The Bow Tie Teacher

Week in review

The kiddos were great this week. I'm keeping my faith out there that the lights will click and they'll really, truly want this information. Right, I'm leading them to water, but they're not that into drinking. Might have to find a way to proverbially make them run around to make them thirsty. We'll see. 

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? 

 

Daily update

I have absolutely nothing to complain about. My students are great. My teammies and administration are outstanding. I don't feel behind on anything related to school. This year couldn't have started off better. Not sure why God has chosen to give me so much grace but I'm that guy there taking it all in and stuffing it all in my pockets. #GreddyforGrace

Now life outside school has been, so so. I mean the weeds won in my backyard. The caterpillars devoured my garden and CrossFit South Cobb kicks my backside everyday. Well, at least I have my ties! 

All jokes aside my wife and kids are doing well. We will give the garden another go this Spring. I did win the weed war in the front yard which is where it all begins. 

 

I hope everyone is having a fantastic start to the new school year. No matter what go change a life for the better. Let me know if I can help in some way. 

This week is going to ROCK!

I was able to score some free carpet squares for my students. Now everyone will have their own space on the floor cause everyone will have their own carpet to sit on. Certainly going to make this a benefit for my students who love to do right. 

This week's weather is going to be outstanding. Therefore we're going to be outside doing some side walk chalk math and the such. 

I was able to get a donation from a consignment sale this weekend, too. So I have more books of interest for my students to practice reading. We might be outside reading, too. 

We ended last week on a good strong note so I only expect to start this week like a champ. 

A fidget solution

If you teach boys you know they have an extra battery that allows them to just do to much. Not sure why, but God chose this and it's just the way it is. 

 

I saw this somewhere and thought I'd give it a shot. 

I used some stretching bands from the gym. Shout to my coach at Crossfit South Cobb. I tied it up as a rope around the bottom of the chair and bang! It worked excellently. The Energizer Bunny has been tamed. I only did this to 1 chair and so far the kid was on point. Actually he was only off task when he wasn't in his chair. Hahahaha. 

 

I'm thinking I'll attempt it with another real mover and shaker. This one sadly, I think, will try to break the band more than anything else. I have two others that could use it so I'll fix their chairs in the AM. What I will do is make it a reward to those who get better at classdojo and the 7 habits. 

My other classroom fix the Anchor chart hanger has been outstanding. I just scored a few more hangers so I think I can hang every chart I have right now. I won't mention that I've made 4 charts since I did this video Tuesday!

 

This week has been good. We have some lofty goals, but we're ready for the challenge. How was your week of teaching and learning? 

Flash cards and recycled photo albums

 

This worked better than I thought. The kids loved it. I'll certainly be adding  a subtraction and maybe some phonics cards as soon as I get some more photo books.

Kids are LOVING the actions and movements that go along with 7 habits. We practice the movements in our AM meeting. I was able to order some of the books and materials for the program and we're reading them in class. 

   

This week we set goals (Habit #2) for ClassDojo points each wanted to have by the end of the day. Everyone just about hit their goal. We'll start planning other academic goals today. 

I have a good sense about our progress so far. I know the mountain is high, but they do want to do right. I've been able to roll out a lot of modifications that have helped me with my class management as well as over all stress. I don't feel my class is the BEST it could be, but it's certainly functional. That was my goal for this year. 

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