Things We Should Say More Often

Each year, my students love Kid President.  This video of his inspired a list of our own.

 

Things We Should Say More Often

Inspired by Kid President

Say, "Thank you!" to teachers and other people who help us.

"You are nice."

"It is not OK to be mean to people."

"WOW!  You rock!"

"Thank you." a lot more than we do.

"Please be nice."

"No farting during class."

"You are awesome!"

"Wow!  You are really good at that."

"It’s OK to be sad sometimes."

"I like you, you are funny."  Don’t say it if they aren’t funny.

"Amen" after you pray.

"You are SO cool."

"Good job!"

"Good try."

"Don’t worry – you’ll do better next time."

"Better luck next time.  I know you can do it."

Happy Back to School, friends. 

My Best Teaching Moment

I am about to begin my fifteenth year of teaching.  There have been SO MANY great teaching moments.  The best moments are those when you know you've touched a life, made a difference.  My own best moment was the time I literally changed a life.  We all know that we have opportunities every day to make a difference.  We all work hard and try hard and pray hard.  And hope.  We do a lot of hoping.  We hope we make a lasting difference. We trust that we do, but we are often never really sure.  But.  Oh, on this particular day, I knew for sure I had made a difference.  I know it still. 

Valentine kisses from me to a former student (not the one from the story).

I had a little boy in my second grade class whose family life was a mess.  In spite of that, he was always cheerful and sweet.  One morning as I was greeting the kids at the door, he didn't give me a smile.  In fact, he looked so very sad.  I asked him to wait for me.  After everyone else was in we talked for a little bit about what was wrong.  He told me that his Mom couldn't pay the rent and they were being kicked out.  He told me that his Mom said he would have to go to school in another town while she looked for a place to live.  I hugged him while he cried.  Then, I asked him if he could ask his Mom if he could live with his aunt (in our school's boundary lines) for a little while.  He looked up at me with those beautiful brown eyes and said, "Would you ask her for me, Mrs. Lawson?"

I took a big breath, thought about all the reasons I shouldn't, and then thought about what was best for him.  I said, "Yes.  Yes, I will." 

"Do you promise you'll ask her?"

"I promise."

And I did.  I prayed for wisdom during the first twenty minutes of my plan time, then I picked up the phone and asked a mother to let her child live with someone else so that their education could continue uninterrupted; so that they could have one constant in their uncertain life. 

The next morning, my sweet boy's aunt was waiting for me outside the classroom door.  She asked to see me alone.  Uh oh.  As soon as all the kids were in the room, she grabbed me in a fierce hug and kept repeating, "Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you."  She told me she'd been trying to get her sister to let our sweet boy live with her for over a year.  She said, "I don't know what you said to her, but I am so grateful you did.  Thank you."

That little boy moved in with his aunt while his mother lived in a car and roamed from boyfriend to boyfriend.  He was in my second grade class when that happened.  He finished through fourth grade in our school and is now about to begin tenth grade.  He is still living with the aunt who loves him and can take care of him.  

My best teaching moment?  The day I know for certain I helped change a child's world for the better.  

Back-to-School Week

We're celebrating Back To School around here.  Thanks for joining us.  

a fun group portrait of me and my team last year

Q: What is your Philosophy of Teaching?

The last time I knew the answer to this was when I was student teaching.  The realities of great teaching are extremely difficult to pin down.  We are constantly learning new things about how the brain works and how that impacts learning.  Our society continues to change and that creates new challenges to overcome.  It would take a book to fully articulate my philosophy of teaching.  This is as brief as I could make it:

This I Believe:

·         Professionalism, a commitment to excellence, passion, compassion, and love are the attributes all successful teachers must possess.

·         In order to effectively manage a classroom (and without that, not much learning takes place) a teacher must be fair, firm, and consistent.

·         Fairness is not making sure everyone is treated the same.  Fairness is making sure each child is given the tools they need to succeed.

·         Being firm is not being unkind.  It is about setting clear boundaries.  It is about not being wishy-washy, not sending mixed signals. 

·         Consistency is the most important part of the mix.  A child needs to know that you mean what you say – every time you say anything.  They need for school to be a safe place where things do not change and they know what to expect.

·         All children can learn, but there are often other needs you must meet before the learning can really take hold.  We must first be sure a child’s physical and emotional needs are met.  Children must be fed and feel safe before they can really learn.  When you are hungry, who cares about multiplication? 

·         We are not here to be our students’ friend.  We are here to give them a chance to learn.  We are the adult in the room.  Too many teachers worry too much about being liked.  It isn’t our job to be liked; it is our job to meet needs.  When we truly love our students, we will meet their needs, and they will love us.  Even when they don’t always like our decisions.  Teaching is not a popularity contest. 

·         Without curiosity, learning will soon cease.  Ignite curiosity. 

·         Collaboration is essential.  Talk, ask questions, listen, learn, read, research.  This job is too hard to do alone.  Work with your peers.  Learn from your administrators.  Partner with the parents.  Ask questions.  Listen to them.  They know and love your student more than you do, even when it doesn’t always seem like it.  Learn from your students most of all.

I could go on.  I do love so much talking about teaching.  But, I think this has gotten long enough.  Hope it’s not too much.  

What about you, friends.  From your experience, what do you think makes a good teacher?

It's almost time...

It's nearly back to school time for all of you with school aged children and grandchildren.  I know some of you are giddy and some are sad - just like your kids.  I'm giddy.  I absolutely love this time of year.  But, it is hectic.  There are nearly a million teachers in America, and all of us are about to begin a crazy-making, harried three weeks.  In honor of back-to-school time, I thought I'd have a Back to School week here on Come Sit By My Fire.  I hope you enjoy.

My class last year, and this.  I'm going to to third grade with them. 

A Few Answers From a Recent-ish Teacher Interview
How long and what have you taught?

I've taught seven years in fourth grade, six in second, and am about to begin my second year of third grade.  

What drew you to a teaching career?

I had a decade in another career first.  I told people who questioned the pay cut, “I made money.  Now I want to make a difference.”  That’s really why.  I want to impact lives and make our world better, one child at a time.  Think about it.  Every President of the United States once had a second grade teacher.  That could be me.  Just think what flames my passions might ignite! I can't think of a better way to spend a life. 

What did you expect teaching to be like?

I don’t know that I had particular expectations as I was already 31 when I began.  I was old enough to know I can't see around corners.  But I certainly didn’t expect how very hard and all-consuming teaching is. 

Was it different from what you expected?  In what ways?

This job is hard, hard, hard!  The finish line constantly changes and you are continually asked to do and be and accomplish more.  You are judged on the performance of students who may have come to you completely unprepared or may have things going on in their brains, or bodies, or at home that we can barely imagine.  If you don’t utterly love teaching, forget it.  Teaching is the hardest, most rewarding thing you will ever do, aside from raising your own children.  You can’t beat it, if you have a heart for it.  But, you should never, ever count on it being easy.  And, “summers off”?  Yeah right.

Did you feel as if you were "prepared" for your first year of teaching?

Not really . I don’t actually think you can be.  Like most things, you just have to learn by doing.  A good student teaching experience can begin to prepare you, but there is still something about being the one ultimately responsible – it makes a difference.

How much energy do you expend in teaching?

An average week is about 55-60 hours of work.  The actual work day requires a lot of energy, too.  But, for me, the kids are energy givers, so I don’t find that difficult at all.  I just love what I do.  

Was there ever a time you almost left the teaching profession?

No.  This is my God-given skill and passion. Teaching is my calling.  It’s who I am.  If I had a fortune, I would still teach.  The only real difference in my life would be the hiring of a housekeeper.  There have, however, been a few times when I took a mental health day.  And, believe me, I really, really needed it.  

What do you think is the single most important factor in creating a positive learning environment?

Passion, compassion, love, knowledge, hard, hard work…

OK.  That’s not one.  Hmmm…. Love.  If you love your students – really unselfishly love them – it radiates from you and warms all you do.  And they learn.  They learn to love you back, to love their peers, how to treat each other, how to act with compassion, how to work hard, how to be responsible.  But, love comes first.  It all springs from love.  

Happy back to school everyone.  Are you ready?

a (very late) New Year's Letter to Me

I've posted this image before, but it is one of my favorites. 

I had intended to post this back in early January, but it somehow got missed.  As summer school ends tomorrow and a new school year begins in 5 weeks, it feels a bit like a new year to me.  Late or not, I thought it was worth posting.  Take care, friends.

Dear Relyn,

It feels a little strange to sit here writing while my students write their own letters.  Usually I roam the room helping, correcting, answering, encouraging.  Today, I told them that I would be writing with them.  (Which they loved, by the way.)  I have the big picture up on the smart board that I made for the blog.  They keep looking at it.  And looking at it.  It blows their minds to think, to realize, that they have a say in who they will become.  I can see it in their faces, in the concentration on their faces - they feel powerful.  Maybe more powerful than they've ever been.  And, it's so true - we are in charge of who we become.  It's the first time most of them have ever had that thought.  It absolutely stuns them. 

Really, it blows my mind too.  Think of it - I am an adult, but I am not grown.  I am not finished.  In fact, I am only beginning.  I have so much more becoming to do.  So much more.  It strikes me that my becoming is tied directly to my choices.  How often do I remember that fact?  How often do I make choices that lead me in the direction of growth instead of sticking tight to the path of habits I might have outgrown?  What do I want to change about my life?  I think I must start by changing my choices. 

Happy New Year, Relyn.  I hope this time next year, you will find yourself different, in all the right ways.


Are you all making new choices?  Tell me about them.

I live here.

Answering Susannah's invitation to "Pause, look around you and 

shoot what you see.  Live inside each moment.  Pay attention to what's there.  Look for the love."

This is the playground at my school.  I often feel as though my school is an extension of my home.  I guess it is, really.  Teachers create an environment in their classrooms the same way women create a home out of a house and a bit of furniture.  I really love my classroom.  One of these days I'll give you a peak of it, too.  I do love my job.

Drink: December Reflections

 Susannah is at it again, and I am playing along.  Each day in December I'll post a photo to go along with her prompt. Today's prompt is drink.

 My school district has something called late start for mornings when the roads are bad, but will clear up by mid-morning.  Every year for our first late start, I toss out all the plans and have a snow party.  I make my class hot chocolate served with mini-marshmallows and candy canes.  We read snow books together all morning.  For a little science we learn about Snowflake Bentley.  After that, I teach them how to cut really fantastic paper snowflakes.  We end the day by hanging a blizzard in our classroom. Best day of the year.  Every time.

First Impressions

I am so blessed to have Sloane ride to and from school with me each day.  I get to hear about her life, and I always learn something new.  Recently, Sloane was telling me a story about an adult, new to the school, who reprimanded a student for doing something that had previously been perfectly acceptable.  This adult said, "You need to remember that first impressions are very difficult to undo and you just made a very poor first impression."  Sloane said to me, "Doesn't she realize that she's making first impressions, too?  I wonder if she cares what we all think of her now?" 

Wow.  Talk about a punch to the solar plexus! 

How often do I as a teacher, forget about the impression I am making?  The feeling my words leave behind?  And, as a parent?  Do I forget then too?  How often do we, as parents, teachers, the ones with authority, think of the impression we are making? 

I find it all too easy to go on autopilot.  My to do list, like yours, is long and getting longer.  I find it too easy to let "getting things done" distract me from "giving love away."  It's too easy to reply to a long story with, "Uh hunh.  Yeah.  Oh cool." instead of "Wow!  Tell me more about that."  It's far too easy to focus on being productive instead of being present. 

One of the things I constantly have to remind myself is this:

People before productivity.

I wish I didn't need the reminder quite so often.  But, until it becomes a habit, I will say it again, and again, and again.  I will remind myself of these few things:

Be present.  Be attentive.  Give love away. 

Remember, people before productivity. 

What about you, friends?  What lessons do you find yourself repeating in your head?

The picture above is my Sloane, my best teacher.

just one of the faces I'll miss

A Wednesday ritual. 

A single photo capturing a simple moment.  

A reminder to slow down our always busy lives and to savor this moment. 

another year ends...

a big version of this hangs in the hall beside my classroom door



It is the last day of school, and I am already missing this class I've had for 2 years.  I've spent all week making memory videos, scrapbooks, and burning photo discs for each of my students.  So, no Friday Faves this week.  Please check back soon.  Summer is officially here and I plan to spend a lot of my free time blogging.  See you at your place soon.  Have a great weekend!

My Real New Year's Day

Yes, I know.  The new year began a week ago, at least for most people.  But, not for me.  I'm a teacher so my year always begins with back to school.  In Missouri, that's some time in early August.  And, my new year's day is always the first day back after winter break.  That's tomorrow, and I can hardly wait!

I have missed their happy little faces, and I can't wait to hear all about their holiday adventures.  Plus, I have so much to share with them.  There are so many great books to be discovered and action-packed lessons to enjoy.  One thing I always have my students do on our first day back is write a letter to our future selves.  We write down what we want to do and learn and who we hope to become in the next 12 months.  I seal them in an envelope marked, "Do not open until January, 2015."  and tuck them into their "My Third Grade Year" binders.

Over the years, I've had many students come back to visit.  They almost always tell me how much fun they had rereading their letter.  I am going to write a letter, too.  Maybe I'll post it here.  Tell me, if you were to write to your future self, what would you say?  Who do you hope to become in the next 12 months?  How will you begin?

the heaven in my every day

Many parents quit reading to their children after first grade.  What they don't realize is that there really is no replacement for read aloud.  Reading aloud provides together time, time to talk about books, time for children to view their parents as readers, and to begin to view themselves as readers.  My daughter is 12 and our family still has regular read aloud time.  In fact, Jeffrey and I had regular read alouds even before Sloane was born. 

In the classroom, read aloud is my favorite time of the day by far.  It's the one thing we never miss.  We all pile up on the sofa and carpet in my classroom.  I have huge oversized stuffies and big pillows - enough for everyone to be comfortable.  We lay there (I sit) all entertwined and I take them on all sorts of adventures with only the power of my voice.  We read fiction, nonfiction, poetry, newspapers, mysteries, biographies, fairy tales; we read it all. 

Heaven - 20 mintues of pure heaven in my day. 

The image above is the awesome bag I got at Beach Books in Cannon Beach, Oregon.  Isn't it perfect?

Just read.

Read.

Read anything.

Read everything.

Read anywhere.

Read everywhere.

Read all you can.

Just read.

Lately

I've been...



 

going to car shows,

enjoying an 80s party,

playing with my students,

 



counting all the blessings of my job,

 



and getting ready to say good-bye for the summer.

 

 

Today is our last day of school.  For the past twelve years I've cried as I said my farewells.  This year I only cried a little since I will have my whole class with me next year as we travel to third grade together.  It should be an exciting adventure.  But for now, bring on the sun.

.

Along with the rest of the word, I am grieving.  Nearly mute when the horror of Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary comes again to mind.  I wonder... What can I say, what words can I offer?  Here in this place where I share my heart, I feel compelled to write.  Compelled to tell you these things.

I went to school today.  

So did my students. 

So did the wonderful teachers I serve with.

So did millions of teachers across this nation.

My principal was there,  

this woman I call my friend.  

This woman who would run into danger if it entered our school. 

All of us;

we all showed up.  

On time.  

No dragging feet or reluctant hearts among us.  

We all arrived, ready to do our sacred duty.

We taught.

We loved and we hugged. 

And we'll do it again tomorrow. 

And tomorrow. 

And tomorrow.

There is no bullet that can stop love.

No fear that can extinguish the passion to teach. 

No way that we'll quit.  

Ever. 

Yes, we'll cry. 

Again.  And again.  And again. 

We'll ache for those precious lives, stolen.

We'll pray for those families who face the unthinkable.

We'll cry for all the hurting left behind 

to face each tomorrow without their children, their friends.

And we'll show up.

Because we know something precious. 

We know that love and learning can save a life.

And we have that to give. 

The picture above is my school, High Pointe Elementary in Nixa, Missouri. 

America Rocks!

One of my favorite units to teach is America Rocks.  It encompasses government, a little bit of American history, the Bill of Rights, rights and responsibilities of citizens, the electoral process, and the many, many reasons why I love America.  My students invariably love this unit; I think because it is so relevant to their lives.  My enthusiasm might have a little bit to do with it, too.

As I was planning the unit I knew I didn't want to have a mock election with the real presidential candidates.  When you do that, all you really accomplished is that you learn the political leanings of the parents.  I wanted to teach my students to think, really think, about issues and to vote for the candidate they think would be the best leader.  To that end, I drug out an old favorite, Grace for President and found Duck for President as its compliment.

We studied the two books with an eye toward the qualities of a good leader.  The lesson poster above is one I created as we discussed the qualities of a good leader after we read Grace for President.  The content of the poster is word-for-word from my second graders.  How amazing is that?

You've heard the expression, "From the mouths of babes"?  In this case, it's absolutely true.  Before you go vote tomorrow, you might want to reread our poster.  My students got it absolutely right.  Thanks, Kelly DiPucchio, Grace's creator.

Happy voting, friends.   Whatever the outcome, voting is your sacred duty.  In case you were wondering, Grace Campbell is now our class president.  She beat out Duck almost 2:1.

Autumn

My favorite season is here...

Autumn

sigh

Even the word feels good in my mouth. 

I'm always amazed when my students ask, 

"What's Autumn?'

What?  You haven't heard it called Autumn? 

Autumn is the same as Fall.  

"Oh, Fall.  I know Fall.

Why do you call it Autumn?

I don't know.  I just always have. 

I guess because it's prettier.

"Hunh.  I guess it is.  Ok, I'll call it Autumn, too. 

Mrs. Lawson?  I love Autumn, same as you."

smile.

hug.

Let's go outside.  Shall we? 

the face we show the world

Today was butterfly release day in second grade. 

I had my camera at the ready, and what a lesson it provided.

Tomorrow I am going to talk to my class about the face we show the world.  

The character lesson will go something like this:

You know how we always think of butterflies as graceful, fluttering, beautiful little creatures?  

The gloss and shimmer of their wings just take our breath away,

 and we assume that they are gorgeous all over. 

But, are they really?  

Look at that face.  It's monster-like.

People can be like that sometimes, don't you think?  

We get so caught up in the dazzle, the shimmer of their beauty that we forget to notice the monster face they frequently show the world.    

Have you ever liked someone who was not-so-nice  just because they were pretty?

Have you ever laughed when a kid made fun of a classmate because you were afraid you'd be next?

Have you ever been picked on, or been made to feel stupid or ugly?

I'm not just talking about how bullies act, though.  What about us personally? 

Are we more focused on our wings, our shimmer, our beauty?

Or do we care more about the face we show the world?

Do we care more about our looks?  Or our character?

About our coolness?  Or how we treat people?  

Do we pout more often than we smile?  

How are our manners?  How do we treat others?  

Are we willing to be kind even if it isn't cool?  

Are we trying to trick people with our beautiful wings?

What matters more?  Our wings?  Or our face?   

I am NOT giving up!

I am just postponing my blog redo.  

For the record, HTML is annoying, even with generous tutorials. 

I feel sheepish and a little silly about it, really.

That's what I get for making a big announcement that I am redoing my blog. 

When will I ever learn to just quietly go about my business?  

I seems I always have to do the big TA DA!   

Anyway.

I have been feverishly getting my classroom ready for tomorrow. 

Back to School Days are here again. 

I love it!  I love children with all their curiosity and wonder. 

I love their silliness and their ease at making friends. 

I love to prepare lessons that excite and engage.

I love new school supplies and even sharpening 100 pencils.

I love preparing my room, making everything perfect, 

and watching it come to life once the children fill it.

Happy Back to School, friends. 

The above is a picture I took of my new school.  

and so it ends...

 Today is the last day of school.  Today is my last day in this place I have called home for eleven years.  As I head to Thomas today, my heart aches.  And it breaks again.  I thought it couldn't hurt more, but it does.  If you haven't been here, you can't really understand what is ending, I know.  This is as close as I can get to explaining it.  Here's what I wrote for the last page of our yearbook. 

John Thomas Elementary.  Thomas.  This school, where we spend most of our waking hours, is a magical place that defies description. If you haven't been a part of it, you absolutely won't believe it is true.  But, it is.  We all know it like we know our own name.

It's just an old building, you might say.  It's been cobbled together over the years, like a crazy quilt your grandma made. It's not beautiful, not fancy, not noteworthy.  The teachers are just normal people, teachers like a million others around the country.  The kids are just kids.  You'll find them on every street all over the world.  They laugh and play and cry and learn just like all the other kids.  What's the big deal, you might ask.  What makes Thomas so special?  

I guess to really understand the answer, you have to have been here.  You have to have lived a chunk of your life inside its welcoming halls. You have to have been greeted each morning with a hug and been loved by its smiling teachers.  You have to have been part of this place-turned-family to really know what is ending.  

If you have been here, you know that this old building is really a magical place.  I don't have to tell you, you already know that the people here are special.  Maybe not especially different in their own right, but special because we have been blessed to be a part of something bigger.  We have been part of this family called Thomas.  We all arrived, raggedy and self-contained, and have been absorbed into this otherness.  Maybe it's something about the walls, the smell of the halls, the sheer number of years that children have spent learning and laughing here.  Maybe it's the commitment to each student that all the adults share, parents and teachers alike.  

Maybe there really is no explaining it.  

Maybe it's magic.  Maybe the final gift that John Thomas Elementary gives us is simply this.  We have been here.  We have been a part of this family.  We have laughed and learned and played within these walls.  And no matter what changes lie ahead, that will always be with us.