A SHOUT OUT to Duluth 12!

It's all coming to a close and I can't believe it.  This has been the most amazing journey I have taken in my education.  All 20 years of schooling I've had and this is, by far, been the most growth of all of it.  My students have gained so much from all of our hard work.  I did the readings and I wrote the papers, but the true learning was when I was at class with my fellow Duluth 12'ers.  We always had fun.  One second we were deep in thought, the next we were laughing with one another.  It was always an environment that I felt safe to make mistakes and grow.  I always left there wanting my students to feel the same way when they left my class.  I can't believe it's almost done.  Congratulations everyone!  Let's enjoy this last full weekend together!

Reflecting in Math

My students have started one of the most exciting parts of the year in math.  We have started the five minute addition tests.  The students have a sheet of paper that has 100 addition problems on them and they have five minutes to do as many as possible.  This is great practice and we do it every single day.  My favorite part is that they keep track of their scores on a little chart they have in their pencil box.  They put their score under what day we took the test and then they talk with their neighbor about if they have improved or not.  Then we take a few minutes to discuss strategies that have worked for individuals.  Eventually they will start writing what their goal is for that day on the test.  Then they will have a certain number in their head.  I love doing this because it teaches the kids how to set their own goals and to not compare to others. 

Valentine's Day / 100th Day of School Fun!

Last Friday was not only Valentine's Day, but also our 100th day of first grade!  Unfortunately, I was not able to attend school that day, due to a family death, but my-oh-my did the kiddos have a blast.  I love to incorporate things that I did in elementary school.  The memories at Jefferson Elementary are some of my fondest.  So, one thing we did to prepare for this day, was make the ever-famous Jefferson Valentine's Day mailboxes!  What a great way to let the kids be creative.  I simply give them a shoe box and art supplies and tell them to make their mailbox.  There was glitter EVERYWHERE!!  The kids loved it though!  On Friday then, the students were able to mail their valentines in the appropriate mailboxes.  We also had fun making graph with candy hearts and eating cookies with our third grade buddies!
For the 100th day of first grade we had a great time working on a book that gave us different prompts, such as what you will look like when you are 100, what you would do with 100 dollars, and a list of things you would want 100 of.  Then, with our third grade buddies, the kids created a picture that incorporated the numbers 1-0-0.  I had the students take it home that day, so I didn't see most of them, but one that was forgotten used the zeros as eyes and the 1 as a mouth and created a face.  WHAT A BLAST!!!  I can't wait to do this all again next year!

Tips for a Somewhat NEW teacher....with the special education process

HELP!

I am really struggling with how long the special education referral process takes.  I have a student who needs one-on-one help in language arts.  Teachers that worked with the student in the past have said he/she will for sure qualify for special education.  BUT, here it is FEBRUARY and the process is just beginning.  I started the interventions a month after school started, just so I could get a feel of where this student was at and what interventions would be the most appropriate.  I filed my paperwork when the timeframe was complete of the interventions.  Now, I am finding out the evaluation process will not be done until the end of March.  Here is my call for help out to all of you EXPERIENCED teachers..... HOW DO I GET THIS TO HAPPEN FASTER NEXT TIME?!  By the time this little love qualifies, second grade will be starting.  That's great and all, but now they missed all of first grade without the necessary help they needed.  Maybe this is just how it is, but I want to make sure!

From,
An Antsy First Grade Teacher

Data Collection...

When I started my masters, the idea of data collection made me cringe.  I think the main reason I did not like the idea of data collection is how much DATA the state and federal government expect from us and how skewed it can be.  I felt that data is a great way to show growth, but it doesn't show an outsider the students has a whole person.

Then I started my masters.  Although the state and federal government, only really look at data from test scores, I have now realized you can collect data in so many different forms.  It is your job as the teacher to take the data and make the necessary changes in your classroom.  Before, I was thinking the data was just for those 'outsiders'.  HOW NAIVE.  The data is for me.  The data is the assessments.  The data is the students' voices.  How eye opening that was for me.

My Conclusion of the Flipped Classroom.

1.  I will never teach the 'other' way again.
2.  It just makes sense.
3.  Everyone can flip.
4.  Not everyone's flipped classroom will look the same.
5.  First graders are CAPABLE.
6.  Parents need to be on board.
7.  Don't give up.  There will be some rough waters.
8.  Assess ----> Flex Grouping
9.  Have fun making the videos.
10. Follow your gut.

Parent Comments on the FLIP!

Last week, I had parent-teacher conferences!  I was so excited to show all of the growth of every student, I didn't even think to ASK about how the flipped classroom was.  Let's just say that it was never brought up negatively.  Instead, I had two different sets of parents asking me if they wanted me to have them write anything or tell whoever on how much they have LOVED the flipped classroom.  They even asked which 2nd grade teacher was flipping their math for next year!  :)  None of them have yet, but there sure has been some interest.

Growth

Spring time is just around the corner, 30 days away (but who is counting), and I cannot wait for the growth outside....but I am already seeing the growth indoors.  The biggest joy of teaching first grade, to me, is the amount of growth every student has.  Thinking about the beginning of the year, makes me dizzy.  The tears that were shed, daily or even hourly, the handwriting, the lack of any type of fluency what so ever...and to look at all of my students today.  I cannot believe it at times.  To think we still have three and a half months to grow even more, amazes me.  Not only is my hard work paying off, but their trust and dedication is as well!  I am so proud of each and everyone of my kiddos.  I can't wait to see how much more they grow before June 6th.

Chatty Crew

This years class is a chatty crew!  Here are a few things I use to help with getting their attention.  ( I don't want to totally squash their chattiness, because they learn a lot talking with one another.)

I say, "Spring a LEAK!" and the kids reply with, "Shhhhhhhh"  ***Used to bring down the volume.

I say, "1, 2, 3....Eyes on Me!"  and the kids respond with, "1, 2 eyes on you!"    *** Look to me for direction.

In a whisper voice I say, "If you can hear me raise your hand."  They raise their hand and look for me.  I count how many times it takes me to say it.  If they get it in one time, they earn a tally mark.  30 tally marks equals a PARTY!

During transitions, I ask them random questions about things we have studied in the past.  When someone answers the question correctly, that person and their table members are free to transition to the next thing. 

What are some ways you get your students' attention?

Presenting...

I have taken a big leap, and have decided to present at our district's in-service day.  For all of you who do not know me, I do NOT like speaking in front of adults.  Put me in front of 200 kids and I'm fine, but adults....not so much.    Why I made the decision to present was all of the leadership articles and books we have read in our class.  If you have read The Radical Leap you will know what I am talking about when I say, this is definitely an OSM.  Let's just say I'm really nervous.  Since I am have a role as a 'leader' in my school as staff development co-chair, I felt that I need to lead by example and show others that we should present the things that we are doing and share ideas!  Part of me is really excited to share with others my successes and struggles in flipping our classroom.  I want to inspire others to take a chance and see how they could flip their classroom.  Is it sad that all I keep thinking about is people telling other people....DON'T GO TO THAT BREAK OUT SESSION....BORING!?!?!  I think too much. 

Grandmas love the FLIP!

One of the things that I worried about the most, before implementing the flipped classroom, was what the older generation would think.  I worry A LOT so I probably thought of every complaint that could have come about with the flipped classroom in first grade.  One that I knew I could not do anything about, was what grandparents would think of this idea.  A large amount of my students go to their grandparents' after school and do their homework there.  Now, I haven't talked to very many grandparents, but I have had two grandmas interested in coming in our room AFTER they watched the movie where their grandchildren.  Their response was not what I was expecting.  They absolutely love what we are doing and think I'm a 'genius' for implementing it.  I reassured them that I am not the 'genius', that other teachers around the country were the true explorers and discoverers of the flipped classroom and that they are the ones who inspired me.  The comment that the grandmas made was that they loved how their grandchildren could go back and watch movies to remind themselves how things worked!  If they couldn't remember, they could go back and see our lesson about whatever concept they were getting tripped up on.  As of right now, my movies are just labeled by what lesson we are on.  For example, 5.13 would mean chapter 5, lesson 13.  Next year, I'm going to label the movies by what skill we are going over.  That way, they are easier to find which movie they need to help them with that tricky skill!  :) 

Christmas BREAK...No movies?!?!

This is going to be short and sweet, but I just HAD to share.  The day before Christmas break, I told the kids that there would be NO movies for math while they were away.  I was expecting the reaction of USA scoring the game winning goal at the buzzer, but it was the complete opposite.  I heard, "NO MISS C!!  I thought that's how I was going to get to see you still over break!"   Their enjoyment for this different type of learning is the same as mine and we are all LOVING IT.  :)  Happy New Years, everyone!!!

Play and the Flipped Classroom

Recently, I read an article on the importance of play in a child's life.  The article "The Serious Need for Play" by Melinda Wenner Moyer, explains different finds supporting play in a child's life.  Through studies done on rats and different experimental scenarios with children, they have found that when a child has more free play when they are younger, they tend to grow up with more creativity and better social skills.  Play allows them to troubleshoot and use their imagination.  While reading this, I thought about my flipped classroom.

When I asked the parents about how the flipped classroom was going, I only had one 'negative' response.  This mom's response had to do with her concern that her child would not be getting enough time for play and being a kid at home.  This is a concern we both share.  Through the standards and high expectations of elementary education, it is concerning the amount of time we spend on structured activities and how little time we have left to just be kids.  As we talked about different ways we could try to cut back on the time it took her son to watch the movie at home, it did make me realize that the classroom time was not as structured as it was prior to the flip.  Although, math is still with centers that have instructions and rules, the centers are much more hands-on and age appropriate for the kids to explore.  Also, the lessons I create to have them watch, will be as short as possible (6-10 minutes), to allow more play at home.  (If my students did not have the movie, they would have to do a worksheet every night instead, which is our school policy on math homework every night for grades K-6)

The mom came up with the idea that she would watch the movie prior to her son coming home, she is a stay at home, hardworking mother of three, and she would teach him the strategies I am 'in sense' teaching her.   Through this method, her son has been able to play more and has come a long way in math this year.