The Bow Tie Teacher

Update on Whitaker's Workshop

So far the kids have really taken a liking to the room decor. Nothing is broken. I took my wooden caddies home this weekend to paint. The kids immediately had to touch and play with the newly painted distractions on their tables. The Home Depot aprons with the classroom job on them are a hit. 
I just never expect the kids to be able to rip, tear and ruin them like they have. I need to wash them every so often, too.  The classroom jobs, however I tough for my kids. You couple having a responsibility, with ClassDojo and the everyday off-taskness of 2nd grade and you understand why I'm re posting a job every week. 

I've received some big compliments from my peers about my room. 

What's been the biggest challenge is to get them to appreciate it and realize this isn't for my health. That's what Crossfit's for. They're really sweet kids and they've just not met a person like me before. I don't yell. I'm stern and as tough as a rattle snake. I don't care if little Johnny hit you. I don't care who's talking about your mom. I don't care whatever your problem is. Your biggest issue is that you're in a 2nd grade chair and I have to prepare you to get out of that chair and be able to hold down a 3rd grade chair next year.  Oh yeah, not having a pencil isn't going to cut it. 

I'm also getting much better at organization and planning. These have to be my bottom tier skills. Under any other circumstances I'd preach the Gospel of "focusing on what you can be a 10 in". Not sure how much I will improve in this area, but I have to improve on it. I'm so not good at it that any change can only make me look like some kind of hero.

One more area I need to step my game up in is reading everything I can related to what I'm expected to teach. Not sure if I'll ever be able to spout lessons off the top of my head like our coaches do, but I could at least sound better intuned with what's going on.

Notice I don't blame the kiddos. They're not my problem. They're doing exactly what kids should do. They're scream at the top of their actions, "Mr. Whitaker, you must keep me engaged! You can't give up on me!" The better i get at asking good questions the better I wll be at finding the solution to these little ones needs.

Alright enough of that. Let me go swing a kettlebell.   

 

My blog isn't like the others

and that's a good thing. 

There are so many top notch idea focused teacher blogs out there. I can spend entirely to much time surfing them, gaining ideas and letting the bloggers know that they're really appreciated. My own blog is different.  I can't be like them and I won't even attempt. What I can do is be Jason and put out what I think people would like to read about me and my return to teaching. 

I like to talk about what I do. I love my students even though my beard is starting to look like it needs a little touch up, because of said students. I like to vent that sometimes, more times than I'll admit I'm at my whit's end. I adore my co workers. We have the best group of rough and tumble, trench slogging, never quit teachers I've seen. I like to free myself for a few minutes and just say..."I'm a teacher and I make a difference". It feels good and that's why my blog isn't like most others out there. 

What I'm learning today is that I have to teach "children" to think for themselves. To often we've taught them to come to a wall, obstacle, challenge and sit down until you're told what to do next. That's a BIG hassle when one has a class of 20 who all seem to run into roadblocks at the same time. I almost think that my biggest goal is to get them to think past the immediate issue and think long term. It's a tough row to turn, but I see results daily. 

Thanks for checking up on Whitaker's Workshop

Found a neat organization tool

I'm the teacher with a pile of student work. I just don't get the filing thing. This is an area I serious ask people to pray for me in cause I'm just not a 10 at paperwork and filing. So I run across this blog with a very easy to use, simple filing sheet to use when I collect student work. It really should be a crime that this was that easy. I've very thankful to have run across this site. Check Michelle out and give her a shout. Here's her page that just saved me A LOT of headaches. Download Assignmt.paper.2

Oh yeah! Today is starting off strong and right. I can't wait to get these kids to start agreeing with me that they can and will learn.

I am amazed at how a little caring a little showing concern for kids really opens them up to learn. Been hammering to get these kids to embrace their new writing requirements. No go. They would have rather dug a hole to China with their bare hands. After I sit down with them and explain the importance of being a good writer and what it will do for them, shock. I was taken back by how well they could do. I just need to get them to care about spelling, but I'll take a small victory when I can get it.

Got a lot of work to do this weekend. Not sure if anyone will care, but I'll get it done sometime and be ready for another great production next week.

Facts vs Opinions

Earlier this week I set my kids up to listen to some unique songs, Bob Marley and some Shawn Brown. They had to listen to the 3-4 minute songs and write three facts and opinions about  them. It was a lot of fun. Listening to the kids explain and defend their thoughts was refreshing. One song has become our Official Unoffical after lunch song. It kind of cute listening to them sing it throughout the day. Ok, back to lesson plans for next week.  

The heart of a teacher

When I get really beat down and don't feel like anyone understands what in the world I'm going through, I recite this to myself. "I have the heart of a teacher and I'm making a difference for many generations to come".  

Today I recited that little bit more than a few times. It was tough, but I had to keep reminding myself that I'm getting through to these kiddos. I chose to suspend Fun Friday this week. It wouldn't have been beneficial to only have a celebration for just a few kids. This week the goal was 11 ClassDojo points. Some of my kids not only weren't on track to hit 11, but they weren't on track to get 3 points this week. I let Monday spoil me since everyone was on their game. I reminded them yesterday during our end of the day reflection time that they needed to make sure they pushed to get as many points as possible Wednesday. To many misunderstood me and came in to get as few points as possible today. I don't think enough of them believed that I would cancel it. So they had to see that getting the core content was far more important to me than anything else.

I also threw my hard cases a curve. I called everyone of their parents this afternoon. Many was on the phone with me when the offender walked in the door from the school bus. I wouldn't have minded seeing their faces. 

This week has been good, even with today being a tough one. I'm ready to start tomorrow anew. Back to the grind. 

Great Crossfit workout today. I feel like I was run over from the heavy front squats Monday, but that's why we do it. 

Fair day. The kiddos were good, but not spectacular. They certainly need a lot of TLC. When I put the TLC first I see the positive results. I'd love some more ideas for adding strong, loving care to the kids. I believe that can help them rise to the high expectations we have for them.

Week has started off fantastic. Going to somehow keep my kids on this positive direction. Let's see how today goes. They really are having a lot of fun learning fractions. They don't like writing as much, but they're doing it. Wish I had more time to really dig into the writing standards. To balance it I make them write something for all subjects. Even if it's just a few sentences. Bell's about to ring. 3,2,1...go!

Great use for old water bottles

My class and I were reading a story about how important it is to recycle plastic last week. It's really sad how little they know about repurposing items for another use. Well this website just blessed me with tons of ideas. Check it out. Pass it on to a teacher that you know.