Inspiration station

I love to be on Instagram, Pinterest and read various blogs.  I am BIG on following other teachers.  I love to see what is going on in classrooms around the country.  This gives me inspiration.  It allows me to collaborate with teachers all over the nation to provide a better class for your children.  Many times my ideas are not really original to me.  I find them by reading a blog, seeing a Pinterest board, or viewing an Instagram post.  I may tweak them to fit my room if it is something I want to try - such as, the flexible seating idea-but the original idea belonged to someone else.  These teachers are such wonderful professionals for sharing their visions and concepts.  One teacher in particular that is just an inspiration is Mr. Ron Clark.

For those of you who don't know, Ron Clark is a good ole southern boy who decided he needed to teach school in Harlem, NY.  It is a long story, but basically, Mr. Clark worked and inspired children in one of the poorest socio-economic areas in the country to become TOP NOTCH students.  Mr. Clark then went on to open his own school in Atlanta, GA.  It is is private school that only allows students with the most NEED of his particular skills.  I am DYING to go observe in his school.

One of the things his school is known for is the 100% student engagement rate.  Yes, you heard me correctly...he gets 100% of his students to pay attention and stay on task!  WHAT!!???  HOW!!??  I want to know the secret.  I have watched countless videos of Mr. Clark's classrooms (not just his teaching-but also teachers in his employ). I was even lucky enough one year to hear him speak in person!! I have begged Mr. Pennington to let me fly to Atlanta and tour his facility and observe a day or two of learning.  Maybe if I nag enough, he'll let me go-hehe.  It fits my PGP (professional growth plan -for those of you who are non-educators).  I have been working toward increased student engagement for the last couple of years.  School should not be boring.  It should be where students go to soak up knowledge. Okay, yeah everything can't be fun and games, but for the most part, school should be, well...cool.

I implemented the flexible seating arrangement to increase engagement.  It is a great success when doing partner work, but a bit of a challenge (time management wise) during work stations.  We held a class meeting....well, not really a meeting - more of a lecture...on the importance of responsibility.  For the flexible seating to work, then students HAVE to be responsible.

Work stations were also a throw-back to my early childhood days...short work stations kept my first graders from losing their ability to attend to tasks.  I decided this might work with 5th graders.   The only real problem is that they like to work in certain stations more than others and were under the impression they could just do whatever they wanted.  We cleared that misconception, as well.

I want students to enjoy coming to class.  I want them to leave with a wealth of knowledge that they wouldn't otherwise have.  I want to encourage them that even if literacy is difficult, its not impossible.  It just takes hard work.

 I want to leave you this week with a video of Ron Clark. Its a little long, but I think it is worth it.  I absolutely LOVE his philosophy and he is one of the reason I teach the way I teach and have such high expectations for ALL my students.  Someday, I hope I get the chance to become "slide certified".  You'll have to watch the video to find out what that means.

Happy reading-

Mrs. Tipton

Hi Ho! Hi Ho! It's off to work we go!

Last week I wrote about our new arrangement in class.  I am diligently watching the students to determine if my theory regarding student engagement holds true.  I hope so.  We have a much happier environment with flexible seating.  We have had many visitors stop by our room and observe. I have been so pleased that the kiddos have been actively working and behaving appropriately each time a visitor has popped in.

This nine weeks, as most of you know, we are working in small groups and in independent work stations.  These work stations require just that...WORK.  Students are expected to complete assignments independently.  All assignments are activities that do not require teacher instruction (they are review or repetitive).  Students will be held accountable for the work they do in these work stations.  One of the things that is an adjustment is independent time management.  Students are learning how to manage the time that they have in class to complete tasks.  Some are realizing that wasting time will result in homework.  I am proud of the students who have chosen to take their work home without prompting.  This shows great responsibility on their part.  

I am proud of how far these students have come in terms of work ethic, behavior and attitude.   I feel confident that this group of students is going to be successful.  I look forward to seeing how they work on our double-entry journal at the end of the nine weeks.  This is always the most challenging of our projects.  I am hopeful that the changes and the small group instruction will help them to meet the challenge.  

Again, I really appreciate all the support you give to me and my class.  

Happy reading-

Mrs. Tipton

I'm flexible, man!

Last week, I blogged about flexible seating.  I stated that it "WAS HAPPENING!"  I was blessed with a donation from a parent to purchase a few things.  That purchase gave me the boost I needed to take the plunge.  We are now a flexible seating class.  Students can choose to sit at desks, on rugs, on the couch...well, you get the picture.  Today was the first day of full implementation.  I thought it went well.  The kiddos understand that their behavior will determine whether or not I can continue this arrangement.  They are aware that they must complete their assignments and contribute to discussions in order for us to continue to be "flexible".    I am placing a few pictures of OUR class on the website (faces are blurred) so that you can see just how well it worked today.  This first set of pictures shows the room before the kids entered this morning.

Here is how our day went:

Panoramic view of the classroom

workstation time

workstations

I truly believe that it was a good day.  The students were engaged and seemed excited about the new arrangement.  I am going to continue to monitor how the students interact.  Thank you for your support.  I really appreciate how much you trust me with your children!

Think, pair, share activity

Happy reading-
Mrs. Tipton

Transitioning into the Future

For years, I have thought, "Why can't I just make my classroom more like a living room?"  "I hate all these desks!"  I've always been that way.  Even as a student - way back in the 80's and 90's - I hated sitting in the traditional desk especially in straight rows! (That is why in 18 years of teaching, I have NEVER had straight rows of desks!!!)  I always try to make my room look as homey as possible.  I like cozy and comfortable.  And then I began thinking - "When I read, I don't sit at my desk at home; I sit in my big comfy chair or I lounge on the couch."  This has been stewing in my head since I was hired to teach 5th grade 5 years ago.  What would it be like if kids could choose where they sat - at a desk, on the couch, in the floor...you get the drift.

As an avid Pinterest pinner, I came across an article about a teacher who changed her room after a day in Starbucks (really, a coffeehouse was her inspiration-this was fate!).  She created a classroom with alternative seating.  Here is a link to the article if you are interested in reading it.Why the 21st Century Classroom May Remind You of Starbucks  In this article she addresses how she went about changing the seating in her class.  This is a second grade teacher, mind you.  If second graders can do it, SO CAN MY 5th GRADERS!!!  As I went back and forth with how to make this transition (well, really I was and still am trying to figure out how to purchase all the beanbags, pillows, bathmats, etc.) I saw that a high school acquaintance had also changed her room to an alternative seating environment.  She also teaches 5th grade.   I am adding some pictures of her classroom to give you an idea of what it looks like. As you can see from the pictures below, students are engaged.  They are working!  And according to my friend, they love coming to class.

Needless to say...THIS IS HAPPENING!!!  I already have a coffeehouse themed classroom, now I just need to create the atmosphere.  "How can I help?" you ask. I am so glad that you did...Well, if you have any beanbags, throw pillows, or furniture that you want to get rid of, instead of taking them to Goodwill - BRING THEM TO ME!!!!  You can donate any of that stuff to my classroom and I will gladly begin this transition.  If you know of any grants or funds that I might apply for in order to purchase furniture for this transition, please let me know.  Again, this is happening.  How long it takes me to transition depends on how long it takes me to furnish the room, but I plan to start right away.  My classroom will be even more inviting and allow for a more engaged set of learners.  I am SOOOO excited I can hardly stand it!!!

Okay....enough of my excitement over the change in my set up...now to the nitty gritty.  We have begun book clubs.  Let me explain how these book clubs will work.  Each club will meet with me one day a week (the exception is Wednesday because we go to library).  On a student's book club day, they will meet in a small group for 30 minutes with me.  We will work on skills specific to that group's needs, learn new vocabulary, and discuss the book we are reading.  On the days that students are not in small group, they will be working in literacy work stations.  Some of the activities in work stations will be independent review and practice.  Some activities will require collaboration with their peers.  Each book club has been set up heterogeneously by ability and reading level.  I have high readers and low readers in the same group.  This is for two reasons:  1.) No one is able to say, "OH, we are the bad readers." or "We are all the good readers."  2.) Stronger students are able to tutor or help weaker students while I work with the group.  Research has shown that collaboration among peers helps students strengthen their skills.  It is good for everyone involved.
Since students have a week to read their book club text and complete any assignments for that text, I will have HIGH expectations that they will come to class prepared.  I won't be very tolerant of excuses.  I have told the kids as much.  None of this should create much (if any) extra work at home.  Students should be using their work station time wisely to get their assignments completed.  As always, thank you for the support that you have shown.  If you have any questions about the change in our class, please email me.  christy.tipton@viloniaschools.org

Happy Reading-
Mrs. Tipton

One down...one to go!

Can you believe that half of the year is already over?  It has moved quickly.  We are finished with one semester and beginning the second.  With that said, this is always the most challenging nine weeks (for teachers and students).  I don't know if it is because it is a long time before we have another break, or if it is the cold weather, but for the last 18 years that I have been in the classroom this is the most challenging of all the quarters.  It is a struggle to keep everyone motivated and focused on school.  Grades are typically lower in this nine weeks than in others.  I am saying this in an attempt to head off any issues we might have regarding this...maybe this will be the year of change! (FINGERS CROSSED)

Enough of that...this nine weeks, we will once again focus on our fictional elements in literacy.  We will explore theme, figurative language, plot, and character development.  We will be reading a class novel as well as reading individual novels in our book clubs.  It will be very important for students to keep up with their reading assignments so they do not fall behind.

This unit will focus on "Coming of Age" novels.  Each novel we read, whether it is our class novel or our book club novels, will deal with the concept of growing up.  I have picked both old and new classics to read.  I am excited about this unit.  Our class novel is Tuck Everlasting.  If you purchased a copy of this book for your child, I have it stored in my closet at school and will pass it out when we begin reading.  I re-read it over the break and was immediately reminded of why I love this book so much!  I encourage you to read it with your child if you have the opportunity.  Other books that will be in our book clubs are Al Capone Does my Shirts, Bridge to Terabithia, Because of Winn Dixie, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  I love all of these stories!

Before I sign off, I wanted to inform you about a certification that I am in the process of renewing.  I am a Nation Board certified teacher in literacy.  I am in the process of renewing my certification this year.  Part of this process is video recording my lessons.  These videos are NOT posted to the Internet or shown to anyone other than the certification assessors.  However, I do need your permission to video tape your child. I will be sending a release form home to you soon.  Please complete it and return it as soon as possible.  If you have any questions regarding this, please feel free to contact me.

I am excited about what I have planned for this semester!!  I hope the kids are ready to rock and roll, too!