The Bow Tie Teacher

An open letter to all "Bad Parents"

    Before I get to my letter. Have you seen the article over at Slate.  It contends that parents who send their children to private schools are bad. Wait...stop laughing. Wipe that coffee of your computer screen...she's serious.

 

    So a parent's desire (free will and choice, mind you) to offer their child an education that reflects their values shouldn't out weigh another parents desire for the same if money, ability are the only things that separate the two. Not sure where I've heard that needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few before. Let me check up on that. 

    I'm not writing this because I send my girls to a private school. As a public school teacher and a parent I find this article simply absurd. As a parent my primary concern is to provide my children with the best that I can. That may look different for every family and that's just fine with me. As a teacher I give my very best to my students and my school. However, at the end of the day my responsibility is to my kids. I have said it before and believe it in my deepest being; parents are the 1st teachers. I only strengthen what you value and teach at home. 

Here are just a few points the author is missing:

•  Parents are responsible for their kids not everyone else's child. In the same vain where I send my kids is my business not yours. 
•  She assumes that parents would be lined up at the local school board meeting advocating for better schools. That's not the case at all.  
• She mistakenly assumes that they only reason schools fail is because of the educators and admin of said school or school system. Nope. You can't get race horses from mules. 
•  Public schools get a great deal of money as it is right now. Most private schools run on a very tight budget. Yes, there is excess and over indulgence, but most are very modest. That being said why don't public school systems feel it necessary to court the private school parents who pay taxes and yet send their kids to a private school? Seems like the pressure would be on the government school rather than the parents.  
•  A parent's values aren't being considered at all. It's more than my child learning Bible verses or this being an extension of Sunday School. For many parents religious education is a strong point of their family tradition. That's their perogative. 
• Teachers on both sides of the argument generally want the same thing; a better future for our kids. Why not celebrate and collaborate with Private and Public schools rather than assume they're keeping all the good toys in their sand box? I'm actually trying to glean from all teachers just to get new ideas and insights. 
• Not all private school classes are smaller or have the latest and greatest. My classroom right now has fewer kids than either of my girl's private school classes. They also have less tech than I do in my public school. 
• I don't look sideways at my co-workers who send their children to private or to public school. I certainly don't call them noble for sending their kids to public or less noble for not. I don't ask why because it's none of my business. And I appreciate them respecting my decision the with the same care. 
• Competition causes everyone to step their game up. I feel the pressure everyday. If I don't give my all and do my best me and my bow ties might be on the outside looking in. Every teacher who wants the best for their students knows that they have to do their best with the cards their dealt. 

    I do wonder if the author would feel the same way if the argument was centered around say, cars? Would I be a bad person because I didn't buy an American made car? Or maybe a Foreign car built in America since it supports the local economy. Seems pretty silly to me. 

Dear Bad Parents, 

    You keep doing what you feel is in the best interest for your kids. I think you're pretty cool. I'm going to keep plugging away making a difference in the life of my students. No name calling or finger wagging. I'll keep doing my best to show you that we're all in this together.

Signed, 

    Public School Teacher

    Not to call the sincerity of the author in question, but I don't believe she believes we're bad parents. I mean why else would you resort to name calling? 

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Unique facts about me and my 300th post

No school updates today. If you've endured this many posts by me this and hung in there this long, I might as well tell you somethings about me. Here we go.

• 1. I'm a marketers dream. I get stuck on a brand or product and never seem to change. There are certain brands/stores and products that I've only used my entire adult live. Which leads me to...
• 2. I only wear adidas. It's fair to say that just about EVERYDAY. I'm wearing something with the 3 stripes on it. Yeah, I mean everyday. I actually applied to work for them 3 different times. One time I went to a road race in Portland just to try to get a sales job. Needless to say I didn't get the job. It took me two years to decide to buy a pair of Inov8 to workout in. But...
• 3. I've awaken at about the same time everyday for years. Much to my wife's angst. I get up at 5 am, even on weekends and during the Summer. Now I might go back to sleep after getting up, but I have to get up and out of the bed. 
• 4. I read comic books on a regular. I used to be a HUGE Spiderman fan as a child. After the Death of Spiderman I pretty much became all DC all the time and more specifically, all day Batman. Speaking of that craziness...
• 5. I've memorized "The Cat in the Hat" and "Green Eggs and Ham". I still hold the book when I read it to my students, but I hold it upside down for laughs. 
• 6. I don't ever want to "retire". I want to be doing something when I'm 60+ that's so fulfilling that I'll just keep doing it until the end. 
• 7. I have a serious phobia about being late to things that are in my mind important. I've been known to be places an hour early so not to be late. If I'm late to something it's mainly because I don't think it's important. No offense to anyone leading a meeting I'm supposed to be in. 
• 8. As much as I joke about TV, I only watch 3 TV shows regularly. Suits, The Walking Dead and Law and Order:SVU
• 9. I read 10-12 books a year. Kind of slowed down this year, but I still can read 5 more. 
• 10. I really like small businesses. If I could I would start a think tank that churns out  turn key unique small businesses. 
• A few extra oddities
• 
  
• 10.1 I like coming up with ideas. I can do this all afternoon and not miss a beat. How to make something better, different or work. But...
• 10.2 I'm not super crafty. I don't get crafts so that's why my Cricut useage is kinda 2 dimensional. 

I might be Teacher of the Year!

That's right if I keep teaching like this I might as well prepare my acceptance speech.

What's that you say?

Oh, wait I have to have more than 5 good teaching days in a ROW to qualify?

Dang, a WHOLE year, you say, huh?

Wow. That's serious. Can I at least get Teacher of the 4th week in August? Thanks. 

I guess I'll just be Teacher of the Year in my classroom. I'd be a shoe in for BOW TIED Teacher of the Year! 

Anyway, this week's been outstanding. This group of kids are really special. I'm positive that they're going to change their family trees and re-shape their destinies. They make teaching fun and exciting. 

To be totally honest this year has been exactly what I expected. My mind has been on the good, pleasing and perfect will of God for me and my family. Needless to say I've not been disappointed. 

I will say that I've read the 7 habits of Successful People before. However, the kids version is serious. The simplicity of the truths really hit home in a new way. I will like I'm must more aware of when I'm being proactive as well as my goals. I know I could go a better job at goal setting, but I'll get better as the class keeps going over the Habits. The students are getting better. They've really embraced the Habits so we'll see when they've gone through all 7 a couple of times.

This is where I think I am as of today. I really wouldn't mind being a 5 in all areas, but all jokes aside I want to keep pushing myself as well as the kids to better results.  

• My classroom procedures, work (4.5 bow ties)
• Classroom routines are pretty special (4 bow ties)
• My basic filing system is ok (3 bow ties)
• Storage is pretty swift (3 bow ties) I need more hangers
• Teaching is in the neighborhood (3.5 bow ties)
• Centers (3.5 bow ties) Not as consistent as I'd like
• Communications (2.5 bow ties)
• Meetings (NO TIE!)
• Lesson planning (3 bow ties)
• Planning sessions with the students (3.5 bow ties)
• Time management (3.5 bow ties)
• Teacher lead instruction vs. Student lead (3 bow ties) 
• Having a system that is keeping me from wearing the same bow tie in the same week (5 bow ties) 

This school year has been rocking along like a well oiled machine. The major things are under control. The little fine tuning issues will be dealt with on a daily basis, but the important things are under wraps. 

Now, I'm not sure if my Libertarian brothers and sisters will accept me for this, but hey. I really like the Fresh Fruit and Veggie program our school is doing. Not sure if this is a part of FLOTUS initiative or what. Everyday our school gets a shipment of a fruit, veggies or both for our kids to taste. It's nothing super elaborate. The school serves it up  as a mid-morning snack. Yesterday was a Pluots and Bok Chow. The day before strawberries and muscadines. Today they had kiwis. The kids LOVE it! My class at least has been very receptive to the snack choices and give everything a good tasting. I like the idea. Seems like they're more receptive after snack time than they were pre-snack. Might make some kind of game or lesson out of it if the schools keeps doing it. I hope so. 

How's your year starting off? What do you do to communicate with parents who aren't as tech savy? You don't want to call after hours, because your time doesn't allow. So what do you do? 

 

I coulda been a contender, kid

 

I don't want any of my students living with regrets about their past. I secretly wish I had been a lot bolder when I was a kid/younger. I got my "Woulda Coulda Shoulda" list like most of us do. I have forgiven myself and I am over it. Now I have another chance. Another bite at the apple so to speak. I want every student in my class to wring the last drop out of life.  No regrets.

Now, how do I inspire them to go for everything and accept nothing less? Words don't move this group.  They need to SEE it. What they see inspires and moves them. How do I get them to see (naturally or spiritually)?

This week has some good material planned. I certainly won't regret getting in there and laying the smack down on some mindsets. Challenging everyone (myself included) to stop settling for less when more is your reward,will be fun, too.

What about you? How are you inspiring great things this week? 

The bowtie teacher's week in review

The 1st full week has been great! Again, I won't count my chickens before they're hatched. But this group of students are going to be something special. I feel good. I'm on my schedule and I feel super rested. I have my plan and I'm working it. 

Oh yeah, I've had some snazzy ties, too. 

Strengths

•     The students are getting the routines. Those that don't want to are getting pulled in by those who do. 
•     I'm not remotely as stressed as I was last year. Good school leadership goes REAL far. 
•     The 7 Habits are useful. 
  
•     I really feel like I understand the 2nd grade curriculum. Nothing like knowing what you know. 
• This game is almost 72.3% mental. If you play the "man" and not the game, you win a lot more. I'm on a winning stream. 

Weaknesses

•     We have a LONG row to plow. A lot to get done in what seems like a little bit of time. 
•     There are some mountains that need scaling. It's not just a cake walk mind you. Got to create somethings while I'm scaling said mountain. 
  
•     I hate paperwork! 
• Oh yeah, I'm not a huge fan of meetings, either.     

Opportunities

•     Nothing is impossible. 
•     We have so much to do this year, I have a lot of room to show off.
•     As the kids get better, they'll do better. This could make for a great 3rd grade class. 
  
• Nothing about this year has to be hard. Proper planning prevents poor performance. 

Threats

•  If I don't remain on "10" with my procedures I'll have a really rough year. Maybe an 8. If I don't remain at least an "8" I'm in for a bumpy ride.
• If I let my paperwork get out of control this could be a really long and stressful year.   
• If I ease of the throttle on behavior and getting Home involved, I'm done. If home doesn't work neither does class. 

Year has started off just like I planned. I certainly see how I want the year to end. Now I just need to keep this ship on course for the next 170 days or so. 3,2,1... Go!

 

How was your week? Did you tackle or get tackled? 

    

    

The Pencil demon has been excised

In years past I just couldn't find a solution to the pencil drama in my class. 

1. Let kids sharpen pencils at all. -13 bow ties!

2. Sharpen pencils only at key times. A little better idea, but still only 2 bow ties. 

3. I sharpen a glut of pencils and kids swap them out as needed. This worked, but it still resulted in a lot of pencils being used and kids destroying them. 4.5 bow ties. 

4. Let students use their own personal pencil sharpeners. Back to -4 bow ties. Plus the floor was a MESS!

This year I started the year off with a caddy on each table with all the supplies the kids might need for the day. In there are 5 good sharp pencils. So far this has been a great idea. The kids don't feel like they have to horde the pencils, becuase I gave them to them. No one sharpens pencils. No mess on the floor and most all all zero down time for pencil disputes. I have one little one ask to sharpen her pencil. I asked her why when there are 3 right in front of her. 

 

At the end of the day the Table Manager brings me all pencils and I swap them out for new ones. So far I've only had to do a mass pencil sharpening 1 time. That was mainly because I'm used to sharpening at the end of the day. I keep the dull ones in a cup for sharpening later. My table managers are reliable enough I may just let them do the swapping out at the end of the day themselves.  We'll see. 

A lot of credit has to go to going over the routines with the kids. They know what to do and usually they want to do right. So far, thankfully I've not lost much time with the pencil demon. Now if I could figure out how to improve the handwriting! I call it foot writing cause it looks like they write with their toes. What do you do to fix this problem? 

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I may have fixed a HUGE problem in my classroom

If you know me or follow my blog you know I'm not very organized. I want to be. However, BEING has alluded me to years. Last year I was buried in paper work. I honestly can't say I know what happened to it all, but I can tell you my inner tree hugger is silently crying. 

In order to save a tree or two and to keep my sanity I did something different this year. To my surprise so far it's been a 10 bow tie idea! I have the students keep the "Red Number Journal" for all class work and the "Blue Number Journal" for all their homework assignments that require them to write or what not.

• I'm not sure, but I certainly feel I've used a lot less paper. 
• I was able to check homework today in less than 3 minutes where as before I'd have to hunt down papers and the such. 
• The kids have a great note system whenever we go back over their journals and put a sticky for key info. 
• The kids can get to work quickly in the morning. No searching for paper or writing sheets. Just go to the next empty page, date and start. 
• Whenever I have parent conferences I know I can quickly put my hands on ALL the kids class and homework in less than a minute. 
• I feel as if the class moves better and flows easily. Translation...less stress. 

 

 Most teachers waste these composition books. During pre-planning I sent my helpers to find as many partially used comp books as they could. We neatly tore out the used pages and slapped a sticker over the name. I'm pretty sure I have almost 50+ recycled journals ready for duty. 

Not sure where I got this idea. I don't think it qualifies as a true interactive notebook,but I will give Pinterest credit either way. The teachers on my hall used to have 3 journals. 1 for Reading, Math, Social Studies and Science. That made me even crazier, cause I know most of the students didn't use them fully. Plus the kids didn't have a good place in my room to put their stuff so instant insanity. This year, thankfully I have a much better system and I see it working. 

One day I will report that I've found a great way to do my lessons in advance. Yeah, right. Anyone have any good suggestions on what to do with lesson planning so not to have to do them Sunday night? 

Tomorrow I must talk about what I did to defeat the ugly "Mr. Whitaker can I sharpen my pencil" monster. 

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The Bow Tie Teacher

Open house bow tie kick off

Starting the year off with an open house. Have to say I was hyped up and I was let down like a lead balloon. No one came to my room to visit. They missed out.

I had some 2nd, 3rd thoughts about my 7 Habits trees I put up last week. So with the help of my niece and nephew I redid them and they look a lot better. I'll post pictures this week. I really feel that the "7H" will be helpful in my class. I thank God I was introduced to this book. 

Tomorrow I'm going to refresh my Opening Day PowerPoint (sure wish I had taken the time to learn how to do a Prezi!) as well as lay out my plans for the 1st week. This year I'm going to be a 10 at preparing and planning.

Wednesday will be here soon. I'm ready.

What has your 1st week of teaching or pre planning looked like? How are you preparing for the kiddos?

A quick update

I'm not one of those people who come across as if their vacation wasn't as long as others. I have had a fantastic Summer.  The girls and I got a lot done on our 101 things to do list. The most important is, we were able to relax and chill. There is a high value to being able to do nothing when you want.

Now it's time to start shifting gears back into school mode. All I'm doing in this vein is working on my classroom theme and decorations. I got a big vision for my students this year. Let's see if we call can live up to what we're supposed to be in life. Been going in on the Cricut and having a blast. I might need to set up a meet up with some other teachers and scrapbookers just to get some more ideas, tips and tricks. Not sure why specialty stores like Michaels, Hobby Lobby and the such don't host meet ups. Just leaving $ on the table. 

Theme: 7 Habits of Happy Kids. Rather than just a fun classroom, this year I'm aiming to drive the 7 habits home and help my class become school leaders. I have a road map and I'm plugging away at getting my room pre organized so when I step on campus next week I just have to wake up, put up and set up a functional learning environment. 

I've run across some great blogs using this theme and I'll be posting what I'm doing by close of business someday. Has anyone successfully used Sean Covey's book in their class/school? If you can give me some pointers I'll certainly be appreciative. 

One more thing. My blog is going to get a re-fresh sometime in the next week. I'm not sure if the change will break links that you've saved for my page in your readers or feeds. I do promise this, This new blog's going to be pretty snazzy! 

 

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Maybe I am making a difference

I had a student A LONG time ago in 2nd grade.

*My third year teaching, the 1st time.  

Back to the story. He was a sharp guy. He worked hard and had super parent support. Matter of fact his class was the 1st and only class I promised that if any of the boys went to Morehouse and any of the girls went to Spelman I'd pay for their books all 4 years.

Well this summer my family and I were invited to his high school graduation. He was given a full ride, books and all to another great school. Besides me getting off the hook for books I'm really excited for him and his family. I met his 3rd grade teacher who kept in touch with him through out his school years. She assured me that it wasn't a fluke and that he was a really great student. 

So maybe we're making a difference. Just maybe this isn't for naught. 

Alright back to Summer time relaxation. I could really get used to this.