I listen to a pretty fantastic podcast from NPR called "Pop Culture Happy Hour." While I could probably give you a fairly detailed description of what it is, the name is a pretty good indication of the kind of discussion that happens during this hour.
While I was experiencing small joys today, I was reminded of this podcast for one reason: at the end of every podcast, the last segment is called "What's Making Us Happy This Week." Each member of the roundtable shares some aspect of their week that is, of course, making them happy.
This week I thought I'd try that, though I definitely have more than one.
While I was experiencing small joys today, I was reminded of this podcast for one reason: at the end of every podcast, the last segment is called "What's Making Us Happy This Week." Each member of the roundtable shares some aspect of their week that is, of course, making them happy.
This week I thought I'd try that, though I definitely have more than one.
1. Reading
This really should go on my list every week, but it doesn't, and I may have been given a small clue into why that may be.
Today a student of mine walked in to the room and said, "Ms. Black, I think I have a book you might like. It reminded me of you." And then she handed me a book.
Regardless of what the book was, it was a profound moment for me. I was reminded of why I loved reading in a way that I hadn't thought about in a long time: the community that builds around it. Reading is an important part of my life, and yet I find that I don't read in the summers.
My students and I read for the first ten minutes of class. Every day. (Really. No matter what.) Seeing them sit down with their books, and being able to join them in the process, makes me so much more excited to go home and read even more. It is deeply relaxing, and when I don't have that community around to remind me, I forget.
Once I finish my current in-class read, I'll be reading this recommended book.
Today a student of mine walked in to the room and said, "Ms. Black, I think I have a book you might like. It reminded me of you." And then she handed me a book.
Regardless of what the book was, it was a profound moment for me. I was reminded of why I loved reading in a way that I hadn't thought about in a long time: the community that builds around it. Reading is an important part of my life, and yet I find that I don't read in the summers.
My students and I read for the first ten minutes of class. Every day. (Really. No matter what.) Seeing them sit down with their books, and being able to join them in the process, makes me so much more excited to go home and read even more. It is deeply relaxing, and when I don't have that community around to remind me, I forget.
Once I finish my current in-class read, I'll be reading this recommended book.
2. Evidence
I'm pretty sure it's every English teacher's dream to have a student talk to you about a text and, of their own free will (that's an essential part of this dream), use evidence from that text to support the statements their making.
I had a very short, but wonderful, conversation with one of my 12th graders about one of the model personal statements they were reading. He shared one of his favorite lines with me as he explained why the essay was superior model.
I very likely had nothing to do with his effort to use evidence, but I still told him how proud I was that he did it.
He laughed at me for being excited. It was fabulous.
I had a very short, but wonderful, conversation with one of my 12th graders about one of the model personal statements they were reading. He shared one of his favorite lines with me as he explained why the essay was superior model.
I very likely had nothing to do with his effort to use evidence, but I still told him how proud I was that he did it.
He laughed at me for being excited. It was fabulous.
3. Action Research
The surface-level Alyssa is saying this somewhat reluctantly, but I know that in the deep recesses of my mind where I know that this has purpose and real applications to my skill as a teacher, it is impossible not to know that Action Research is making me happy.
As I am in the early stages of this process, I want to share where I am, what I'm working towards, and how I'm getting there.
I firmly believe in growth. I love this succinct thought from Carol Dweck's Mindset (2006): "Becoming is better than being." The reality I'm facing is how to balance that with "meeting the standards," and it's not proving easy. What's important to me though, is for my students to feel as if they can improve and grow, regardless of where they are at, regardless of the grades and the pressure. I want them to feel as if they are capable.
My initial Action Research question is as follows:
How can I encourage growth mindset in my students so that they value learning above all else?
We are starting a writing unit that will take place over the next three months (yes, really.) because my students will be writing novels during the month of November. I am hoping to use this time to encourage a sense of camaraderie, success, and the ability to grow in terms of ability.
As I am in the early stages of this process, I want to share where I am, what I'm working towards, and how I'm getting there.
I firmly believe in growth. I love this succinct thought from Carol Dweck's Mindset (2006): "Becoming is better than being." The reality I'm facing is how to balance that with "meeting the standards," and it's not proving easy. What's important to me though, is for my students to feel as if they can improve and grow, regardless of where they are at, regardless of the grades and the pressure. I want them to feel as if they are capable.
My initial Action Research question is as follows:
How can I encourage growth mindset in my students so that they value learning above all else?
We are starting a writing unit that will take place over the next three months (yes, really.) because my students will be writing novels during the month of November. I am hoping to use this time to encourage a sense of camaraderie, success, and the ability to grow in terms of ability.