom are not allowed to go on their own that much. I tend to want to supervise and point them in the direction I want them to go not to trust that they will do as they should. Think I like to be the "boss" too much , tend not to trust others. Trying to let go of my strange-hold over my students, hope it works.
Would I want to be a student in my classroom? After reading Chapter 1, Teaching With Intention,probably not! I wouldn't mind being a student in Mrs. Moreno's class though!I feel as though I am too structured most of the time.
ReplyDeleteI'm not trying to make excuses,but when is there time to do more than voyager and math? Oh, and don't forget AR! I would love to read about The Underground Railroad with my students and have them add ideas to charts and have a little station where they reflect on readings and such but WHEN??
ReplyDeleteI agree Jolene! There is no time to sit back and explore and enjoy the things that add meaning to learning. Between reading and math and AR and the other things we need to spend time on we seem to lose focus on the things we remember as children in school. I still remember Charlie and the Chocolate Factory that my 6th grade science teacher read to us. He made it so real and even ?? years later, I still remember what an impression that made on me. The luau we had in 4th grade social studies when we studied Hawaii is another. I would have to say that with those things considered, I would have to say no to that question but at the same time I would also say yes. We are doing great things with these children and I look forward to seeing where we go from here.
ReplyDeleteWould I want to be a student in my class? Well first of all Mrs. Bailey rocks!!! jk I can hear you laughing now. I try to make learning fun and interesting for my students. I can remember when I first started teaching how I would do fun and cute activities with students and I still have students come up to me now telling me they remember this or that from my class. (Keep in mind these are students from several years past - when we did not have voyager or DIBELS). I am not knocking voyager by any means, bc I did not have the scores that I do now either. But in the most recent years of my teaching it seems like all they remember are voyager and timing.?
ReplyDeleteAnyway I do agree Jolene and Jeanine, it is hard to find the time, but I think that is with everything! It is hard to find that balance and that is one thing I struggle with daily.
Having said all that, maybe we should start out slow and try to add something new or at least a new and exciting way to present what we already teach. I know I need to change and I am looking forward (like Jeanine said) seeing where we go from here.
If I was a child, I would love to be a child in my classroom! My teacher greets me with a smile and kinds words every morning. My teacher has created a daily routine so that I know what to expect throughout the day. As a child, I am learning and having fun at the same time. Every day I learn a new skill that I can go home to share with my parents.
ReplyDeleteIf I was a child, I would love to be a child in my classroom! My teacher greets me with a smile and kinds words every morning. My teacher has created a daily routine so that I know what to expect throughout the day. As a child, I am learning and having fun at the same time. Every day I learn a new skill that I can go home to share with my parents.
ReplyDelete"Sometimes" is a great answer, Lyn! I think we all have those days that really click and those days that never seem to flow. Some days the stress of doing more, and more....etc. really gets me and I don't feel as if I am as FOCUSED as I need to be for the children. Sometimes it seems as if I am trying to 'get through' so MUCH that nothing gets done as WELL as I feel it should be done. As Angie mentioned, I really miss some of the memorable lessons that we used to have time to do. I feel like I've learned so much with Voyager. I love the grouping, the very direct and explicit instruction, and the way that now I KNOW how each child in my classroom is reading. No child can hide! LOL I also really like how the program BUILDS in a very systematic manner. On the other hand, I feel greatly limited by the scripting. I miss the richness of involving the children in literature that goes beyond the program. But there is no time! What I am asking myself, is HOW can I better incorporate some of the richness and love of literature into the day? I don't want the sound of that timer to be what my students remember from being in my classroom. I want them to remember feeling loved and to take with them a great love for READING!
ReplyDeleteOK, I am agreeing with everyone here! Would I love being in my classroom if I were a child??? Sometimes. I am feeling the pressure Angie, Jeanine, Jolene and Donna mentioned. Get this done, move to this and get it done NOW!! I understand what Lyn is saying when she talks about watching the clock and having to move on. What do we do about this? I love Angie's suggestion that we tackle one new thing at a time. We love our scores with Voyager, but we don't love the rigid script and daily activities...can we change one or two things and still get great results? Can we add some of Mrs. Moreno's tactics? How do we do this? Where will we find the time? And how do we start?
ReplyDeleteI also find it interesting that Mrs. Moreno's observation took place in April. I wonder what steps she took in October to get the children ready for the April classroom. I'll bet she wasn't worried about fluency rates and timing nonsense words, or was she? Can you tell I feel like I am drowning right now? I want my students to have the experiences Mrs. Moreno's students had, but I don't know where to begin and how to begin...
Help me someone!!
I agree with so many of previous responses I have read. My answer to the question can be yes and no. Many of my students seem to enjoy the small group atmosphere in my room. A struggling student can read from a lower level text and feel successful. There are few students that I have taught though that resent the small group setting and feeling different and dislike being taken away from their classroom. These are usually the students that are keeping up with their grade level with just minimal accommodations in their classroom. There are days that I feel the pressure of the time constraints that I have to spend with my students. There is only so much I can cram into 30 minutes before I have to move to my next group or classroom. So many times my lessons are read, read, read or work, work, work and I can have short, snappy responses to my students because there just isn’t time for anything extra and I am in a rush to get the lesson done before I have to move on. But I truly feel like my students know that I love them, want to help them, and rejoice in their accomplishments. I do feel like there are many things that I do well, but there are also many, many ways I can improve my instruction.
ReplyDeleteWow!!! What great comments! I am also a "sometimes" answer. In many ways I would love to be a student in my classroom because of the structure, neat classroom environment, etc. Then there are times like when reading chapter one that I think about how objective and goal driven I am in my profession and my day does not seem to have that same ease or relaxed atmosphere that the one in which I read of apparently did. When one of us discovers how to incorporate that true middle ground we definitely need to share it with each other.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Jolene said! I remember doing all of those fun comprehension activities when we had other reading series and were able to create our own "teaching station" according to students' needs. I would also be a "sometimer" because I would enjoy lots of the activities in my classroom but now I question if I convey the pressure that I place upon myself on to my students. So if that is the case, then no...I wish we had more time where we could do more creative reading and math activities in our classrooms.
ReplyDeleteYou all brought up some great points! TIME seems to be a thread throughout all the posts. I can remember when I taught 1st grade, as much as I would try, I was not always able to read a book to my students every single day. That bothered me a lot b/c I knew they needed that…and probably more than one book a day! I also realize that even more is being demanded of you. If I still taught 1st grade, I know I would miss the special days we used to have (Space Day, Rainforest Safari, etc) and the units we taught. Those are the things that children remember.
ReplyDeleteAs I thought about your posts and the grades you teach, it occurred to me that we were reading about a 3rd grade class and that makes a HUGE difference. Please remember that you are building the foundational reading skills for students. Most of your students are not ready for the type activities Debbie Miller observed. Can we build to that? Yes, we can. I love the idea that Angie had about changing one thing at a time. We have the luxury of a great reading program…it has flaws and drawbacks… but your students have also been very successful b/c of it. I believe that we can look for ways to make it better fit our needs. Be thinking about that!
Would I want to be a student in my class? I believe so! Because of the students I work with, I try to plan activities and lessons that the children will enjoy and engage them all in learning. Sometimes it is not always easy…but I try. I know that most of them enjoy coming to my room. A teacher commented to me recently, “Just what do you do down there? They love to go with you.” With struggling readers, getting them to love to come to my room for another reading lesson an accomplishment!
I have to go along with everyone else. Sometimes I would like to be in my class and others not so much. Students in my classroom are not allowed to go on their own that much. I tend to want to supervise and point them in the direction I want them to go not to trust that they will do as they should. Think I like to be the "boss" too much , tend not to trust others. Trying to let go of my strange-hold over my students, hope it works.
ReplyDelete