Teacher Evaluations!

This year the teacher evaluation our county chose to use was created by Charlotte Danielson. (This was only the 4th time they changed it in 4 years!) However, due to funding (and possibly insanity) our county chose to use the 76 indicator model. SEVENTY-SIX INDICATORS!

It was complete madness. Some of what you had to prove were how the students placed the furniture. I mean really??!! Through the piles of pages on 4 domains, I did happen to learn a few things about my teaching practice. I also discovered two areas that I thought were valuable. One of those areas were the students generating higher-level questioning. At first I thought there was no way my second graders could do that, but I was WRONG. My seven and eight-year-olds amazed me with their thinking and their ability to ask questions that really made us all think. A colleague provided us with some great stem questions and it was relatively easy to show the kids how to use these to help themselves really think about text. I think the reason it went so smoothly is that we have been asking and answering higher-level questions for some time. It was exciting to see the students so passionate about thinking and directing their own learning.

The second part of the evaluation that I felt helped me was the area where students help determine their own criteria for evaluations. (I wish they had let us do this!) For several weeks, all the criteria for all assessments, such as exit tickets or graphic organizers, were set up by the students and myself. I have always told the kids what they needed to get to a certain point (whether is is a grade or a performance based grade). However, actually writing it down together really empowered the kids and allowed them to feel as if they are a part of their own success. We came up with several specific expectation charts. I could tell a huge difference in effort and performance based on this work. We had always gone by our general guidelines, but this allowed for student input and was more specific to the given assessment.

Student Grading Rubric {For Standards-based Grading}

Free Student Generated Fluency Criteria

So even though I didn't LOVE being evaluated on 76 indicators, I did learn a thing or two. It just goes to show you, we are always learning!

Kids Playing Teacher

One of our favorite things to do is to play teacher! As far back as I can remember, my friends and I played teacher. I even made my poor younger brother be the student who made bad choices. Sometimes, if he was really nice to me, I let him be the principal! I probably should have been nicer to him. Now he makes six times my salary! You live and you learn.

Most kids are no exception to the appeal of playing teacher. In my class, all kids get the chance to be the teacher in two ways. Students get to read to the class (a big favorite) and or go over the morning bell work (another favorite). Both of these roles are a huge hit with all kids. This role is optional and never mandatory nor without support if they need it. For some reason, kids really love doing this. I think it empowers them and makes them feel like they are in control of something. Even children who struggle rise to the occassion and walk away feeling good about their abilities.

The classroom environment makes a difference as well. We work hard to create a safe, family-like environment so that all children feel as if they can take risks. This especially helps when kids are up in front of the room. Allowing my class to play this role helps for future presentations. It also helps kids feel in charge, and have a sense of purpose. It can be quite funny to watch kids mimic things you have said, as well.

My favorite thing about allowing kids to be the teacher is to see what they come up with. Now groups of kids have taken it upon themselves to perform plays. The engagement, fluency work, and excitement are priceless.

Sometimes we need to give kids the opportunity to be in charge it shows them that we trust and value them. Plus, it is a time to sit back and observe just what kids can really do!

A Heart of Gratitude

Gratitude is a practice. It results in positive thinking. In a difficult time and world, the one true factor that can make the most impact is exercising gratitude. It is complex, yet very simple. The cause of resentment and poor behavior is a direct result of feeling undervalued, not worthy, not heard, and not cared about. When we focus on the things in which we do value and are the most grateful for, we can change resentment into gratitude and love. Recognizing and expressing gratitude towards children can change everything. Expressing gratitude is a simple answer for a complex problem. We need to stop thinking about gratitude as an emotion, and begin to live it as an action. Living your life as an expression of gratitude is the greatest give you can give a child and yourself. 

Gratitude Journal

When children thank while they think, they think better and deeper. Thankfulness teaches children to be in the present, and they want to give back. This journal is meant to help children begin to walk in gratitude. Remember that gratitude practices are not about smiling more and being positive, it is about recognizing the hard part and focusing on the things for which we are grateful. 

How can we start? We can live by example. We need to thank our students more. We need to share specifically what we are thankful for about them on a daily basis. If not, we are missing the daily practices that can change EVERYTHING.

I’ll start. Thank you for your interest in this blog. Thank you for the job you do each day. Thank you for making it your life’s work to change the world one student at a time. I am grateful for your support. I am grateful to work among you.

Trina Deboree (Dralus)

Meaningful Mama has a great list of books that help teach generosity and giving.

Meaningful Mama Blog

Goals for the New Year!

So I went back to school today for a new year in 2015! The kids were pretty mild, as they all were still pretty sleepy. It was great to see all of their smiling faces. 

One of my favorite things to do as a class is to make goals for the New Year. (Much like resolutions, I hope they stick!) So this year I used a Scoot game I created last year. Scoot is so fun! It is such a great way for kids who need to move while they learn to get up and get moving. Each student had a recording sheet, like the sheet below. I placed task cards on each desk. Students move around the room answering the questions/prompts on the card. They record it in the correct number that aligns with the question/prompt. They can move at their own pace. I usually have 3-4 extra cards at various seats in the room so that there is always an open spot. 

There were four different categories that the children answered questions or were prompted to write about. The categories included:

 Smarter You!

 Braver You!

 Active You!

Better You!

This was such a fun way to reflect on things from last year, make goals for this year, and really think about how to better ourselves in 2015!

The kids and I had a blast. Make this a part of your New Year's traditions. It is available in my store for FREE! Happy New Year!

New Year's Goals (Task Cards) FREEBIE

An Unexpected Christmas Surprise

So the last week before a holiday break can be a pretty crazy time for teachers. I don't know about you, but I fall into bed at night only to drag myself out each morning. The last 2 days are the hardest. This year I decided to do my celebration on Thursday. I think I like this idea. The kids and I had been reading Yes, Virginia There is a Santa Claus by Chris Plehal. We did several close reading activities and really had some powerful discussions on generosity and believing in things that we can't see. It was really inspiring.

Available on Amazon

On Thursday, we wore our pjs to school, had hot chocolate, and watched the 25 min. movie. To be sure we were still learning until the end, we did a venn diagram comparing the book to the movie. The movie certainly expresses more of the story and gives the viewer a better understanding of why the mean girl in the story is mean. It defies the norm. In this case, the movie was created first, and then the book was written. So the movie actually tells more of the story. An excellent holiday must see!

Available on Amazon and iTunes

As I am platooning this year, I had to do hot chocolate, the movie, and the comparing activity twice. There are some major benefits to this style of teaching, but in this case not so much. Of course the kids were wild. Sometimes you feel like you are herding cats. It was an exhausting, but fun day.

So that takes me to the very last day. With the threat of a walk-through and the pressure of teaching to the end I kinda cracked. Since there were 4 kids absent from one class and 3 kids absent from the other and we were tired, and the kids were so done, we spent the day doing some free choice. 

Some might say free choice on the iPad is just kids playing games. I disagree. Sometimes it is in this time that we learn the most about our students. Yes, I had some showing me that they learn best through games, but I also had a group of 4 girls write, direct, create the set, and perform a play based on the snowmen they made with my teaching partner. It was adorable. It was creative, it was writing, it was story development, and it was collaborative. How can we say that isn't learning? I was pleasantly surprised to see that if we step back a bit, give them the tools, they will naturally learn by playing. It really was an amazing discovery. Now I understand, just a little bit more, about how they learn and express themselves. And thankfully, there was not a last minute walk-through!

I hope your last week at school was one filled with memories, and that now you are getting some much deserved rest. Happy Holidays to you!

Trina

P.S. Just in case you want to try this unit out next year...

Close Read for Christmas Book Yes Virginia by Chris Plehal

Christmas Science

The holidays can be such a stressful time in teaching and in life (if I am totally honest). So I try to incorporate learning and the holidays as much as I can, especially with the whole bell-to-bell instruction, threat of a walk-through looming over your head. The days of enjoying the time with kids and doing a fun Christmas craft are sadly over. Although, I feel we are negatively impacting our children's fine motor skills due to lack of cutting and clueing, but that is a whole other topic.

So last year I thought, how can I cover Science during this crazy time of year? That's when I thought about matter! There are many liquids we see during the holidays (some kids can't see), lots of solids (things I wish I didn't see and eat!), and even several gasses. So Holidays Matter was born. All the essential questions were asked; vocabulary was taught, and the packet contained  fun experiments that taught children about matter while having a festive holiday atmosphere. Take a look at some of the fun we had...

First, we made some predictions about objects inside of Christmas stockings. They had to then determine if they were a solid, a liquid or a gas. 

We also did some floating activities with various holiday solids in some milk for Santa.

In the end the kids could answer the following essential questions:

This unit ended up being a really fun way of learning about matter while having fun during the holidays. The first experiment is free at my TpT store! If you want more, the full pack is available as well. 

Freebie: Sneak Peek Into Holidays Matter

Holidays Matter

Happy Holidays! I hope your holiday is filled with learning and fun!

Formative and Summative Assessment

Formative and Summative Assessments! You know you hear these words over and over again. I have to admit that I didn't totally understand them until I went back to school to get my Master's Degree. Then I had no choice but to understand them! So here is an easy definition. Formative assessment is like taking a quick look at how well a child understands a skill, standard, and or objective. Formative assessments allow you to change course during the time of instruction. Formative assessments guide your current instruction.

Summative assessments are a gauge of how well a student has mastered skills, standards, and/or objectives. Summative assessments are used to see how much a child has grown, to determine if instruction and or programs worked, and are given after instruction has taken place. It is more like a final exam. It may drive future instruction. Summative assessments are end-of-the chapter tests, unit tests, and standardized tests, to name a few.

There are many ways to do a quick check. It may be a graphic organizer or a check-in with the teacher after a few problems are answered/solved. Quick checks or formative assessments let you know what is going on with the student. Another great way to see if kids get it is an exit slip. Exit slips can be used as a final review and before the students leave your room. They can also be done as an entrance slip, checking for understanding before the lesson even begins. Exit slips are a great way to look at your students as a class as well. Exit slips can be as easy as saying here is a pile for kids who got it, and here is a pile of kids who need extra help. You can also use an exit slip board. This way your kids can pin their slip on the board, and you can see how your class looks as a whole. Exit slips have become like an addiction for me! I created this board in my classroom. I hot glued small clothes pins to the number area, and my students just clip their exit slip in place.

Free Exit Board

Now I can't stop! Everything has become an exit slip. I have created exit slips for all of the reading standards in second grade. They are quick and focused. The kids work so much harder on the exit slip, because the paper is shorter and more focused.  If students need more space, they can flip the slip over or add a Sticky note to the slip. I can do a quick sweep to determine if the class understands the concept, adjust my instruction, form a small group, or provide a summative assessment and move on. HINT: They are also great for walk-throughs and observations!

The best part of an exit slip is it is easier to grade. It has saved me hours of time and given me real feedback on how well my students understand the concept, skill, and or standard. 

How do you assess your students? I know we all have PLENTY of summative assessments, but how do you take a quick peek to see how your kids are coming along? I would love to hear from you!