Curriculum Thoughts

Chances Are…

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If you are a teacher, chances are: 
You have worried about how you are going to motivate a student in your class.
You have tried a variety of strategies to motivate this student. 
Chances are, you will eventually be successful.
Chances are, you have had to ask another teacher to watch your class
while you run to the washroom.
You have watched another teacher’s class
while they ran to the washroom.
Chances are, you wish you had a washroom in your classroom. Maybe not.
Chances are, you have picked up a hot drink during recess
and the hot drink is now sitting on your desk getting cold.
You have reheated the drink several times.
Chances are, you either end up throwing it out, or drinking it cold.
Chances are, you have counted down the days to the holidays.
You get sick on the holidays and spend most of the days in your bed.
Chances are, you need another holiday.
Chances are, you have had a parent tear a strip off of you
for something you didn’t do.
The parent has never apologized for tearing a strip off of you
for something you didn’t do.
Chances are, you make sure you never act like that parent
when you meet with your own child’s teacher.

Chances are, you have given your lunch to a child who is hungry.
You have bought supplies and materials with your own money.
Chances are, you pray that Dollarama never goes out of business.
Chances are, you have had to call the Children’s Aid Society.
You worry that you may be jumping to conclusions.
The child’s life may change in a positive way because of your call.
You wish that you could adopt some of the children that you teach.
Chances are, some of you will adopt .
Chances are, you have wished that a certain student would be absent,
just for one day. Just one day.
Your wish has never come true.
Chances are, you take a day off.
Chances are, your own child is sick so you take time off
You spend 2 hours preparing your daybook for the supply teacher.
The supply teacher doesn’t follow your plans.
You are up all night long with your sick child,
but this time your spouse will stay home with them.
You go to work with 1 hour of sleep.
You get sick and you should stay home in bed.
Chances are, you go to work when you are sick
because you need to keep your sick days
in case your child gets sick again.
Chances are, you have neck and back pain from writing report cards.
You have carpal tunnel syndrome from writing report cards.
You think report cards are irrelevant.
Chances are, you hate writing report cards.
Chances are, at a social gathering, someone has said,
“ Oh you are a teacher, it must be nice having your summers off.”
You have lied and told people that you work for IBM
so that you do not have to hear teacher stories.
You have avoided going to a mall near your school.
Chances are, your spouse thinks you are a Rock Star
because everywhere you go, former students say, “Hi Mrs.__________”
or “ Hi Mr. ________.” 
Chances are, you have prayed for an Educational Assistant.
You do not know how you could survive without their help.
You sometimes feel like your Educational Assistant
is more qualified than you.
You are frustrated that the government is threatening
to take them out of the classroom.
Chances are, you need to rally for Educational Assistants.
Chances are, you have been hit, kicked, or punched by a student.
You have had materials stolen by a student.
You have had materials broken by a student.
You have been sworn at by a student.
You have sat in a meeting with the parents
and principal regarding these issues
and in some cases there have been no ramifications for the student. 
Chances are, you now have a list of twenty steps that you need to try. 
Chances are, you have lost sleep over an issue at work.
You have heard someone say, "You should try working 9-5.” 
You try to explain to the individual that you work
longer hours than the actual school day.
They will never understand this unless they try your job for a day.
You have a long list of To Do Jobs 
and your brain is always thinking about the next task you have to do for your job.
Chances are, this list will continue to grow.
Chances are, you have heard negative news reports on the tv about teachers.
You have told yourself to ignore the comments.
You have watched a movie portraying teachers
and you have thought, "That would never happen.” 
Chances are you are misjudged by society.
This isn’t the 1950’s people, so we do not teach like it is the 1950’s.
We do not teach like it is the 1980’s.
Chances are, you have wished you could go away on vacation.
You have wished that you could pick your holiday times
and just go away like people who do not work in the field do.
Yes, you are jealous.
You have gone away during March Break and the resort was jam packed.
You have gone away during March Break and the return flight has been delayed.
This plane delay has caused you tremendous anxiety
and now you need another vacation.
Chances are, you have gone directly from the airport to the school to teach. 

Chances are, you have made special wishes.
You have wished that you could give to the children
and families who really need financial help. 
You have given them a pot of gold.
You have given them an education. 
That can never be taken away. 
Chances are, you have taught many children new information.
You have taught children who were difficult to connect with,
but you did connect with them.
You have taught children to believe in themselves
and to keep trying even when things seem impossible.
Chances are, you continue to learn things just like your students.
Chances are, you have received gifts.
You have received gifts of caring and love just for doing your job.
You have given lots of gifts to students to show you care. 
You love your job and all of its challenges.
Chances are, you are a teacher.
Grade One

Angel’s Protector

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As a teacher, you build connections with the students in your class. Sometimes you are very protective of them and resent other staff members who just do not get them.  They do not have that connection. I have had students tell me that they wish I was their mom. There have also been students who would have preferred to be in the “ fun class” down the hall.  However, some of these students would come back to tell me how they enjoyed this or that. We are generally only a passing thought in most of their lives, and it is hoped that their memories are positive.

When I was in my third year of teaching, I had a grade 1 and 2 class which was packed to the max.  There were a total of 33 students in the class. The principal advocated on my behalf to get additional support but the superintendent said, “ Oh, she, meaning me, can handle it.” I did try my best, but eventually the school board realized that I needed an Educational Assistant.  What I was not aware of was the fact that I had a little girl in my class who was living in a highly toxic environment. She was waive like, quiet and shy. She had a brother in grade 5 and a sister in grade 3.

Angel

We have started our school day with the usual routines, attendance, Oh Canada and morning greetings. The class is working at different activity centres, when Angel arrives at the classroom door.  She is holding her brother’s hand and seems attached to him. I greet them and he quickly waves to travel down the hallway to his classroom. Angel comes in and plays quietly with her close friends.  I haven’t noticed that she is not herself today. She is not feeling good and she is very tired. We then move to the carpet, during which time Angel falls asleep. Francis, and I decide that we should just let her sleep and we ask the other children to just let her rest. The day continues as usual. During recess the principal asks to see me and tells me that Children’s Aid will be coming to pick up Angel and her siblings.  The principal tells me that the older brother never went to class and reported to the principal what had happened at their house. The three kids had been through a scary evening as their dad had consumed too much alcohol and was hitting their mom. Angel’s brother had tried to fight off his father, but his mom told him to run. They went to a 24 hours McDonalds and sat there until it was time to go to school. I’m kind of surprised that the staff in McDonald’s didn’t ask them why they were not at home. Maybe they did and the brother had a good answer.  Angel was exhausted and scared. Her sister was trying to be brave and her brother was protecting all three of them. As I reflect on the situation, I am odds with the fact that I did not see that something wasn’t right. Why did I miss it?

The Children’s Aid Society arrived, talked with the principal, called a family member and Angel and her siblings left the school.  At 12:30 Angel, her sister and her brother left, and they never returned. I was shocked and had to muster up a story to let the kids in the class know that she said goodbye. We didn’t even have time to make a card.

poetry

Protection of Innocence

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Sleeping child

Upon the mat

Tired

From all the shouting

At home

The fists

Flying

Words spray and lacerate

You have gone

To another

Away from the classroom

Never seen again

Sister and brother confessions

How is your family?

How are you?

We miss you.

So tiny

Only 6

You’ve lived too much

Seen too much

Pain

No resolution

No words can explain

Where are you now?

We do not know.

Peace be with you.

Love be with you.

Hope be with you.

Grade One

Little Girls Do

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It is not my intention to offend anyone. If you do not like reading about bodily functions, then you may want to pass on this story. Notwithstanding, it does have a positive message.

I mentioned before that children are amused with the human body, and bodily functions.  They are curious and ask lots of questions related to why the body does certain things. On one occasion they were not curious and I really had to hold myself together.  Why? You ask. Because I am a professional. Well, I tried my best.

It is a typical day in grade one.  I am reading a story called, “ The New Baby Calf.” I am sitting on the rocking chair, the children are sitting on the carpet with their legs crossed, facing me.  Well, most of them are. I am holding the book so that the pictures are facing the children and I am looking at the words and reading the story aloud. Jessica puts her hand up and asks,

“ Why is the baby calf having a hard time?”  

I stop reading and answer her.

“ The baby calf is new and is learning how to use his legs. Everything is new to him, so it is sometimes difficult.  Remember when we were learning how to plant the seeds in the pots for the first time and some of us had a hard time?”  

The students nod their head, so I continue to read.  Suddenly, there is a very loud sound, but I do not really think too much about it.

( It’s natural gas from a child) Okay, someone has farted. This is not a laughing matter. For teachers, we are expected to take the high road and continue acting like nothing has happened.  At times, it takes a great deal of control because the children will often start rolling on the floor. No, Not because they are passing out! It’s not a first aid issue, they are rolling around on the carpet because they are laughing. As the teacher, you say things like, “ Okay, let’s settle down now.” Sometime, we ask the student if they are okay. That is if we know which kid farted, and most of the time we do. How do you know? We know because  every kid is holding their nose with one hand and pointing at the kid with the other hand. Well, the reason I’m telling this story is because what happened was not the predictable routine for farting in school. This group of students changed the code of conduct. ( In case, you don’t know, there is no code of conduct for farting.)

Back to the story:

There’s a loud sound. I continue reading the book to the children, but they have all quickly got up and have moved to the other side of the carpet.  They sit back down cross their legs and look like they are listening to the story again. With the precision and the ease of a spy they have moved in unison. Similar to some recent children’s movies, the next words they could say may be,” Smile and wave boys,” or “ You didn’t see anything.”  Mission accomplished! When I look away from the book, and look to see what has happened I’m in shock. Everyone except one girl has moved to the other side of the carpet. This little girl is all alone sitting on the other side of the carpet. The sweet darling is wearing a lovely pink dress looking at me with tears in her eyes.  Her face is red and I can tell that she is overwhelmed with embarrassment. I think carefully about my next decision. Should I just continue reading? Should I make a joke of it? With some kids, they may work, but not with this angel. No, I grab a piece of paper and write a note to the secretary. The note basically is telling the secretary to pretend that the note is very important and special. I also ask her if she can help our friend in pink feel better.  Then I say, “ Sweety, can you take this note to the secretary?” She stands up, takes the note from me and leaves the room. Just in case you are wondering, the office was right next to my classroom. All of the grade one students know how to locate it, so they do not require a friend to help them walk there. I finish reading the book and the kids spread out across the carpet. Once again, they have not fainted. Although they have made a few comments about the smell. Thankfully, they do not tease the little girl when she returns from the office. I made a point of giving them some centre time when we finished the story. This meant that the little girl could return without too much attention or comments about her fart.

Future story times brought different events with different students.  Today, I can’t read that particular book without having a little chuckle, and I can still visualize the students fluidly moving across the carpet.  

Curriculum Thoughts

The Music of Staff Meetings

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It is the end of the school day.  Your morning began with active discussions and group work related to an ongoing project.  You coached a school team during recess and or lunch. Spent 20 minutes to eat your lunch and to talk with friends in the staff room. The time seems to have gone quickly as the bell rings and the students are dismissed.  Phew! Right? There are no after school activities today so you can get to marking those assignments that have been collecting cobwebs on your shelf. Suddenly, you hear a P.A. announcement.

“Good afternoon staff. Our  meeting will commence in the library in 10 minutes.  Please remember to bring your technology and work samples.”

This announcement generally creates a certain amount of emotions, comments, and a flurry of activity.  Some people grabbing their work, others saying what work samples? Some laughing and making comments which I will not repeat. Some grabbing their survivor bag, aka knitting, book, cellphone. Some mysteriously disappearing out the door. But you, the conscientious, ambitious one, head to the library and fall into line as professionals in the field of teaching do.  You participate, listen, and hope for the best. No eye rolling is permitted.

How Many?

If my calculations are correct I have attended more than 279 staff meetings.  In fact, I know that it is well over 558 because I was very keen to support the school community.  Staff meetings are a mixture of productive progress leading to positive changes for all. Or they can be hours of drivel and boring banter repeated by staff who love to hear themself talk. Oh dear, that sounds harsh.  Seriously, I appreciate all of my former colleagues,even the ones who love to talk. As I mentioned, some teachers brought their knitting and would actively knit and participate throughout the meeting. I was impressed by their gift. Some teachers surreptitiously found ways to work on their report cards, planning and social networking during meetings. Artists in the group doodled. My meeting go to was a gift I have always used, particularly during stressful moments. I used my internal radio.

Motivated By Music

I have always been emotionally motivated by music. I remember driving my sister crazy humming the classical music from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet while she washed her car.  Okay, I’m weird, but this musical memory helped me deal with the different events throughout my career. If you worked with me, you probably did not know that music that was constantly playing in my head. For example; When a parent is talking with you and you feel that it sounds disrespectful. Give Aretha a call and start thinking RESPECT, or the Stones, Get Off of My Cloud. If a student has said or done something that leaves you in disbelief think of EMF- Unbelievable. It can be very entertaining and calm you down at the same time. However, you must not, I repeat, must not, start singing Respect, or Get off of My Cloud to the parents and students. If by chance you forget, tell them you are planning to audition for the Voice.

Productive Staff meetings

Some people may say that there is no such thing as a productive meeting because we just continue to do the same old same old.  If you believe this, then you are incorrect. In my experience, there have been many changes in education. Change can happen quickly when it is helpful for both students and teachers. If you want to determine how the meeting went, answer this question. Are the staff standing in the parking lot complaining with each other? If they are complaining, then you will have your work cut out for you.  If they are thinking of Pharrell Williams – Happy,Bruno Mars-Uptown Funk, or Out Kast – Hey Ya! Then your message has positively been received.

Autocratic Administrators

There was a time when I worked with an autocratic administrator. While I respect the fact that they were doing their job, I sometimes found myself thinking of these songs: Star Wars – The Imperial March (Darth Vader’s Theme),Dream On – Aerosmith, House of the Rising Sun – The Animals, Dream Weaver = Gary Wright, Depending on the tone of their words the volume of the song would be louder or softer in my head. Naturally, when they were transferred I wished them well and then I played Queens, Another one bites the dust.

Confusion and Disbelief

School Improvement Plan Meetings introduced new acronyms and educational jargon which occasionally gelled with the previous plan.  But there were times I left the meeting feeling frustrated and confused. When this happened I would resort to singing or thinking Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On? When a shortsighted initiative or comment was shared, the Del Vikings would sing Come Go With Me. The song starts out with rhythmic lyrics, “Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb dumb, dumbie, doobie, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb dumb, dumbie, doobie, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb dumb, dumbie, doobie, dumb, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.” I could even sing it and people would just think I’m singing a song.  They may think I’m off my rocker, but I just released my stress and they have no knowledge of the fact that I think their concept is DUMB! In a situation where I believe the person is lying to me, Shaggy is singing, “ It wasn’t me.” On days when I’ve absolutely had enough my go to songs are Evanescence-Bring Me to Life and Green Day’s Boulevard of Broken Dreams.

EQAO

In October, we generally have meetings to share our EQAO results from the previous school year.  The purpose is to envision how we can improve and help our students get better results. As I taught both grade 3 and grade 6, at different times of course, I had the pleasure of implementing the test at different schools and with different students. Before the EQAO test, my brain would sometimes hear,Queen & David Bowie singing Under Pressure, sometimes it was just the chorus. Some students would have me thinking of Bon Jovi’s Livin’ On A Prayer or Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven. On the last day of testing I often played Europe’s Final Countdown to motivate them and they often cheered with delight.

Strikes

My musical brain helped me cope with bureaucratic strikes and union battles. Throughout my 31 years there was a protest in Hamilton to fight Rae days, a 2 week strike to fight the Common Sense Revolution, and a one day walk out to fight the McGuinty government.   At one union meeting, they actually played a different version of Twisted Sister – We’re Not Gonna Take it! My personal strike go to songs were Sugarloaf-Don’t Call Us,We’ll Call you and Lesley Gore – You Don’t Own Me.

What’s the Message?

Staff meetings are next to impossible to avoid. Although I have seen some staff who rarely attend meetings.  How they get away with it, I do not know.

Teaching can be stressful, but it can also inspire you to create.  Maybe you will knit a sweater,plan your dinner, plan a social event via inconspicuous texting, Kudo’s to you if you can get away with it.

Remember, when all else fails you can try my musical brain technique. Start with Bob Marley’s Don’t Worry about a Thing, or Somewhere over the Rainbow – Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwoʻole.

Always remember to smile because tomorrow will be better.

behaviour management

Behaviour Management Suggestions

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Behaviour Management Suggestions

When I went to Teacher’s College there was maybe one lecture about managing the student behaviour.  The children who enter our classes have experienced a variety of parenting skills. Some parents are very submissive, to the point where their children are sleeping in the Master Bedroom and the parents are sleeping on a couch.  Other parents are very quick to punish their child, sometimes even for things the child did not do. The majority of parents I have worked with use a variety of strategies to nurture and foster positive influences on their children. First and foremost consider that parents are doing the best they can and they love their children very much.  If and when you encounter a situation where neglect or abuse is happening, do something about it. Call Children’s Aid.

Here are two links of resources related to behaviour management and curriculum planning.

https://www.amazon.ca/Books-Barrie-Bennett/s?rh=n%3A916520%2Cp_27%3ABarrie+Bennett

Barrie Bennett Books

https://www.amazon.ca/Books-Barbara-Coloroso/s?rh=n%3A916520%2Cp_27%3ABarbara+Coloroso

Barbara Coloroso Books

If you are finding it difficult to manage your class remember this quote:

“You don’t have to attend every argument to which you are invited.”

Tantrums

When it’s safe- walk away.

If the safety of other children is a factor, call for help.  The student, with the tantrum, may be removed from the class, or you may need to move your class to another location.  Sometimes when the child loses their audience, they lose their power.

If you are a parent at home, you may need to give yourself a timeout to allow yourself to calm down or think about next steps.  Do not escalate the situation by yelling. I have done that myself, regretted it and let me clearly state that it does not work.

Throws Things – Leave the items on the floor if you can.  When everything has been de-escalated the student can help clean up the items. However, if it is very unsafe, i.e., broken glass, I would take a picture to share with the parents and then clean it up for them. Safety first!

Broken Record – If they are refusing to do something, use the broken record. Do not get pulled into a conversation or  a negotiation about it. Just say, “When you have …. Then you can…. “ Some children are wonderful lawyers.

Give them a Choice – Sometimes letting them have control over how they work, makes the child feel like they are the boss of you.  Let them. Try giving them a choice between two things that they need to do anyway. You can do this…. Or you can do this… which would you like to do.

Give yourself time to think about yes and no questions – When a question is asked and you are unsure about saying yes. Tell them you will have to think about it. Some kids will need a timeline for how long you will need to think about it.  

Confrontation in front of peers is a HUGE NO, NO! – When you are working with older students and a child is having difficulty keeping calm … ask them in a calm matter to talk with you in the hallway.  Stand between the door and the hall and ask them with a whisper voice, “ What’s upsetting you?”  If they tell you nothing is wrong, then ask them “ Do you  need to take a walk or want to think about… what you were doing in the class.”  It may take time for some students to build a sense of trust with you, but over time they will begin to understand that you are trying to help resolve their problem and then they will cooperate.

Students who lie – There is no set rule for resolving this other than documenting and asking lots of questions.  When you do find that the child has lied, ask them why they felt that they had to make up a story. “ If this is the truth, then why didn’t you tell me that when I asked you the first time?”

Cheating – This can be frustrating, particularly when the student doesn’t really need to cheat.  Some children are so anxious over their school results that they resort to cheating. If and when you catch a student or students cheating, depending on the grade, you need to help them understanding the negative impact it is having on them. Quite often they think they are cheating the system or the teacher, but the reality is that they are cheating themselves. Remember to inform the parents.  Parents may not want to hear that their child has been caught cheating, but if you let them know that you care and want to help their child learn from this incident, their response will likely be more positive than negative. You can also check with staff to see if this happened in earlier grades. If it is a recurring problem then your actions may be more extreme.


Lessons Learned – I’ve shared a few things to consider. Keep learning about Behaviour Management Strategies.  Talk with your colleagues and if possible, ask to observe one of their lessons to gather new ideas. The best piece of advice I can offer is to document on a daily basis.  Comment on positive and negative aspects of the day. Some children internalize situations, then eventually have an emotional breakdown at home. Parents then come to the school like a bull in a china shop and you are unaware that anything has happened. Document, what was said and what was done. Keep your cool, then go home and treat yourself with kindness. Bubble bath, glass of wine, work out class, hugs from your own children, reading, writing, knitting, woodworking, whatever brings you joy. Your mental health is very important.

Grade One

ARTFUL DODGER

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I have always loved Charles Dickens books: Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist, to mention of few of my favourites. The gravity of the protagonist, be it Pip or Oliver, had to overcome many trials and tribulations.  As a reader, I would imagine myself being sent through a time tunnel to better understand their tragic circumstances. They impressed me with their resiliency and desire to overcome the injustices they endured. My friends and I would dance and sing in our basement pretending we were the characters from the 1968 version Oliver Twist.  I think I had a crush on both Mark Lester, who played Oliver, and Jack Wild who played the Artful Dodger. If we saw the movie, Oliver Twist, listed in the TV guide, we would make plans to meet to re-enact our favourite scenes. This was the pre-YOUTube, and pre-Internet time and it would be 8 years before most people had a VCR. VCR’s were so wonderful! We were impressed that we could replay a section over and over, and over and over and over again, and so we did! Our parents had to hear these songs, wonder what we were doing to the furniture and listen to us try to sing and dance. You thought the movie Frozen was bad? Sorry, I have to say it. “LET IT GO!”

ARTFUL DODGER

In my first year of teaching I had an ARTFUL DODGER in my class. Although Artful was born and raised in Canada, he had a thick accent.  It was a cross between someone from the Bronx and some from East London. Artful was inquisitive,eager to make friends,loved animals, and his hair often covered his eyes. I enjoyed teaching him and learned many valuable lessons from working with him. Teachers soon discover that children are often a mirror image of their parents.  It’s the DNA. This was very much the case when I met Artful Dodger’s dad. He taught me a memorable lesson that I must share with you.

Ignorance Is Not Blissful

It is a beautiful day in October, however, the Indian Summer heat is making everyone, including myself, feel drained.  I decide to take the kids to play in the forest behind the school yard. The children are investigating the grounds, climbing over rocks and logs and building leaf homes. We play outside until they start to ask about water breaks and then head back into the classroom.  This school has exit doors that leave directly from the classroom, so I left this door ajar with a chair to enter and exit. The children walk into the room and walk to the hallway to get a drink. I then notice that there is a man standing near my desk. He is about 6.2, with blue eyes, brown hair, and looks a little rough around the edges. (Okay, I’m judging, but safety is my first consideration.)

I approach him and say,

“ May I help you?”

He looks at me and says,

“You know, you really shouldn’t leave your purse out like that.”

He points at my bag which is not on top of my desk, but hidden in the dark corner underneath. Or so I thought. He continues to comment on my ignorance,

“ You are asking from trouble. If somebody took your purse, it would be your own fault.”  

I look under my desk and pull out my purse.  I notice that it is still closed, so I do not jump to conclusions, but I’m worried.  I want to check if everything is in my wallet, but instead I reply,

“ You know, you are right.  I will make sure that I do not do that again.”

He nods his head and introduces himself.

Yup, I’m Art’s dad and believe me I know what I’m talking about. I just got out of Kingston Pen about 2 weeks ago. There are crooks all over the place. So I just wanted to introduce myself, give Art a hug, and let you know that if you ever have trouble with Artful, just tell him SIZE 12.

He then calls to Artful, who is presently sharing a picture book about animals with his friends.  Artful hesitantly walks over and looks way up at his dad. To be honest my memory of what he said to his son is too vague to share.  I’m still standing there in a bit of a daze wondering what he really means and praying that my wallet is intact. After he talks to Artful, he puts his hand out for a polite handshake and I cautiously shake his hand. As he goes out the door he turns and repeats his comment. Remember, SIZE 12.

Once he leaves the room, I run over to check my wallet and everything is there.  

I call Artful over to talk with him.  I talk about how nice it was that his dad came to visit.  I then tell him that we are going to get along and I will tell his dad all of the wonderful things he is doing in grade one.  If he makes a mistake, we will fix it together. I then say, “ okay?” Artful nods, but I don’t think he really knows what I’m talking about. In my head I’m also thinking, “ Bloody hell, I’m not ever going to let your dad kick you with his SIZE 12 feet.”

Museum Trip

I believe I was extra protective of Artful, even when he had willful moments. He certainly left an impression on my sister.  She joined us on a trip to the museum and they became best buddies. Before we left,he walked up to her and said, “ You are my teacher’s sister, my name is ARTFUL Dodger, what’s your name?

When they were walking around the reptile exhibit, he looked at a large snake on display and said,“ That’s a cobra.”

My sister said, “No, it’s not.”

He said, “No, it’s a cobra.”

She said, “No, it’s not.”

He crossed his arms and looked at her and said, “ How do you know?”

She calmly looked at him, pointed to the sign and said, “ I can read and the sign says that it is a Python.”

Artful responded with a long, “ Oh!”  This made him super excited and he shared this with many of his classmates.  That’s a Python because it says that on the sign. What did he do next? He asked her to read every name plate for the remainder of the trip. Then he would report what it said to his friends.  When we got back to the school, I asked my sister if she wanted to stay and help. She looked at me and laughed. She quickly told me that she was going home because she was exhausted. It may have been the constant need to check and make sure that we had all of the students. Count 2,4,6,8…. 28, 30. Where’s Henry? Oh, there he is.  It may have been the constant repetition of children telling her that she and I are sisters. Grade one children find it hard to believe that their teacher is a human being living in the real world. What? You do not sleep in the cupboard? Don’t you love it when you see your students at the grocery store and they look at you like they have seen a ghost?  Ultimately, I know that my sister had a great time, and she has shared many memories from this day. She certainly made Artful’s day special. Thanks Scissy! Yes, that’s teaching, super exhausting.

What’s the Lesson?

Lock up your belongings.  I started locking up my purse in the trunk of my car.  Great idea? Not really. One staff member had their car stolen from the parking lot.  Great! She lost both her purse and her car.

If you do not have a place to lock your items, ask your administrator for a place to keep your belongings safe. Remember to keep track of your keys. ( See earlier blog)

Take care of the people in your room.  Learn the protocol for reporting abuse to the Children’s Aid Society.  In most cases you can make an anonymous report. I believe that Artful’s dad loved him and actually never hit his kid.  I did let him know at another meeting that threatening to kick your child is not a good idea.

When the days get hot, it is not a crime to take a break.  The Ministry of Education Police, just in case you do not know, do not exist.  Keep your students motivated to learn by giving them fun breaks. They will learn more and make many happy memories.  

Try to reflect on a daily basis to consider whether you are harboring biases or prejudices.  Sometimes we are unaware of the message we are sending via our body language, let alone the words we speak. When you make a mistake,( and you will because no one is perfect) apologize and learn from the experience.

poetry

Teach Like No One Is Watching

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Teach like you have the autonomy you need and want

As the school day begins:

Your  lessons may be inked on paper in a binder, or screens sitting on a desk. You may even project your goals with a LCD projector.

The Guidelines and Ministry Expectations may be ingrained in the success criteria posted on the Smart Board or chart paper.

The summative assessment may be pending at approximately 10:00 a.m.

But

The heart and soul of education will be lost for the people you teach .

If the connection to whom and what is not nurtured.

When you cannot connect with the people you teach, you, yourself, cannot learn?

If you do not learn, who will listen to what you have to teach?

Before you teach, make sure you listen and connect.

This is the dance called teaching.

behaviour management

Fight For Your Right …

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I would be lying if I said that every child I taught listened to me while a chorus of angels sang in the background. I have worked with some children who were bound and determined to “ Fight the Power.”  Yes, I am referencing a Nineties Hip Hop song. As a teacher, there were times when I heard the words, “ I hate you.” The reason was normally because I was doing my job and asking a child to complete their work, or to listen to a lesson.  My response to these negative words was, “ I am so sorry you feel that way, but I want you to know that I like you.” Yes, sometimes it was super hard to say that. Sometimes I was actually thinking, “ Okay you little hell child, if we are being honest, I don’t like you much either.” This statement would obviously be followed with my tongue sticking out. However, I am an adult and that would not be okay.  The strong willed child is going to be our future movers and shakers. While they can make a teacher worker harder, they can also leave us with interesting memories.

I Don’t Like It!

It is a typical day at the daycare centre.  The children have just finished washing their hands to prepare for  lunch and we are now assembled in the lunchroom. My knees are almost touching my chin as I sit at the tiny table with three lovely 3 years so I can help them with their lunch.  Lunches are prepared in a kitchen at the daycare by a thoughtful cook and most children willingly devour the food. Most children, but not Ramsay. He is very particular about his food.  If the texture is too soft he will let you know. If the colour is not right, he will let you know. If it smells too much, he will let you know. If it moved too much on the plate, he will let you know.  How will he let you know? He will shout repeatedly, “ I don’t like it, I don’t like it, I don’t like it!” with a loud, screeching voice. Today, the food is weiners and beans. Ramsay has looked at the food that has been delivered to the table and is getting ready to perform.  I have dished spoonfuls onto the other children’s plates and now I look at Ramsay. “ Let’s try a ‘no-thank you serving’, okay?” A ‘no-thank you serving’ is normally a tablespoonful, but I have just put a teaspoonful onto his plates. Ramsay looks at me lowers his head to the plate, smells it, pokes it with his finger, licks his finger and then shouts, “ I don’t like it, I don’t like it, I don’t like it!”  I want to close my eyes and ears, since everyone else is covering their ears with their hands. Ramsay is getting more upset, so I say, “ Use your inside voice.” Really? What was I thinking? Ramsay looks at me with defiance and then pushes his plate over to where I am sitting. I have learned from experience to avoid power struggles, so I look away from Ramsay and see if the other children need help. They have finished their food and are asking for another helping.  I willingly oblige and dish more food for them. I ask them some questions and they start talking about different things other than food. They finish their food and ask if they can be excused so they can go and play. Ramsay has decided that he would like to do the same. Hold on a second, I have to let you know that his parents have been very concerned about what Ramsay is eating because everytime they get him home from the daycare centre, he complains that he is hungry.  Mom has stated that she wants us to make sure that he eats his food. Today, I have pretty much had it with this routine. I mean this has been going on for almost a month. Can you imagine that every lunch for a month you hear a screeching child shouting I don’t like it? Oh yes, I guess some of you can. Anyway, I ask Ramsay if he would like to eat some bread,with butter and jam. I know that we have some in the kitchen, as I sometimes help the cook wash the dishes. Remember from my earlier post, I’m the untrained new hire for this work crew. Some staff are looking at me like I have committed a crime, while others appear to be on my side.  Ramsay is now looking at me with big eyes and a mischievous smile. He nods his head in agreement and seems happy that he doesn’t have to eat the weiners and beans. I make him a jam sandwich and hand it to him. He takes it and quickly chews it so that he can finish and go play. Before he leaves the table I say, “Ramsay, will you try to eat the cooks food tomorrow?” He gives me a look and then shakes his head to say no. I say, “Ramsay, when the food comes tomorrow, it will be different food, so you may like it.” Tomorrow came, Ramsay continued to cheer us on with his shouting hit parade song, “I don’t like it! The important point is that eventually, he learned to enjoy some of the food and he did not die from starvation.  Ramsay was a child who knew what he liked and he also knew what he didn’t like. He was not afraid to advocate for himself. Yes, I would have loved it if he could have said it with an inside voice, but then again, when you are 3 any form of advocating is great.

Pain in the _______

Very recently I met a former student I had taught in a special education class.  She was now in grade 12. Yes, it made me feel old. I know, I do not have a walker yet, and I hope I never do, but I did feel old. It was really sweet to have her come running up to me in the Dollarama parking lot.  Well, I am a teacher and I do need to buy supplies. She told me how she was doing in school, said that she missed me, and she asked to give me a hug. So I gave her the famous quick pat on the back hug. We talked for a while, then I reminded her of a time when she told me how she felt about her assigned work.  

This is what happened.  There were approximately 11 students ranging from grades 2- 5 in my special education class.  I tried to make sure that some of the work they were assigned was easy enough to complete independently.  As she was in grade two I gave her a printing sheet. Her fine motor skills were on the weak side, but I only wanted her to try 5 letters instead of a whole page.  She sat down to do her work while I was helping some other students. I could hear her huffing with annoyance and grunting that she wasn’t happy. She got up from her chair walked over to me, pointed at the work and said, “ Mrs. ———-Pain in the Ass!”  Another little girl, who was a real challenge to say the least, shouted, “ She should be sent to the office because she said a swear word.” I said, “ Yes she did didn’t she? However she called the work a pain in the blank, she didn’t call me that.” The two girls laughed about what I said, and  got back to completing their – Pain in the … At the end of the school day, I shared this story with her mother, she laughed and at the same time looked at me in shock. I told her mom that her daughter’s fighting spirit was going to help her in life. I also shared the fact that I appreciated her telling me how she truly felt about her work.  Let’s face it, most of the work we do is a pain in the ass.

Message for you- NO! I am not  the High and Mighty Wise One. I have  learned a lot from many mistakes and a few successes.  I wish I knew then, what I know now.

If you are living with a strong willed child, my word of advice to you is this. You will find a way to love and nurture your child. It may not be the way suggested to you by friends, family and blogs, and that’s okay.  YOU CAN DO IT!

If you are a teacher working with a strong willed child, take a breath, stand back every now and then to remove yourself from the situation. Sometimes when you are in the trenches, you can get bogged down with things that are not important.  YOU CAN DO IT!
I will share some good and bad ways of dealing with strong willed children in another blog.  I do not have all the answers, as every situation and every child need what is right for them. When a kid says, ” You can’t make me! ” They are correct.

Grade One

Belly Button Love

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Children are naturally curious about their bodies.  They ask innocent questions and sometimes share information that makes us giggle. Yes, there are also times when they tell us too much information and make us cringe.  When I worked in the daycare centre, the children often talked about their bodies without reservation or embarrassment. One boy in my grade one class boldly shared that boys have penises and girls have reginas. No, I did not spell it wrong, that is what he said.  I did not correct him, but I thought it was a great opportunity for a geography lesson. Only kidding.

I believe that we should encourage children to learn about their body and be proud of who they are. When I was a little girl, yes, back in the dinosaur days, my sister, brother, a few kids from the neighbourhood, and I were talking about our belly buttons. We were lifting up our t-shirts and showing our bellies with happy curiosity.   Suddenly our babysitter, who was a dinosaur, for real, marched into the room and told us, “ Oh no, my dear children, we do not use that word. We looked at her dumbfoundedly and said, “ What word?” As kids, we thought that it was weird that she did not like the word belly button. Later that same day, we shared this information with our mom, who basically told us not to worry about what our sitter had said.

Our world is diverse in so many ways.  Diversity extends to the world of belly buttons. Google states that there are six types of belly buttons.  The protruding navel, aka. outie, the vertical, the oblong, the horizontal, the oval, and the off centre. Have you ever wondered why there is a variation in the shape and the size of belly buttons?  Omphalomancy is known as the study of navel shapes. Different sources share different information about Omphalomancy. One source claims that it is a divination meant to determine how many children a mother may have during her lifetime. While another source claims that the different shape is indicative of personality.  For example, a person with an ‘Outty’ belly button is generally an extrovert. If that is the case, then it is definitely a flawed study. The truth is your belly button is just a scar left over after your umbilical cord was removed.  Whether it’s an Inny or an ‘Outty’, it’s just a scar.

Belly Button Story

It is a very hot day in June and fortunately I am working in an air conditioned school. This split grade 1 and 2 class have had a very productive year. It has been wonderful working with my teaching partner. We have collaborated in our open concept area to make a vibrant learning environment. At this time in the day, we are talking about the calendar and completing different tasks together. I notice that a few students are lifting up their tops and looking very intently at each other’s belly.  You can hear them gasping and whispering to each other. Eventually, I decide to stop and ask them what is so interesting. I move closer to see that they are poking and talking about Jeannette’s belly button. When I see her belly button it is different and juts out about 10 centimetres. The children are not making fun of Jeanette and she is quite happy to share the beauty of her belly button. One little girl, who I will call Einstein, asks me, “ Why does her belly button stick out so far?” I do not want to say anything to make Jeannette feel like there is something wrong with her. So I ask the class, “ Why do we have belly buttons?”  Some of their answers are as follows: 1.To keep our top half attached to our bottom half. 2. Because of my mommy. 3. So the doctor can open us up and look inside. 4. For the baby. 5. To give us food. I smile and say, “ Wow, you are so smart because your answers are correct.” I continue to share how the umbilical cord was attached to their mommy when they were inside their mother. The umbilical cord gets cut either by the doctor or someone in the family when they are born. Einstein then states, “ That still doesn’t tell us why her belly button is so big.” There is a pause while I consider how I am going to answer her question. I look at them, they look at me.  I consider telling them to ask their parents, or think of what the best answer would be. You can literally hear the crickets in the room and outside. What should I say? Why is it bigger? They did not teach me this at Teachers College. ( LOL) Just as the sweat begins to form on my forehead, Jeannette stands up excitedly and says, “ I know why, I know why, I know why my belly button is bigger. It’s bigger, because I was not born in Canada, I was born in Nigeria and I have a Nigerian belly button.” She is so proud of her belly button so we all clap and cheer for her. I think to myself, wow that’s a simple answer, let’s hope we can move on. Jeannette sits down, the children seem ready to start something else when Einstein jumps up.  She lifts up her top to expose her belly and shouts out, “ I have a Canadian belly button!” So once again everyone claps and cheers. Can you guess what happens next? Come on, obviously other children jump up and show belly button and shout out the name. We start clapping and cheering for each other. Please do not worry, I did not jump up and show them my belly button.

What is the message?  

In our diverse world we need to focus more on celebrating our differences. Our family experiences, our likes and our dislikes, amongst other things, can be very different.  I would not want to live in a world where everything is the same. I would not want to live in a world where everyone looks and talks to same. Diversity is a gift to our world. Let’s celebrate who we are in a positive manner.  Who are we? We are human beings in need of love, compassion, kindness, empathy, hope, joy and strength. Stay positive and remember the human connection of the umbilical cord and a belly button indicative of our prenatal pilgrimage. Belly Button Love!