Coming back from a break can be a crucial time for teachers; especially between the Thanksgiving and winter breaks. Kids’ minds wander and laziness seeps through them. They tend to forget the little routine and procedures and that make class flow easily.
The easiest way is just to be a broken record. I aim to constantly remind my kids how to do the little things. Even my seniors can forget and class will run in a sloppy manner. Reminders can cure a lot of this. Don’t be afraid of being a broken record or seeming aggravating; kids need it. And you need it too. Sneak out, Kyle
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“Amazing things happen when you distance yourself from negativity.”
The holidays can be a very stressful time of year. You want to have that picture perfect holiday and with the gifts that will wow. But what really matter this time of year? I would argue and most people would probably agree that spending time with their friends and family is what really counts. This fact tends to get lost in the twinkling lights. The same thing can happen in your classroom. With holiday performances and deadlines, our kids’ needs may get pushed aside in the name of time saving. Maybe we shortcut our lesson plans or copies and just wing it. This is where the wheels can fall off and bad habits can creep into the room. Take a second and re-focus. Ask yourself why do you teach? What are you trying to change about your world? When you feel overwhelmed re-focus your brain and try and think of one positive thing about whatever is worrying you. Sneak out, Kyle With the holidays descending upon us, the craziness of teaching intensifies. Now more than ever is a good time to slow down and focus on what is important.
I focus better with a clean room and especially a clean desk. I have removed a lot of stuff from the top of my desk and but it into a drawer. My stapler, tape dispenser, and hole punch all live in my top drawer now. I try and keep the papers on my desk to a minimum as well. I have a standing file folder holder with a folder for each class and all my papers stay in there. I take them out to grade them and put them back in to return them next class. During this time, I also like to wipe down my desk and clean my cabinets and microwave and refrigerator. I do this the afternoon before we leave for break so that I can come back to a nice fresh start. I also try and clean out my emails and button up any projects I am working on, if possible. When trying to lesson plan for short weeks or short days, I like to try and keep the flow of class as much as possible. I continue on with my units and try to work in the holiday. For instance, in my geography class we may chart the Pilgrims path to America or in government examine the Mayflower Compact and its impact or in economics study the economic impact of Black Friday. I want to keep the kids focused and busy. School is a student’s job. If you have to be at work so should they. Sneak out, Kyle Recently I have started getting more and more into minimalism. In a nut shell, minimalism is the stream lining of your life and possessions to those things that you truly need and love. If it is not necessary or does not bring you happiness, it needs to be removed from your life to make room for those things and activities that you do love.
I am not expert on minimalism but it is something that I have been working in some respect almost all my life. My German-ness prompts me to be efficient. Ruthlessly efficient is what I am for. The main principles of minimalism, streamlining and removing the unnecessary, have their place in the classroom. Often times we are told by experts or administrators that we need to try this tactic and this one and this technique. We feel overwhelmed and our lessons become hodgepodges of muddle activities. The best way to overcome this is to focus on one question, how does this help the students? If you cannot answer that question in a simple, straightforward way then maybe that activity or idea is not right for your class. Everyone’s class is different so your neighbor may see benefit in an idea and you may not. As long as you are making what you feel is the best decisions for your kids day in and day out then you are doing a great job. Sneak out, Kyle "Our fathers were our models for God. If our fathers bailed, what does that tell you about God?" –Fight Club
It is our job as educators to model correct behavior. Our kids are always watching us; their eyes see it all. How can respect or respond to someone that is a hypocrite? Would you listen to them? If your boss told you to dress professionally and then shows up in Hawaiian shirts and shorts every day, how would you feel? Our kids are no different. If there is a no gum policy in your school but then you chomp away on gum what does this show your students? Or if you are supposed to wear an id in your school and you don’t how can the kids respect the rule if you don’t? I see this time and again and teachers wonder why their students lack respect. I understand that there are rules for kids and rules for adults but respect has no age limit. Sneak out, Kyle You don’t learn by getting it right, you learn by getting it wrong. I say this mantra over and over to my kids. I’m sure they get tired of hearing it but it is true. You could sit there and solve 2+2 all day or tell me who the first president of the United States was no problem. But how about solving linear equations or naming the 22nd and 24th presidents?* Everyone, especially kids, needs to be pushed to grow. Failure is the soil that makes growth. Recently, I gave my seniors an economics test that was more difficult than they were used to completing. The test was on material we covered but on a higher level. They struggled and performed horribly. I thought about what happened and realized that two things probably caused the poor performance. The first was that they did not complete the vocabulary chart for the unit. I had three kids that did complete the chart and they scored about 20-30 points than the rest. The second was that my kids tried to rush and answer quickly. Then frustration set in. The next class, I gave them back the test. I told them that their scores were trash and they could do much better. I then gave them 30 minutes to work on the test as a class. Magically as they took their time and talked and thought the questions it all clicked and they understood. But it was not magic at all. They needed failure to find their limits and perform better. In conclusion, do not be afraid to let your kids fail. But when they fail, let them know that they can complete the task and one poor grade does not make them a poor student. Sneak out, Kyle *they are both Grover Cleveland Sharks never stop moving and they never stop growing and neither should you.
I am no classroom wizard but I would like to share some of the things I’ve learned over my years. People (not just kids) always try and get away with whatever they can. Think about how many times you were speeding because there was not a cop nearby or checked your phone while you were in a meeting. Your students are no different than you. When you are not looking then they will do what they want. The best way to combat this is to never sit and never stop moving. Unless a medical condition prevents it, you should always be moving around the class. Constant moving allows you to see what students are doing and your proximity can deter bad behavior. Think back to the speeding example and think about the panic and fear that springs into you when you see a cop car behind you. Just an officer nearby makes most people straighten up. Your proximity to the students will cause the same reaction. Try it and see how they watch you and wonder why you are coming near them. It works wonders. So next time a student is off task, try just standing near them without saying a word and see how it works. Good luck! Sneaks out, Kyle Welcome to my blog! My name is Kyle and I have been teaching for 7 years. I have taught both middle and high school students; English and Social Studies.
I currently teach World Geography to 9th grade students and U.S. Government and Economics to 12th grade students. I am by no means an expert in the field of teaching but I do want to share some thoughts, tips, tricks, tools that may be of use. I love teaching and would never want to be in any other field than education. Feel free to leave comments, ideas, and suggestions. I would love to hear from you. Thank you for stopping by. Sneak out, Kyle |
AuthorKyle is a 34 year old teacher that loves James Bond, history, donuts, and sneakers. Archives
February 2021
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