How One Nice Comment Changed My Day

Thursday marked the fourth day back from spring break. I love teaching school in spring because the weather is so nice, and it really puts everyone in a good mood, I think. One challenge about teaching school in the spring is that students are just itching to get out of the classroom-- the weather is nice, summer break is within reach. I can't blame them, though. I, too, am looking forward to some time off to read for fun, and prepare for next year :)

Anyway, my students have been a little squirrely this week, so keeping them focused has been a challenge. I've worked to pack each hour full from bell to bell in order to keep the kids focused on a task. Overall, it went pretty well.

One student, though, said something very nice about me on Thursday during class, that I haven't forgotten (and it's now Sunday night). He was talking to another student about the assignment we were working on-- a DBQ and argumentative paragraph about the effects of the Industrial Revolution. He said to the classmate, "This assignment is easy because I know how to do it. Ms. G's been showing us how to do this all year. I wish more teachers would be like her. She's the best."

My heart burst! I don't think the student knows I heard him say it, and it really turned around my day for the better. I'm always working to be the best teacher I can be, and I often question my teaching methods, wondering if there is a better way to teach something. Well, I can now rest assured that with that particular student I am doing the right thing. And it feels really good.

I will never again underestimate the impact a positive comment can have on someone.

3 Good Things About Wednesday

Today was my first full day back in the classroom after spring break. I have to say, I was a little bit nervous. We're so close to the end of the year, and the weather was pretty nice today... I was concerned that my students would be in full on summer mode and completely disengage from school.

Yeah, I'm happy to admit my fears were mostly unrealized. Today was a pretty good day, and I feel excited to come back tomorrow and continue the final push to summer break.

1. Given the choice, most of my students would rather be in school than working full time right now. When I posed this question last year, I received the opposite feedback. It was pretty heartwarming to hear that overall, my students feel positive about school, and that though it is a challenge, getting a high school diploma and going to college is an important goal for them.

2. We have an educational consultant work with us monthly to observe and critique our teaching. I always get a tad bit nervous when someone comes into my classroom to observe, but ultimately I always have confidence in my lessons. I work hard to try to challenge and engage my students in world and U.S. history. Today she watched my class and gave me some very good feedback! She thought my lesson was great, felt that I pushed my students to do higher level thinking (and own their learning!), and gave me some good ideas to help elevate future lessons. 

I have a feeling I'll learn a bit more about this man this summer!

3. I am going back to Washington D.C. this summer!! I found out this week that I was accepted to Ford's Theatre's Summer Institute for teachers, and am currently on Cloud Nine. I will get to spend a week in Washington D.C. learning about Lincoln's legacy, the Civil War Era, and Reconstruction. I am passionate about these topics, and can't wait to learn more from experts in the field, research primary and secondary sources to use in class instruction, and spend more time with teachers who love history like me!

AVID Showcase Day

Today I attended an AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination) Showcase at Madison East High School. First and foremost, it was incredible! I didn't have much in terms of expectations, because I didn't really know what and AVID showcase was, but this FAR exceeded them!

An AVID Showcase is basically full day of immersion into another school's AVID program. AVID Demo schools have incorporated both the AVID elective and the AVID strategies into content area classes. They work hard to be a "model" for new/young AVID schools to learn from and be inspired by.

We first got an overview of AVID, which was helpful, since I hadn't received a "proper" overview of AVID from an AVID employee yet. AVID's main tenets are Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization and Reading, and it encourages growth historically underserved students, and their futures in college. Then we moved into the school specific AVID plan, goals and data. I was so surprised to see the growth in Madison East since the implementation of AVID strategies in content classrooms.

As if that wasn't enough to hook me, we then toured Madison East and observed five or six classes, ranging from Spanish to AVID to Math. I really enjoyed this part because we got to see how AVID strategies are implemented in classrooms on a daily and basis. It reinforced that AVID practices are really best practices that apply to all disciplines. Walking the halls was amazing too, because it gave me so much inspiration. Teachers actually post work that students do in the halls, and there are tons of posters urging academic excellence and college readiness. I loved seeing the commitment to learning, and the expansion of education beyond the classroom.

We ended the day with a student panel and then a Site Team panel. Overall, I had an AMAZING day, and it inspired me to implement more AVID strategies in my classroom (and in the halls!). I learned that AVID's strategies aren't difficult to implement, per se, because many teachers already use their techniques. I want to do more to help my students strive for excellence both in and outside of my classroom!

My Spring Break Trip to Washington D.C.

White House

I fortunately was able to go on a trip of a lifetime (for me) over spring break-- Washington D.C. I had never been there before, and as a huge fan of American history, I knew it was going to be one of the best trips of my life. And it definitely did not disappoint!

I did so many things on this trip, like walk Arlington National Cemetery, tour the White House, and visit the House and Senate Chambers of the capitol. I ate my way through the city, also, dining at Georgetown Cupcakes, Old Ebbitt Grill, and Good Stuff Eatery (best burger ever!).

This trip was packed full of new experiences, sights and knowledge for me, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I walked more than 40 miles in five days, and learned how to navigate the Metro like a local. Because my boyfriend Chris had to go back to work part of the way into the trip, I was also able to spend a bit of solo time exploring, which I appreciated as well.

Selfie at the Lincoln Memorial

Probably shouldn't be smiling about this place, but I was just so excited to do more Lincoln stuff

Georgetown was so cool

Museums I visited

- National Archives Museum

- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

- National Museum of African American History and Culture

- Air and Space Museum

- National Portrait Gallery

- Smithsonian American Art Museum

- Museum of Natural History

- National Museum of American History

- Library of Congress

Tours I took

- White House (!!!)

- Pentagon

- Capitol Rotunda/Crypt

- House and Senate Chambers

- Arlington National Cemetery

- Ford's Theatre

Major Landmarks I saw

- Lincoln Memorial

- Washington Monument

- Jefferson Memorial

- FDR Memorial

- MLK, Jr. Memorial

- JFK Gravesite

- Arlington House

- Capitol Building

- Supreme Court 

- Library of Congress

Food!

- Luke's Lobster

- GCDC (Grilled Cheese DC)

- Good Stuff Eatery

- Shake Shack

- District Taco

- Georgetown Cupcake

- Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken

- Old Ebbitt Grill

- Farmers Fishers Bakers

Library of Congress

Tidal Basin

Ways I'm Building a Community in my Classroom

One of the most challenging aspects of teaching in an urban high school is building relationships with students and building a positive classroom community among them. My students come to school from all over the area-- from a few blocks away all the way to across Milwaukee. One thing I've been proud of in my first year teaching was that some of my classes became really close knit and even administration noticed how great of an environment it was. Though I don't feel as content with my classroom environments this year, I am going to continue to work to foster positive relationships with my students and among my students.

Below are three ideas I have or have already put into place:

1. I ask students to reflect more than before.
In all the education-related book clubs I've participated in, one common buzzword seems to show up in all of them-- REFLECTION. This is a practice that is beneficial to both teachers and students. Part of being positive members of communities is being in touch with your own strengths and weaknesses, and thus, being a person who is working toward constant improvement. This helps build the important character trait of empathy, which many teenagers (and adults!) lack. I hope by giving my students opportunities to reflect on their behavior, performance, and interests, I will help strengthen empathy in them. I can't speak to my success so far, since I don't have any measurable results, but so far I'm feeling encouraged!
To learn a little more about Empathy vs. Sympathy, check out this video on Youtube.

2. I have students work in groups and partners
One good way to get to know someone is to work with them. When working on projects in my U.S. History class, I have students work with partners, sometimes of their choice, sometimes assigned. I do this so that students don't just work with the same person all the time, and so that shy students can make some connections with other classmates without as much anxiety. Collaboration helps students get to know each other, and hopefully build community.

3. Community Building/Restorative Classroom Circles
I have not implemented these into my classroom yet, but I've been part of them several times both at the administrative and building levels in my district. At first I was skeptical about how they may be able to help build community, but in the circles that I've joined, I really do think I've been able to better get to know my co-workers, and vice versa. From answering "harmless" questions about favorite meals, stores, etc. and working up to more personal questions, I believe that using these will be a powerful tool to create and grow bonds between the individuals in my classroom.
If you are curious about Restorative Classroom Circles, I highly recommend this website.