Desk

Ok.

I know ahead of time.
This post.
Will likely strike a not so nice chord with some teachers.
And even some teachery type friends.

But the opinions I express here are mine.
They make sense to me.
So if you are in some way offended - I put that back on you.
I'm talking about my teaching practice and what my belief is.

It is no way a judgement of you.
Here we go.

I never had a desk.
A teacher one that is.

I read something in graduate school.
A small snippet of something or Dr. Grassetti had mentioned it.
And I decided I didn't need one.

It was a place for piles.
And it felt like it asserted power that I didn't want.
And somehow made me the most important person in the room - which I am not.

For so many new teachers and old ones for that matter,
A desk is a requirement.
You've waited your entire life for knick knack space and pen holders.
And the ever so important place to lock up your valuables since you can't trust your kids.

I decided I wanted to learn WITH my class, experience learning with them, rather than at them.
To this day I can tell a lot about a teacher by the size of their desk.
How important they feel.
How much they want their student's respect.
How little they trust their kids.

And I can also tell, when someone has given over to this believe.
And decided that their classroom will be a community, not just "theirs".

The next question becomes what do you DO with all your STUFF?!
Honestly, I try not to have too much of it.
I made myself a teacher toolbox, which I'm happy to share on another post.
And that's about it.
I also have a shelf in the library that's materialy.

And.

Last year, I built (so easy).
My own standing computer table.
Both the kids and I use it.
And man alive, do we love it.

You can make one too.
SO easy.

You'll need a table top: LINNMON Table Top IKEA
And a 4 Cube Organizer: Better Homes and Garden Walmart
And...
are you even ready for this:
Industrial strength velcro.

Yes, folks.
No glue, no nails.
Nothing.

That's it.
Velcro the bottom of the table top and the tope of the 4 Cubes and done.
I got fancy and addes casters to mine so it can also roll anywhere in the room.
But.
Also super easy.
We love our standing "desk" and I appreciate that we all have a chance to move.
Without feeling like - Ms. Witherell has a spot dedicated solely to me. :)

Love

I am working hard on completing my assignments for silver level Whole Brain Teaching certification.
I've written essays.
I've reflected.
And now, we're filming.

And ya'll.
I hate being filmed.
Which is ironic as I spent an entire year on a reality TV Show.

Suffice it to say that year was more than enough.
Anyways.
Point being.
I hate being filmed.

So I asked my class to really help me out when it came to filming.
To show their stuff.
To be awesome.

Which means.
Of Course.
The first footage is of my number 18 almost flipping over the green table at group.

Lol.

But, then.
Oh my gosh.
Then.

It's fast.
It's collaboration.
It's seeing room for improvement and things that went well.

It's seeing some of the things I missed and being able to praise it.
There is so much beauty in the break down of the film.

I love my kids.
It took awhile, like three month, but I love them.
For who they are.
Who they will become.
And for everything they let me help them with.

They are broken.
They are bruised.
Traumatized.
New.
Old.
Young.
Babies.
Leaders.
Followers.
And everything in between.

But they are perfect.

For those of you who don't know me in real life, I am NOT a hugger.
Repeat NOT.

For a host of personal reasons and because LICE is rampant in our room.
And I hate to be the teacher who is like I'll hug you but you have lice so no.

So it's a universal thing that Ms. Witherell is not a hugger.
Well, today, at the end of testing for winter MAP.
And traveling to London.
And sewing stockings and making Chrismtas Cards.

I was beat.
Buh buh beat.

I was standing near the smart board waiting for dismissal to begin. 
Miss C and her little self stood on the far side of the carpet.
Miss C who jumped in map like 17 points and made benchmark.
Miss C who asked me twice if I was having a bad day, lol, I wasn't.

You sure?
I was having a great day, I said.

Miss C stood there, arms outstretched, "Ms. Witherell, do you think today I could get a hug."

And even though our lice friend was sent home today with more lice.
And even though I don't hug on princple.
She ran up and gave me a hug.
And I let her little body melt into mine.
And I whispered loudly, "I'm really proud to call you mine."
"You are?"  She responded.
"Best day ever."
"You sure?" She said again.
"Positive," I replied.

I love them.
I choose love every day.
Because everything else in their worlds hasn't been that way.
And sometimes, love is all I have to give.
And probably all they need.

N.O.T.E.S.

I wanted to share the ONLY thing I have for sale on Teachers Pay Teachers, ha. :)

I LOVE LOVE LOVE it for taking notes on testing or any thing read, really.

Each letter of the word NOTES, stands for a skill of "close reading".

--->N.O.T.E.S

I like the ease of having them separated, though many classrooms at my school used the poster just put together.  I separated mine to have the ability to teach closely one skill.  I pull down the S and say, today, I'm really looking for those quick simple sketches that help me see you understand the story.

In case you don't want to buy it and make your own - and honestly some of the best ideas are the ones we share here is what they mean:

N. NUMBER your paragraphs or sentences.  This will make it easy when citing work or having to go back and look for an answer in a specific paragraph.

O. Circle or Box words and sentences that are crucial for understanding.  In the beginning they circle too much and not the right stuff, but they have gotten SO much better over the past three and half months.

#hasTag.  This is the best, especially in third grade.  They think it's a riot.  #what?!  #thisiswrong #money!  You can see in the photos hashtagging is a BIG hit and the kids love it!

E. EXPRESS your own ideas and thoughts.  Make a connection to the text understand by connection.  "Me too" or "Not fair!"

finally everyone's favorite:

S. SIMPLE SKETCHES  Quick drawings that help you understand what you read with a quick glance.  They kids eat this one up.

Here are some student work samples of "marking" up their READING before they answer questions or produce a writing sample.

I especially love seeing them take standardized testing and watching them write down this strategy to use. :)

At this point in our year, I don't even say start with NOTES, they just begin numbering their sentences or paragraphs and circling key words.

#icouldjustdieiloveherhashtags ;)

If you haven't guessed, their favorite part is #hashtagging everything.  Some of them are more successful than others.

Photo

I started putting together some photos of our travels around the world from the travel unit.  Some of you wonderful readers have asked how to do it.  Here's the best I can do to support.  Let me know if I can make anything more clear!  HAVE FUN!

I'm printing each student a copy of their photo @ CVS.  Right now, CVS has .11 cent photos if you order 100 or more.  I've decided that each photo will act as a postcard assessment.  At the end of each week they will write letters home from their respective countries sharing what we've learned.  A great keep sake for a great unit!

Want

Ever since I can remember, I wanted to be a teacher.  The picture of teaching, when it first entered my mind was glitter, comfy stools, and changing a child's life.  I can attest to there being PLENTY of glitter in room 115.  We have lots of comfy stools and I pray daily that I'm doing good; that a child is safe and knows they are loved when they enter our family...I mean room.

My very first year of teaching, I don't think I received a single gift.  Nor, did I need one.  I was teaching in the poorest of districts, in the poorest of schools.  Hand made cards weren't really an option.  What I received was a lot of hugs.  A few, "I love you Miss, you're the best teacher I ever been havin'." And a lot of love.  That year was priceless.  I also received a cow piggy bank, and the cow was wearing red high heels and yes, it was awesome.

🐄

I digress.

Now that I've been in the game a while, I wanted you to know, what I really want. 
It can not be purchased at a store or even online.
You can not use glitter or enough glue. 
It does not require modge podge or laminate paper. 
It's not even a Teacher's Pay Teacher's gift card - though - let's be honest, that'd be cool -  love you. 
It does not come in a box or a bag. 
It is not a plaque like my teacher of the year award. 
Or even crystal like my recognition trophy. 
It is not written in pencil, pen, or marker. 
It is not an email. 
Or a letter. 
It is not nail polish or even felt tip pens...but again, if you already bought those...I mean. ☺☺☺☺

All I want.

What I really, really want.

Is to know.

Yes, just to know.

That while I've taught you.

You have learned.

I want to see you spread glorious kindness to others.

I want to stand in awe of the courage you show.

I want to smile with pride, beam even, at your show of infinite grit.

I want to step back and let you show your leadership skills, because you can.

I want to see you be the miracle I know you are.

You are perfect, just the way you are.

Even when you make mistakes, they are pretty perfect, too.

So, spare me the candle, no seriously, spare it, I have like a million.

And the gift cards, even though that's really nice.

And offer to read a story to a friend.

Or teach a friend a new skill.

Or show compassion in the face of unkindness.

You are the greatest gift I could ever receive.

Just the 18...19 of you, just the way you are.

Read

The holiday season has reached 115.

Many families at our school celebrate Christmas.

I happen to not be one of them (I mean, we rock those 8 crazy nights.)

;)

Regardless of what we celebrate, I want my entire class to be knowledgeable.

On customs around the world.

Not just in our neck of the world.

One great way to do this is to read books.

So.

My very first year I started collecting books.

Some were gifts to me or my class, some I picked up because I knew we needed them.

Kwanza, Christmas, Hanukah, Winter Solstice, and Winter theme books abound.

By December 1st, I wrap up one book for each student.

Not to give as a gift.

But to add to our classroom library.

They are all AR books, all levels.

Each school day I pull 1 or 2 numbers of a student.

That student opens the book.

I have a strong group of third graders this year, so when they open the books they also take my seat and read it to the class.

Two years ago, I had a third grade group that wouldn't have been successful (slash we tried one and it was pretty painful for that students, so I opted to read from there on out).

Still fun, still exciting.

And then best part is it's technically free.

I don't buy new books every year, I wrap up ones we already have!

Then once they are open they are back in the library.

My kids LOVE LOVE LOVE it.

Some of the books, especially the ones about winter will be kick off points for us for a winter activity.  The best part of that it is - I don't know which ones they will choose. 

It does take a little planning, but it's really fun.

I have all the activities ready to go, and when they are reading the book, my co-teacher and I get the activity ready.

Little Miss G. picked a poem book on Friday about a boy who wonders if the next day will be a snow day (even though it's summer).

The kids do a cute writing activity about if tomorrow were 100 degrees and it was a "sun day" instead of a snow day (we live in New England so snow days are much more likely.)

We served lemonade with a beach umbrellas while the kids worked.  They loved it!

Adding a little magic to the season is always my goal.

This year we added MAP testing Benchmarking and AR Benchmarking to the month of December, that's a lot of testing before  Winter Break.

I hope you can find time for a little magic in your classrooms this holiday season.

Our FAVORITE HOLIDAY reads:

Simon and the Bear

Winter Solstice

Lil' Rabbits Kwanza

The Night of Las Posadas

Totally Polar

Write

I love teaching writing.
Our school uses Collins Writing and Keys to Literacy.

Which is so funny since John Collins is married to Becky DeSmith who is a KTL Trainer.
Anyhoo. I adore both these programs and think they have made a gigantic impact on my students as readers and writers.

I've started writing more to show the kids that joy in writing.
When they read during independent reading, 4 out of the 5 days I read.
Something I'm intereted in.
I just finished Fortunately, Milk and found a higher reader who devoured it after me.
Before that I read Fish In A Tree...if you have not read it, stop reading this and go get it.
The other day I assess where they, evaluate their Accelerated Reader Assessments, etc.

Same thing with writing.
But "just" teaching them to write, doesn't necessarily inspire writing.
Fears of spelling and grammar mistakes can hold back even the brightest kid.

So at least twice, if not more times in a week, we do a quick write that's sole purpose is fun.
Not to be over edited and rewritten so it's pretty, just to get our ideas out...and share them.

A few years ago now I found an And Then...box on a shelf in a store here in Western Massachusetts called the Cedar Chest, it's eclectic and fun.

My better half limits the amount of time I spend there as their stationary section steals my heart the second we lock eyes.  "We don't need any more paper!" He'll say, before buying me some because he knows I won't let us leave otherwise.

And we LOVE LOVE LOVE And Then.
It's a simple box with a simple concept:
There is a set of cards with a little bit of a story.

Each story ends with...dun dun dun...AND THEN...

And that's when the kids pick up their pencils and start writing.
The first few times we did it, I wrote WITH them.
Now I just write my own while they are writing theirs.

To add an extra element of fun, I pick a student number to come up and "Pick a card, any card" and they take that responsibility very seriously.

Here's an early example with the card I read aloud and the student writing - and yes, I love her big ole enthusiasm as much as the next teacher, sometimes, you just gotta write - and I mean, can you tell it really was the WORST DAY EVER!!!! LOL :)

I don't know if Cedar Chest still carries this, so I've linked you to two of my favorite sites, Volume One is carried by Jet - so when you order you groceries this month, throw one in your cart.  And Volume 2 is carried by Le Target Boutique ;).

Volume #1
Volume #2

Travel

 

I had no idea, when I posted this photo of our class on our way to Greenland, it was going to be such a hit.

Many of my readers wanted to know more.

So.

Here we go:

Starting my first year of teaching, I had a smartboard, and I had some of the neediest kids. 
Kids who had never been on a plane.
Or train.
Or boat.
Or out of their barrio in the very inner city.

And so.
I started showing them what the jetway was.
And the plane boarding and the whole shebang.

Today, I don't teach in quiet the same environment.
We're more rural/suburban.

BUT - I do work at the Disney World of Elementary Schools.
LOVE...LOVE...LOVE.

Though the kids still lack a lot of experiences.
So, while they are at afternoon Extended Learning Time (this week they have Technology), I get the room ready.

This is actually the most time consuming part.
I only have 5 chairs.
We are a flexible seating room, so I have to borrow chairs from another specials room for this period.

I set them up in rows of two, the last row has three each as we have 18 kids.
I pass out Rachelle's amazing:
 Suitcase
Passport

Vocab Book

Along with a ticketthe day before, so I just pass out their suitcases at the end of specials.

When they enter the room, this is paused on the board:
   
Then we watch just a little bit of this, probably about 4-5 minutes.
While this next video is playing, we pass out our snack.
Yesterday we had oreos and crackers.

Our school provides daily snack, so next week, I'm just going to give them their regular snack during this time.
 

 

We spend a little bit of time talking about Greenland and pass out Rachelle's info sheet.

She also has a craftivity, but in this case, it was a letter to Santa, and we opted to do a video of Greenland over the craft.

Our class watched this:

Exploring caves as a job:

The class' favorite - Glaciers Up Close :) :

Honestly, here's the link to Rachelle's Work:
Holidays Around the World Part 1 & 2
It's incredible.
I don't even use her book recs, but they are there.
Bulletin board stuff.
There.
Passages.
There.
Games.
Pictures.
There and There.

One of the best products I've purchased from TPT.
(*I don't know her IRL, I don't get points for telling you I love it, it simply is easy to use and has over 200 pages.  So.  That should just speak for itself)

Sharing this experience with the kids is the best.
I am humbled by their enthusiasm and constant joy.
It's "free".
Like I don't have to order books online or DVDs, I just scour the internet for cool videos.
And let the magic of moving a few chairs do it's work.  Simply the best.!

As a souvenir, from each country, I pick a backdrop and we take a tourist class shot on our "trip".  While in Greenland, we took our photo with the aurora borealis: