Hello- REMEMBER US!

Hello friends-

Remember us, The Reading Buddies? We probably hang out at the bottom of your blog feed.  Oh, now you remember us!!!!!

Well we are back.  We are working hard dot spruce up our blog and post on a regular basis- It's our new resolution.  

I was wondering how many of you run a "class blog" that your students can read and respond to? I do.  Here's a particularly profound post that I wanted to share with you that I just finished writing.  Check it out and don't forget to let me know what you do as far as "class blogging". 

Nice to touch base again friends and we promise to pop by more often. 

Here is my most recent class blog post: 

29....28....27.....

What do those numbers symbolize?

My age? (I wish)

Years teaching? (not yet)

They actually symbolize the final days of the school year.  As I write this post (Tuesday night) we have 27 days remaining in this school year which means we have spent the last 333 days together learning, laughing, and loving being around each other. As I have mentioned before I was really nervous, yet incredibly excited about having a looping class. However, I can honestly say that you have alleviated all of those fears and and surpassed any expectation that I had of our time together.  Although I know that you are ready to go, it will be hard to let you go on that final day in June. 

It's a weird thing, teaching. You are partnered up with a group of people who you will spend six hours a day, five days a week, for 180 days (and for us-double that). Then, some warm day in June as the sun blazes and the desks empty, it's done! That's it! We say goodbye knowing that we will never be part of the same group again. WEIRD, right?

The end of the year is a time to reminisce, to look back at the good times we had together. Let's look back at all we have learned and the fun we have had.  In your comments below answer the following question:

What's one experience you had in FOURTH grade that you hope to remember for a long time?

The Reading Buddies

Damien & Kelly

Teacher Week 2013 Management & Tips

Hello buddies-

Well, Kelly and I were both a bit busy yesterday and weren't able to complete Thursday's post so we are teaming up to complete both tasks today.  

First: Kelly and Management...How to get your class to walk quietly in the hall?  The answer is simple, TATTLE!  That's right I encourage my students to tattle on each other in the hall only and it works.  Each student is in charge of 2 people, the person in front of them and in back of them only.  If either of those two people are talking the person in charge raises their hand.  I immediately know who is talking and that signal usually stops the person from talking.  Once the person stops talking the child must put their hand down.  It works like a charm I always get compliments on how quiet my class in the hall.  Don't forget to compliment the children who are tattling and making good choices.  This gets the tattling out of their system in a nonverbal way and the class manages themselves.  Genius and I have no idea where I got this idea from.  Anyone else use tattling in the hallway as a management system?


Ok friends, it's time for my tips for teaching.  I going to go fast and free here so let's dive in!

-Damien's Tips for Teachers:

• Love what you do.  Teaching is an isolated profession and one that doesn't get much positive attention lately so make sure you love getting up each morning and walking into that classroom to meet those faces who are waiting for you. 
• Speaking of classrooms.  You will spend more time there than at home so make sure you like the way it looks.  Some might say the Pinterest-ing or theme-ing of classrooms is too much; all I know is on a crappy day when I sit down in my desk I can always say "wow, it looks nice in here".
• Authentic Literature is the only way.  Students will not enjoy the "stories" in a basal series, you will not enjoy the basal series, and most importantly-they will not learn the skills
  
  necessary to grow as readers.  Find stories you love, with rich characters, great language, thick themes, and are great stories to read.  Whether Harry or Frindle; Frog and Toad or Junie B. teaching reading requires authentic literature. 

• Remember what it is like to be the age you teach.  Have sympathy, compassion, love, and understanding for your students.  Sometimes homework won't get done.  Sometimes students won't be able to focus.  Sometimes they will try your patience. They are kids and they aren't doing it on purpose.  They will need you to be understanding, to help them make it right, and to show them that even when they mess up you still care for them. 
• MODEL! MODEL! MODEL!  Tell students what to do is ok.  If you want them to do it, show them what a connection, or word problem, or response looks like. 
• Have FUN! Remember that...fun?  It's not measured on standardized assessments or part of the curriculum but it is important.  Be silly, tell corny jokes, and just laugh with you students.  Don't let "the man" get you down. 
  
• Speaking of laughing- LAUGH at your mistakes as there will be many of them.  
• A wise teacher once told me, "If you have engagement, you don't need management". That being said classroom management/engagement can totally derail your entire school year. 
• Whether it comes to students, parents, colleagues, etc. "Mean what you say and say what you mean". 
• And lastly, remember you worked hard to get where you are today, but the hardest work has just begun.  

 Thanks so much for "listening"!

-Damien and Kelly