Networking and Socials

For the past few days I have been thinking about the many people who have helped me develop my teaching skills.  Obviously, I have learned from college courses, trainings and observations.  However, I have also learned and developed skills in a more subtle way....simply socializing and talking with others in the field of education.

One of the teachers on my team from five years ago and at a different school e-mailed me to let me know that someone in her hallway was throwing away SRA Reading Mastery teacher presentation kits.  These kits are expensive: $1,200-$1,500.  I was thrilled!  I have access to all of our comprehensive reading materials that the district requires us to use, but I like to have a bank of supplemental materials on hand for those kiddos who need more.

After I went to her school to pick them up, I ran into some other teachers and assistants that I used to work with and they invited me to join them for lunch.  I'm always up for a summer lunch with fun people so of course I agreed.

When I got home I started thinking about this.  We did some talking about school, but lots of talking about summer activities, vacations, families, etc. etc. etc.  However, because of these relationships that were built and then held on to by keeping in touch; my friend gifted me with almost $3,000 worth of materials.

Now I'm not suggesting you go out and make friends so that hopefully you will profit from it!  I'm just saying that sometimes those lunch dates, happy hours, chatting over coffee and socials at conferences help you build up a network of people who are happy to help if they can.  We don't always have to be actively discussing curriculum or Common Core or classroom management.  Sometimes those relationships we build with other colleagues help to support us when we are running on empty or they surprise us with happy gifts in August!





image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/barbro2009/6794743859/sizes/m/in/photolist-bmqQCc-bmqQQe-8m47Hd-8UQZaY-a1JVHd-evwJRX-eyFCwy-aB83Ye-9cegBy-b49LBt-d3nGvo-9qRD6W-ahxwHA-aAh2Yy-8U6HrH-dKEgmh-7CDuM7-8ciyZj-8cfe3g-7Kz4bB-cSYzmA-86qAkr-82WMwF-8EuKUf-dScKU4-9nErEk-dehMfS-dvHvUR-f5TS8k-dehLKr-9evp51-e6BmmY/

Einstein's Definition of Insanity

Einstein's definition of insanity is one of my all time favorite quotes.  He says simply: "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

How many times, as teachers or parents, do we do the same thing we have always done and end up with the same conflict, problem or lack of learning on the child's part.  I agree with Einstein.  That's insane.

We are the adults who are in the lead role.  It's up to us to change something first.  If I continue doing everything exactly as I have done it before, shouldn't expect the same thing that happened before to happen again?  And yet, what happens?  The child typically gets blamed.  We say things like "You need to listen harder." (quote from Rick Lavoie and FAT City).  Seriously??  Listen harder?  How do you do that?  Or we say you're lazy or just not trying.  Or we say you need to apply yourself.


I think Einstein's quote on insanity speaks to one of my favorite aspects of teaching students with special needs.  The kids can, in fact, learn.  We have centuries of data to prove that going all the way back to Itard, Seguin and Montessori. 

It's up to me to figure out what to change.

Perhaps I change the way the material is presented.  Some children can learn complex concepts with the support of visual cues or kinesthetic modes of processing the information.  Perhaps I change how the student has to respond.  Perhaps instead of writing his/her response, I have them orally tell it.  Perhaps I change the way the student is engaged.

I find Einstein's quote to be a challenge for me to figure how to help the students in my class learn the skills and concepts they need to learn.



photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons; the Smithsonian Institution

Moving Before and After

Last year my pre-k program was moved to another elementary school in my district. I had a choice to move with my program or teach a different grade level at the current school. I chose to move.

Since it was a district decision to move the program, they provided staff to physically move all of the boxes and furniture, but I was responsible for the packing and the unpacking.

When I walked into my classroom after the movers had all of the boxes placed, I knew I had my work cut out for me. This is one of the before shots:



Clearly, I had to figure out a plan of attack to get everything organized and ready for the first day of school. I started with my necessities: iPod, coffee and Gatorade and then got to work.



I organized my actions by prioritizing what HAD to be in place for the first day of school and what materials I would be using. I keep most of my units of study in large Rubbermaid tubs with labels. You don't see it in the picture, but in one corner of the classroom is a storage room.

I needed to to get some space in the room to move the furniture, so I started by taking all of the tubs for my units and organizing them in the storage room. Once that was done, I could push the tables to the middle of the room, put all of the other materials on and under the tables and start working on the physical layout of the perimeter of the room. Here's the start of that:

Thinking about the physical layout is HUGE! Your physical layout in the classroom can either help you diffuse problems or can actually make the problems worse. The following are some of the things I think about as I set up a new room:

What is age/grade appropriate?
What areas need to be included?
Where are materials stored for the teacher, assistant, students?
How are materials accessed? Does it support independence?
Is there a quiet space when needed?
Where are the electrical outlets and computer drops?
Traffic patterns to and from:

• bathroom and fountain
• backpacks and lunchboxes
• time out, chill out chair, etc (if needed)
• teaching tables and support materials
• fire exit and alternate routes
• line up

And most importantly,

• Do I have visual supervision of all areas at all times?

At this point, I started moving centers around, figuring out how to address all of those questions regarding the physical layout and then unpacking materials that belong in each center.

It finally came together like this:


After living with it for a year, there are some changes that I'll make when I go back into school next week. But, I have found by thinking about the physical layout questions, I can address the most important issues first and do so efficiently....without having to do tasks twice because I "forgot" I needed to have a computer table near the computer drop or that I needed a wall for my housekeeping unit because it is too high to see over.

Moving and organizing a new room takes an enormous amount of energy and time. (That's why this post did not get posted last year when I actually moved! I was too busy attending to other things.) Make sure to ask your principal, department chair or mentor what is your responsibility and what the school/district provides. In the course of fifteen years of teaching I probably had to move classrooms 6 or 7 times before I found out that the district would provide boxes and I earned a comp day for moving. It took 3 days to organize my classroom last year. While the district didn't pay me for every bit of time I spent in there, it sure was nice to enjoy that day off that I did earn!

If you are moving or re-organizing your classroom this year good luck!

Pre-k Paperwork, Planning and Packing

Talk about four "p's" in a pod!

Could the end of the school year get any busier? Probably not!

Paperwork! How can you end the school year without a plethora of paperwork? Progress reports, articulation reports, kindergarten transition meetings, eligibility meetings, dismissal meetings, review of RtI data...are we done yet? I guess it just goes with the territory and the time of year. However, this year, in particular, has made me very thankful that I am a teacher and not a procedural compliance specialist!

Planning! I also just got notice that I received a very coveted summer school position. In the economic crisis, my district had many, many teachers apply for summer school jobs with less positions available this year. I'm so lucly I got a position, but of course, I have to work for my pennies. I will have a whole new group of kids to learn and plan lessons for.

Packing! I hate packing. I hate packing a suitcase to go on a weekend trip. (Obviously this is the one of the four p's that I'll let myself complain about.) My pre-k program is being moved to another school. As a result, I have to organize and pack the room. Did I tell you I hate packing?

The four P's here started my assistant and me singing today (because that's what we do in pre-k)

There are 7 days

There are 7 days

There are 7 days left this year

We can make it

Only 7 days

Only 7 days left this year

mind games...7 days times 7.5 hours equals 52.5 (that's really only two days and a few hours)

(Tomorrow is field day and 6 days left!)

Tips for Reducing Teacher Burnout

I read somewhere that the lifespan of a typical special education teacher is 4 years. How do you get beyond the 4 year burnout? Here are a few tips that helped me! Please share what strategies help you in the comments section.

1) File your positive notes (Every now and again you will receive a really nice note, e-mail or card from a parent, an administrator or another staff member. Create a file! If you need a "pick-me-up" or a reminder of why you do what you do, go to your file and read a few notes.)

2) Find a mentor (Actually, my mentor and I refer to him as my "Tor-Mentor." He doesn't really mentor me, he torments me. :-) Primarily because he won't "yes, ma'am" me. He will tell me honestly what he thinks, challenge my mind set, kick me in the tush when it's needed or point me in a new direction. This is precisely what makes him a good mentor....he encourages me to continually think and grow.)

3) Make friends with your bookkeeper and custodian (I was well into my third year of teaching before I knew that I had a classroom budget for construction paper, glitter, paint, etc. I was into my fourth or fifth year before I realized money could be "found" if you really needed something. I was happy as a clam when the custodian reached my classroom quickly when a child threw up...ughhh!.... and pleased as punch when they figured how to get approval for the anti-bacterial spray I wanted for my pre-k room. They know secrets! Let them help!)

4) Beg, borrow and steal (Okay, don't steal, but definitely beg and borrow. Take time to find out what other teachers are doing and how they do it. Most teachers are willing to share ideas, tips, copies, patterns, etc. After you find out what they are doing, figure out how to apply it to your teaching situation. After you apply it.....share an idea back with them!)

5) Identify your favorite stress management technique (working out? going for coffee? reading a book? going for an adult beverage? What helps you unwind and put school behind you? Figure it out and then apply it! Enjoy your time away from school....it helps you to stay refreshed and be a better teacher.)

6) Laugh and enjoy your students! Teaching is fun! Enjoy it!