This week #SOLC19

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The grownups got unexpected news and did not want to hear it.

The kids had indoor recess again and again.

The grownups prepared to give a state test.

The kids practiced taking the state test.

The grownups collected headphones and computer chargers.

The kids reluctantly left their computers at school.

The grownups are stressed.

The kids are grumpy.

What a week.

Skipping #SOLC

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Today I took a reprieve from administering our state standardized tests.  Two of my co-workers took make-up test duty so I could meet with my intervention groups.

When I picked up my first group of students, one had to take a make-up test, so that left me with two third graders.  (If you had my six third graders, you'd also split them into two groups of three!)

These two are not the easiest students to work with first thing in the morning.  She likes to tell long, elaborate stories that could be labeled tall tales.  He is not an early riser, having spent long hours on his computer the night before, looking up scientific facts that his classmates prefer not to hear.

Since this is my first group of the day, I make a decision on my way to pick them up that I'm there to help and coach and not lose my temper.  It's not easy.

Today, the two walked ahead of me, as usual.  I could already feel the tension build up in my neck as I could only imagine the competition that would ensue when they got to my room.  Would the drama be over a certain chair?  Scientific fact disagreement?  Pointing out that a story couldn't be true?

Then I saw it.  You could have knocked me over with a feather.

She started skipping.  He looked over, and then began skipping along with her.  In unison.

They skipped all the way to my classroom.

Unbelievable!

Crazy for origami #SOLC

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My fellow reading interventionist, Elisa, and I are hosting a group of fourth graders for standardized testing this week.  Congratulate us - they've completed 4 of 7 assessments and we are all still friends.

I realized today that I have a pet peeve.  I didn't realize how much the sound of folding paper can unnerve me during testing.  Especially when the friends keep getting up to get more paper.

These kids have gone crazy for folding origami shapes.

They just. can't. stop.

I tried to encourage them to read or even draw quietly.  It didn't work.

They have made boats, swans, hats and "creative" items (can't call them mistakes).

This afternoon I finally gave in once all students had completed their tests...

I connected my computer to the SmartBoard and found an origami for kids website.

The kids were so excited!

Guess we will need more paper in our room.

Breathe in, breathe out #SOLC18

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It's coming

We can't stop it

Teachers are worried

The emails keep coming.

Schedules in disarray

"I'll see you when it's over"

Resources stretched thin

How many students make a small group?

It's important to assess

It's important for planning,

for setting goals,

for knowing they are growing.

But yet

I wonder

How sitting in front of a computer screen

for 3 days in a row

Can help "them"

decide how much our students have

learned and grown and changed

into who they will be

some day.

Breathe in,

breathe out.

It will be over soon.

Fuzzy buddies #SOLC17

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My shoulders and elbows are a little bit stiff today.  Nope, I didn't play tennis or work out yesterday.  I spent the afternoon gluing googly eyes to pom poms.

Yes,  you read that correctly.

Last year I was wandering the aisles of Hobby Lobby, looking for something to make for my students about to take the PARCC assessments.  I considered...

• stress balls (too bouncy)
• balloons with flour (too messy)
• candy (too much sugar)
• erasers (too small)

Then I remembered a little fuzz ball with feet and antennae that I got from the fun fair in elementary school.  That was it!  I would make a fuzzy buddy!

Allison (my youngest) helped me glue eyeballs on pom poms last year.  Then I gifted them to the intermediate students at school.

"See, they don't have a mouth, so they are quiet!" I explained.

By the end of the week, some of the students had built little houses for their buddies, and even the "coolest" 4th grade guys were being protective of their new fuzzy pet.

This weekend I bought supplies and received help from Mikayla, a friend of Lindsey's on spring break.  We crafted over 200 fuzzy buddies.  Today I slipped into the 3rd-5th grade classrooms.  I started in 5th grade with kiddos who had a buddy last year.

I showed them a pencil kit from the principal, and then I held out the bag of buddies.  

"Hooray!  Cool!  Oh, yeah!" resounded through the room.

My sore shoulders are worth it.  My heart is full!

Thinking Bubble SOLC #4

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It's state testing week at our elementary school.  Aren't you jealous???  (UGH)

I'm hosting three 4th graders in my room as an accommodation.  I had each of them as a student at some point during the past 4 years, so it's a little reunion.  Everyone is comfortable with each other.

I told them at the beginning of the reading test that I would not be able to answer any questions or read any words for them.

"Rats!  I was counting on that!" exclaimed H, with a grin.  We used to work one-on-one in second grade.  She's got significant reading challenges, but she's got some great life strategies.

"Tell us again.  Will we get a grade on this test?" asked H.

S assured her.  "It's a state test.  You don't get a grade." He can get anxious, so I assured all three that the state wants to know what 4th graders know and what we need to teach them in 5th grade.

This afternoon, I gave them the math test with a reader's script.  Since I was reading each question, H thought talking was okay.

"I think I've got this one!" exclaimed H.

"Shhh!  It's a test!" whispered A. (He's the quietest of the group.)

"That one was easy for me!" said S.

I decided to introduce the "Thinking Bubble."  It's a genius idea from my friend, Amy, one of our second grade teachers:  "You know, H, this is still a test, even though I'm reading the questions.  You'll need to use your thinking bubble.  Don't just blurt out.  Keep your ideas in your head.  I'll give you time to talk and share when the test is over."

"I can do that," said H.  "Can you?" she asked S.

"Yeah," S replied.

We'll have to talk about the Thinking Bubble again tomorrow.  I know I need to be better about using my Thinking Bubble during meetings.  I'm not great at waiting my turn.  I'm glad I work with patient teachers and students.

Embracing their differences SOLC #7

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I've been doing a lot of observing this week.

We're in a testing routine which places me in a classroom environment, not my usual resource settings.

When you're walking around the room, there's lots of time to think and notice.

I've noticed all the different cultures present at our school.

I've noticed the perfectionists, the lost lambs and the determined.

I've noticed the students who gain confidence and those students who suddenly lose confidence.

I've heard the sighs, the gasps, the breathy "yes" cheer, and the "oh no"s.

I've heard the wiggling, the tapping, the papers falling to the floor.

I understand that it takes a variety of students to make a classroom, and a variety of classrooms to make a school.

I'm thankful for the great amount of read aloud time I'm getting in a fourth grade classroom.  So many ideas from many children of different home lives, income levels, learning styles and personalities.

We are different.  

We are here at school for a shared purpose.  

We all aren't in the same place in our learning, but 

we're all in this together.

Finals. Ugh.

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It's finals week at the high school where my daughters attend.

It's the first time for my freshman daughter.

It's the fifth time for my junior daughter.

It's a time of debating, checking, insisting, phone-hiding, explaining, asking, coaching, refusing and studying.

It's time for me to find some chocolate, a book and trust that they will do their best.

It's finals week.  We're all being tested.

Yes, we can? SOLC #5

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From Childwork.com

We're starting to take the state test today.
I just can't bring myself to say, "Hip, hip, hooray!"
I worry that my students who look
To me for help in finding a book
Will find themselves drowning in a sea of text
And think they're under some terrible hex.


So...

I think I'll start the day with a big smile and cheer,
Telling them, "Good to see you!  I'm so glad that you're here!
You've worked hard to learn, to think and you've grown
As readers, so show us all the knowledge you know!"

Wishing all teachers a calm, positive state testing season! 
When your students do well, check the mirror... 
you're one of the reasons!

From United Feature Syndicate