Staff development

It's not uncommon for a district to require teachers to attend a staff development session outside of school hours. In our district, we need 30+ hours of workshops outside of our paid contract hours in order to meet "professional development appraisal standards." Most of the time I really dread these workshops before I actually get there. I dread getting up early on a Saturday, finding an unfamiliar school, and listening to a boring speaker.

However, when I get there, I always have a good time! This is surprising to me every time, but it's true. When teachers get together, they share stories, swap ideas, and learn from each other. One of the great things about the teaching profession is that teachers are always willing to share what they've found to work. In fact, we've all heard a common teacher motto: "There's no need to reinvent the wheel." That's part of the reason I started this weblog journey and http://www.teacherytools.com/ and I hope you'll add to it by sending in your suggestions and stories as well. Think of it as one, big professional development session that goes on 24/7! :)

Teachery tool #4

If you're required to go to staff development sessions, try to go with a friend. You'll be more likely to actually attend instead of blowing it off and you'll have more fun if you're with someone you know. Also, check your district's staff development catalog for "fun" sessions. Sometimes you can find trips to the zoo or museum, city tours, celebrity speakers or other special events that aren't just your run-of-the-mill power point presentation.

Also, step outside of your comfort zone a little bit and try a session you wouldn't otherwise attend. Math teachers can benefit from language arts sessions and special education teachers can benefit from gifted/talented meetings. Remember students benefit from cross-curriculum learning and multiple learning styles, both of which you can learn how to implement durring workshops.

Question:

What was your favorite staff development session? What made it so memorable?

Rain, rain, go away!

There are many advantages to teaching in a school with open courtyards: nature right outside your room, fresh crisp breeze, a table with an umbrella, etc. The only days I don't enjoy the structure of our school are on rainy days. When the rain is slanting in to the breezeways and the windows look out to a gloomy, foreboding sky it almost seems not worth the nice, warm days. But that's not even the part that bothers me. It's the students that act like it's the first time they've ever seen rain.

Now don't get me wrong.... elementary school children are almost cute when they're all worried about the thunder claps or the lightning, but older students aren't. In an otherwise orderly school, students are slipping across the bricks, trying to drink the rain, and acting like a hurricane is coming. I heard somewhere that turkeys can drown in the rain because they sit out in it and look up. I don't think this is true but my students thought the idea was funny. In my first years of teaching, I used to get all worked up about their frantic-ness but now I go with it and just make sure they don't hurt themselves or each other on their way to and from my class. Sometimes, like today, I prop the door open and we all watch the rain together. Good times.

Teachery tool #3: When there's a storm at your school and the students are nervous, or even if they're not (or at least are too cool to say so) give them an activity to do that involves the rain and your subject matter. In science, for example, have them journal about what weather patterns might have caused the storm. In language arts, suggest they write a poem about how the rain makes them feel. If you take a few minutes to let them think about the storm in a positive way that follows the objectives in your subject, you'll limit off-task, unconstructive time. They'll be more calm about what's going on outside and you'll remain in control inside.

Question: What was the worst storm you remember that happened while you were in school? How did your teachers react?

The Second Amendment and guns in school

Hello blog-dience! Last week, just like every morning. on our daily commute to our schools (who wants to live in the district they work for?) my sister and I were on the phone together. She's a teacher too. Well, actually, she's a band director, but more about elective teachers later..

Anyway, one of the topics we discussed was the Oregon teacher fighting for her rights to carry a gun into her school. On first hearing this, I thought to myself: "Where exactly does she teach!?" I know public schools have gotten bad in some places, but really! After a little Googling, I found out she was protecting herself from her ex-husband, and not the students. While this was slightly more reassuring, the idea behind the issue is still an unnerving one. What happens when constitutional rights and school policies collide? It makes an interesting debate.

Like most schools, we have several student organizations, like Math Club, Yearbook, Chess Club, and Bible Club. Recently at a student assembly, the administrator opened up the floor to questions. (This was a gi-normous mistake in my opinion as immediately 37 sixth graders raised their hands for every sort of question. But he's new; he'll learn.) Someone asked about starting a book club. Then another student thought up another club. And another. And another. Thankfully the AP ended the torture after four or five more by suggesting they find a teacher sponsor first who could bring the idea to the admins. But it brought up a question along the same lines as the gun issue: could a student, under the peaceable assembly part of the First Amendment, start any kind of student organization? The issue is right around the corner, I'm sure.

Teachery tool #2: If one of your students would like to start a student organization that you feel really isn't a good idea given the time of year, student interest, etc, don't be the bad guy and tell them no! Instead, suggest they write a survey about the idea and give it to the members of their class. This way they can see the democratic process in action, and feel like they have some control over it. Chances are that's all they really wanted anyway and will lose interest in the idea if it's not heavily supported.

Question: What clubs were you involved in during school? What clubs would you have started? OR Do you think there are laws in place in the "real world" that shouldn't apply in a public school?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071009/ap_on_re_us/pistol_packing_teacher

A teacher's journey into blogging

I used to hate blogs. In fact, I hated blogs, blogging, bloggers, weblogs, vlogs, and any other affiliated lingo. Yet like everyone else in the world, I see that it's here to stay. I don't know why I was so reticent to accept this new staple of our e-culture. Perhaps it is because I see ranting or raving publicly about any old thing that crosses one's mind as exposing oneself. I was brought up with the sage advice: It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. -- George Eliot, Abraham Lincoln, Confucius, Mark Twain, et al.
Yet despite all this, here I am for my first blogging experience. Maybe I mess it all up. Maybe I quit after three posts. But what if I really love it? So I'm starting this for two reasons: First, because I'm a techie and I want to move with technology, not be left behind by it. Second, and more importantly, I'm a teacher not only in profession but in personality. What if someone reads something on my blog that makes their day a little bit brighter or makes that hellacious class seem like a walk in the park! I love the notion that something I suggest might help others. Maybe I should've been a doctor! But my first and foremost passion is for teaching and I love to talk about it, so here I am.
My goals here are to garner a huge blog-dience of educators, be esteemed worldwide as a teacher guru, and have millions of people remember me when I'm not around any more. So I'm really no different than every other teacher out there! I just came here to share my ideas, trials, mundane stories, adventurous stories, commendations, tips, tricks, and teachery tools with those of you who know teachers, love teachers, or are teachers. Please read, write me about what you think, and come back often.
Each time I make an entry, I'd like to put a teachery tool in it and also put a question out there for you to ruminate on and reply.

Teachery Tool: Don't waste your precious brain capacity on the minutia of everyday preparations. Assign a student each week to do small things like change the date on the board each morning or remind you to take attendance. Not only does this free you up for other more important things, but it adds a few more classroom jobs besides line leader, bathroom monitor, and messenger. Giving the kids a sense of ownership in your room is important for a cohesive classroom.

Question: For this first post, please introduce yourself; then the question is: Who was your favorite teacher and why?