9. Now the fun begins!

Now the fun begins.

This we believe. (NMSA, 2010)
*Ongoing professional development reflects best educational practices. Professional development.

I took a 'writing for teachers' class at Epworth by the Sea, in Georgia, years ago. It included a writing workshop; and every day we engaged in different writing prompts and activities. Just like in the classroom, once we had multiple brainstorming experience, we chose one to work on more deeply. We practiced fluency writing, brainstorming, rewrites, and editing strategies for our classroom. We learned by engaging in the experience. I learned to think more deeply about the tasks I gave my students, and the importance of creating products to illustrate thinking from this workshop.

It is summer. I have just finished an amazing year in the classroom/school, and I have close to 100 prompts. I wonder how many teachers reflect on their year and use the experiences to begin to plan for future years? I am thinking many do!  Had I not purposely reflected throughout the year, many experiences, insights, and ah-ha moments would be lost. I must promote this process!

Advice

1. Write every month. 'Begin with the end in mind' (Covey, 2006)is a concept! I first read this in Steven Covey's, The 7 habits of highly effective people. I have also used it in planning with Wiggins and McTigues, Backward design (1998). My 'takeaway'  is that when you first start the year, the end is all theory and hope, which is a good thing. Once you finish the year, is when you really can begin to apply the concept. Thus, my first piece of advice is to keep a reflection journey document. I recommend categories so that at the end of each month, you can reflect on what happened and set
goals for the next month.  You may want to start with the following categories: students, colleagues,
parents, administration, staff, curriculum, assessment, classroom management, lesson planning, lessons, teaming. Next, use the categories to answer: what worked, what didn't work, what they loved, challenges, successes to celebrate, what drove me mad, what made me weep. You may want to set goals for each month based on your reflections.

2. Find someone to reflect with. Over the course of this year, I drove to work with a colleague. The time we spent driving to and from work became a think tank, a reflection pool of our day, of our students and colleagues, and of our personal insights and dreams. We celebrated successes, and sometimes just listened; well, actually we were participant-listeners. I truly believe this time together made us more reflective, and gave us uninterrupted time to process our days. We both agree that we are better teachers because we had the chance to debrief, sometimes vent, and to celebrate and advocate for one another.

3.In your journey, consider the big picture. There are so many facets to teaching, and so many expectations including, but not limited to: college and career readiness, critical thinking, literacy integration, technology, ethics, standards, objectives, civic engagement, social and emotional development, leadership, exploration, lesson planning, differentiation, assessment, parent involvement, homework, projects, communication, grading, collaborative planning, interdisciplinary units, clubs, safety wellness, teaming, and mindfulness, that focusing on academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, and focusing on creating environments that are challenging, empowering, and equitable can seem a bit daunting. Fortunately, there are tools to guide you. You can use This we believe (NMSA, 2010) as an overview to give you a framework, a common language, to remind you of the big picture. 

Remember that teaching is a journey to embrace and grow. You will never be the best teacher. You will have moments to celebrate, and I encourage you to document these moments and share them with others.

So now begins the task of sifting and sorting through my own experiences. My future posts will most likely be about using the experiences of this year to provide vignettes for those I will be teaching in the fall. 

11. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee

11. Wheeeeeeeee!

This we believe (NMSA, 2010).

* The school environment is inviting, safe, inclusive, and supportive of all. School Environment

Several years ago, there was a commercial of a pig, with her arm hanging out the window of a car, her chin up, eyelashes blowing in the wind, singing, “wheeeeeeeeeee., wheeeeeeeeeee, wheeeeeeee.” The driver turns in her seat and says, “Hey, we are home. You can stop.” Today I felt like that pig. The car is stopped and yet, like the pig, I am still living the sensational joy of the “wheee, wheee, wheee, all the way home.”

Last night I shared, “I hope when I retire, I feel this way. I have lived the dream."

Many years ago, I was introduced to Margaret Mead. She was a cultural anthropologist who would live in cultures to study them. I was fascinated by the concept. In the 1980s, Paul George, one of the early middle school movers and shakers, worked closely with a middle school in Gainesville; and every year he spent two weeks teaching a unit in social studies. These two individuals, by living and writing about their experiences, inspired me to live what I believe.

The experience has been magical, challenging, inspiring, painful, worrisome, hopeful, passionate, disappointing, defeating, uplifting, and amazing.

Advice

1)   If you choose to teach, I hope you will always remember, teaching is not just a job. It involves a tremendous amount of time, energy, commitment, and advocacy for children, parents, colleagues, and administration.

2)   Learn as much as you can about young adolescents. Their world is bombarded with social media, where reality and fiction may not be easily distinguishable.

3)   Learn as much as you can about working collaboratively with others. Being a team player, in word and in action, takes on new meaning in a school.

4)   Make lessons that allow students to dig deeply into meaning and communication. Give all students (gifted and exceptional) opportunities to think critically and creatively.

5)   "Relationships matter; but relationships alone are not enough." My colleague, Nancy Mizelle shared this nugget of insight.

6)   When I was teaching at Shorter College, our middle school group had the following inscription on the back of our t-shirts, “If you can’t reach them, you can’t teach them.” Always reflect on who your students are and what they need.

I have loved this year!!! Yes, if I had it to do over again, I would do it over again. I am forever thankful for a district, a principal, a staff, who gave me a year to immerse myself in the culture of a middle school; a system of educators who believe, like I do, that going back into a classroom is a valuable experience. Thank you McDowell County Public School system!!!

6. Your Story Matters

6. Your story matters. Consider the past, the present, and the future.

This we believe (NMSA, 2010).

*A shared vision developed by all stakeholders guides every decision. Shared Vision

Over the course of this journey, I realize how difficult it is for teachers to maintain their vision. Teaching takes a lot of physical and mental energy and sometimes we forget our calling, our purpose. We spend hours planning, implementing, assessing, and communicating with children, teammates, and parents. In addition, each year, schools are engaging in new technologies, new teaming configurations, new instructional designs, new initiatives, new grants and district tasks, that are often school-wide. How is it then, we can gain new knowledge about emerging strategies and practices, while meeting the needs of our students, planning authentic lessons and units, and creating our own professional development plans? I believe our passion and hope is not lost when we have time to reflect on what we are doing, on what has been done in the past, and to use our knowledge of the present to dream more about what we will do in the future.

More than 60 years ago, Dr. William Alexander, fondly known as the father of the middle school movement, addressed educators at “the 1963 Cornell Conference, …He prepared a speech proposing a new school called the middle school. His address, The Junior High School: A Changing View… provided a comprehensive rationale and program guidelines for the establishment of developmentally responsive middle schools” (Smith & McEwin, 2011, pgs 4-5). In 1973, the National Middle School Association was formed; and in 2011 outreach expanded to serve an international body of educators who serve students ages 10-15, currently known as the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE). Our focus continues to address the need for developmentally responsive middle schools.

Our strategies, our outreach, our research, our support has expanded significantly; but our focus, the AMLE mission, has remained consistent: “The Association for Middle Level Education is dedicated to improving the educational experiences of all students ages 10-15 by providing vision, knowledge, and resources” (AMLE Mission Statement, 2014).

This spring, I have been in touch with former presidents of NMSA/AMLE asking them to share advice and inspiration. Their wisdom is heart-warming, caring, and hopeful. From their words, they share the following:

Our call, as middle-level educators, is to remain true to the history of middle-level education, which speaks to why we serve this age group differently. Our call is to tirelessly advocate for young adolescents and for those who work for and with them; and to enjoy the opportunities to collaborate with one another as we remind others of the strategies, the value, the research, and the importance of serving this age group.

Our work as middle-level advocates is extremely important. I look forward to continuing to share the passion and stories of why we do what we do, and to share what is working in middle schools around the world.

Advice

1)   Keep a journal of your experiences to reflect upon. Share your stories of success, and hope, and passion.

2)   Find teachers in your school who share a positive approach to working with young adolescents. Allow them to be your mentors.

3)   There are a lot of resources available to you regarding middle level education; use the resources from amle.org, nassp.org, and stw.org to help you develop your philosophy of serving middle level students and stakeholders associated with them.

4)   Teaching is a journey. Listen to the past, be open to the future, and remain true to serving young adolescents.

7. Two parts: Moms as Teachers and an EOG Bumper Crop

7. Moms as Teachers and an EOG Bumper Crop

This we believe (NMSA, 2010).

Leaders are committed to and knowledgeable about this age group, educational research, and best practices. Committed Leaders

Part I
Earlier in the year I contacted one or our seventh/eighth-grade teachers, who has two small children, to share how she balanced family and school. Before we finished this posting, we found out her eighth-grade students performed well on the 8th-grade social studies exam. Her advice speaks to our need to balance and understand the nature of young adolescents. I shared, the following:

I am always amazed at how parents of small children manage teaching, and all the details outside the classroom. I am wondering if you would be willing to give advice to those who are planning to teach, on how to navigate your role as mom and teacher.

The following is her response:

Give 110% while at school. No time for small talk. I keep big pictures of my girls in my room. It is a constant reminder of why I am here. It also shows my students I'm a dedicated mother.

When you're home, you're 'mom,' period. Second, you're a wife or husband. Third, you're your own person. Lastly, you're a teacher. I'm not undermining the profession or your commitment to it, but you have to put your personal life first when you're not at school.

I always tell myself, "If I'm not a good mother, I can't be a good teacher." At the end of the day, being a mother has made me a better teacher. That's not to say I never do work at home, but I know I can't count on having time every evening to grade or plan. Weeknight evenings can be unpredictable once home and I've learned to go with the flow the next day if plans aren't 100% intact. Truly, students can always use a little extra time or more explanation on a topic already taught.

Don't stress over small stuff at school. Sometimes an assignment may be graded a little later than I would like. When this happens, I'm upfront with my students about it. This shows them I'm human living in a not-so-perfect world too.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. Countless teachers before you have been in the same boat and countless will come after you. You'll have plenty of opportunities to pay-it-forward.

Part II So then, after our kids tested all week, we heard that 89% of her eighth-grade students passed the eighth-grade social studies test. WoooHoooo!!! We were excited to hear this. How fun to get to celebrate their success. So, I pressed on…

“Great news about your scores,” I shared.
Please share advice I can share with my social studies teachers about preparing their students for the test !! WhoooHoooo!!!!


She responded…

Thank you!

Well, to start, our team didn't have inclusion or AIG students. Second, we read, read, and then read some more. I taught reading strategies (Thinking Tracks that I learned while at Asheville Middle School). I read out loud to them and model the strategies. Eighth graders still love to be read to! They were required to do Thinking Tracks on every document we read the entire year. This keeps them engaged in the text and they are less likely to get "lost" or lose interest in difficult documents.

I always tried to create a positive classroom environment that was fun, inviting and a place they felt valued. Starting with the Revolutionary War we would listen to time period music while they worked. This was especially interesting during the 1960s. Sometimes I feel like a saleswoman in the classroom, and I'm trying to get students to buy into whatever I'm doing, without them knowing it.

The day before the test we party. I call it, "The day before the big fight." We listened to Eye of the Tiger (Rocky), You're the Best Around (Karate Kid), Firework (Katy Perry), Fight Song, and other positive, upbeat songs. I then go over my "Mommy To-Do List." The night before the test: Go to bed early while reading their review packet (This is guaranteed to help them fall asleep QUICKLY!). The morning of the test: Eat a high protein, high-fat breakfast. This is the only time I promote fast food breakfasts! They then pass notecards around and write positive notes to each other and give each other stickers.

Advice:

1) Balancing your life as a teacher and parent, as a teacher and friend, is so important. It is so hard to do your first year. Keep an eye on your “balance factor.” By “balance factor,” I am referring to your own personal, social, emotional, physical, spiritual, and intellectual life. Don’t forget what fills your bucket, and take time for you.
2) Testing is a culminating experience. Creating a culture of care and review throughout the year provided the right mix for her eighth graders. Her activities were laced with much reading and analyzing texts. When there is a reason to celebrate, celebrate with your colleagues! Celebrate big!
3) Find someone to be your mentor and to help you navigate your year. Teachers have lots of ideas on how to help prepare their students for the End of Grade testing. Consider working as a team to come up with common strategies and celebrations across your team.
4)     Ultimately, your commitment to teaching must be balanced with taking care of yourself and your students. (:

15. When parents say thank-you.

This we believe (NMSA, 2010).

*The school actively involves families in the education of their children. Family Involvement

We are testing this week. I monitor my students as they navigate technology and as they analyze excerpts from stories, poetry, history, and mathematical problems. Once they finish, I hand them a book of their choosing as they wait patiently for their classmates. After testing, they play Uno together, draw pictures on the board, or paint. It is a peaceful, cohesive moment as we wait for the entire school to reach the end of the exams.

This morning, we received an email from an elementary teacher whose daughter is graduating. She wrote the open letter to all teachers, perhaps to remind us of how precious children are to their parents. I asked her if I could post it here. It is the kind of letter I wish every parent could write. It reminds me that we should all carry the torch to help our students find their moment, their passions, their dreams.

As we enter into the last days of our daughter, Anna's, school career as a student of McDowell County Schools, Lamar and I wanted to take a moment and thank you all for the impact you have had in Anna's education and in the lives of our family.  

Old Fort Elementary, you took this five-year-old baby...who threw up every day the first week of school...and you nurtured her and held her and loved her until she felt comfortable enough to be there...you held her and loved her through the death of both of my parents..her grandparents...allowing her the time to grieve...yet still holding her to the highest expectations and not allowing her to stay stuck in her grief.  You differentiated for this kid who had unbelievable math skills...yet, HATED reading...and you told her that was ok...and you challenged her to be the best in everything she did...You gave her roots and made her proud of the place she calls home...you gave her opportunities to build her leadership skills and encouraged her to find her niche.  And we  celebrated with tears of pride and gratitude with her as she returned "home" yesterday...thank you for the  foundation you laid for her.  You were the building blocks that held her education steadfast and everything else was built on.  We will forever be grateful for all that you did for Anna and also for us.

To the faculty and staff at West McDowell "junior high" Middle school...it seems not too long ago that we brought Anna to open house...made her run through her schedule about five times, so that she wouldn't get lost on the first day of school...and reassured her that there was no elevator or swimming pool...that people sent hopelessly lost  seventh graders in search of ...only to find that there was indeed an elevator...we celebrated with her as she made the volleyball team, then the basketball team, and finally the softball team...and then began helping her to learn to balance her schedule to accommodate practice times and balance that with continuing to make good grades...you helped us navigate her teenage years and walked through the times where she was so unsure of herself making us unsure of ourselves as well.  You introduced her to band, to FCA, and other clubs that began to fit her personality. In addition to all the academic areas you exposed her to, you helped her to see that you were there to support her as she tried to live out her faith among her friends.  In awarding her the Patterson award in the ninth grade, you validated for Anna that people do see the things you do when you think no one is watching. It was at West that she accepted God's call to teach.  Thank you for that.

And finally, to the faculty and staff at McDowell High School...wow...here we are...about to embark on another leg of Anna's journey. As an elementary teacher, it is unfathomable to me how you deal daily with all of the needs of all of your students. Yet you do it with grace and commitment, and I thank you for that.  It was at MHS that Anna's Christian walk deepened.  She was able to be real and accepted and valued for the person she is, and it meant so much to her.  Whether it was in the classroom, the volleyball court or the softball field, you allowed her to be herself and never felt pressure to be something she wasn't.  Not many high school students can say that.  Her leadership skills continued to be developed and she blossomed into the young lady she is now.  You did that, and we will forever be indebted to you for all you did for Anna.  As she leaves in the fall for Appalachian State University, she will carry the advice you have all given her and she will succeed...because you have prepared her to do so.

So we say thank you for all you have done.  Though your value has no price tag, what you have done for our family is immeasurable.  

--
Beth L. Silver
Second Grade Teacher
Glenwood Elementary School