Links and Favorites
Sorry I have no links to other blogs. I have no idea how do make it happen and so I am linkless. However I am not sorry for the actions going on in my classroom, though I am sadened by them. Yesterday we had an instance of a child stealing from another, then putting the stolen item in to the desk of another child. We have a child who will try to lie about his hair color if he thought it might help him feel good. And there are children who are laughing at others because they randomly partner up with somebody who does not fit the bill. Now that I have the negatives overwith, I can get to the positives.
Our classroom is building writers. Kids are doing amazing stories with pencil and paper. Using detail and keeping great focus on an event that lasts just a few minutes. We call it a Small Moment and I am not going to try to take credit for something that Lucy Caulkins has named. The fact of the matter is that these kids are becoming better writers based on her ideas that my teaching partner and I are putting in to effect. These stories are awesome and just keep getting better as we are on revision now.
If we go back to classroom behavior, I am seeing that there is a need for something to be done in our classroom. Something that is going get kids on board so we can get some more learning done. My thought is that I must offer them ice cream sandwiches and the opportuity to eat lunch in the classroom if they reach a certain goal. Because there are a few kids who are out of control and it may take something like that to get at least a couple more on board with the rest of us.
Our classroom is building writers. Kids are doing amazing stories with pencil and paper. Using detail and keeping great focus on an event that lasts just a few minutes. We call it a Small Moment and I am not going to try to take credit for something that Lucy Caulkins has named. The fact of the matter is that these kids are becoming better writers based on her ideas that my teaching partner and I are putting in to effect. These stories are awesome and just keep getting better as we are on revision now.
If we go back to classroom behavior, I am seeing that there is a need for something to be done in our classroom. Something that is going get kids on board so we can get some more learning done. My thought is that I must offer them ice cream sandwiches and the opportuity to eat lunch in the classroom if they reach a certain goal. Because there are a few kids who are out of control and it may take something like that to get at least a couple more on board with the rest of us.
posted by ateacheratlarge | 5:36 AM
2 Comments:
My best advice is that, if you're going to offer rewards, you need to be specific about what actions are going to achieve those rewards. I also suggestions a running point system... perhaps individual, perhaps class wide... perhaps both. In my context, since I am not a self-contained classroom, I do mostly class wide. But, if you are in a self-contained classroom, you might want to consider it on a student-by-student basis. And, you're right. It's never all of the students. It's just a few here and there who need some kind of redirection.
I hope things get better for you. If you want any more ideas feel free to email me. I've become something of a mentor to a few teachers at my school and I enjoy doing it, so if you need any other thoughts feel free to contact me.
As for links on your blog... I don't know if I do it the right way, but, basically I went to the template page and found the code to the links and then I'd copy and paste the url into the code and copy and paste it all into the same section. I don't know if that's the best way to do it, but that's the way I do it. If you email me, I might be able to give you a more detailed description and even paste some of the code for you...
I too use Lucy Caulkins and see wonderful results with all of my writers. This is my 2nd year using these units of study and find that it reaches all writers no matter where there writing skills are. We just finished Launching the Writing Workshop and Session II in Small Moments. I did not get passed this unit of study this year because I went on a paid sabbatical 1/2 year. I am excited to see how the other units of study play out.
As far as the behaviors in your classroom that is serious. I have been using Responsive Classroom approach that is phenomenal. It really builds on children being responsible for their actions. It is a lot of slowing down and teaching the behaviors, routines, rules that you want. Role playing is a large part of this. I am wondering if you would want to try this. It helps build empathy within the classroom environment. I can relate to children wanting to feel better about themselves. Children definitely need to have a sense of belonging, feel safe in order to learn. Responsive Classroom does this in the form of activities that build partnerships and community. It really shies away from rewards saying that they are extrinsic and children need to have an intrinsic feeling of right & wrong.
I know I have put a lot out there, but your classroom needs help. It is so not easy being a teacher and trying to do it all. I wish you a lot of strength and encouragement that this will improve with teaching your students.
-Caren
2nd Grade Teacher
Ithaca, New York
Post a Comment
<< Home