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Choosing Our Focus

November 16, 2008 by kkeier

Fall LeavesWhat a week. Full moon, rainy days (indoor recess!), disruptions in the schedule, me being sick…whatever it was, I wondered if we were back at the first week of school! I know we all have days or even weeks like this, and can easily take it all home with us - really letting it bring us down and making us wonder if we really have what it takes to teach. At least I do. My saving grace this week was a monthly TAWL (Teachers Applying Whole Language) meeting with some of my favorite friends. It reminded me of the importance of taking time to do something I get tremendous energy from - talking about teaching with colleagues who love, respect and honor children and our profession. In our discussion, we talked about how teachers must love themselves while loving their students. We reflected on Paulo Freire’s words, and pondered how teachers are perfectionists, over-achievers and oh, so passionate about what they do every day. And how this can wear us out. We talked about our challenges and how we must focus on what IS working and be easier on ourselves with the things that don’t work.

While the week was a challenge, I was able to see the value in finding the little hidden gem in our day. That time when I am “in the zone” - passionately teaching something I love, and feeling fully present in that moment. I was able to put the spaghetti throwing at lunch, the crawling under tables with markers in our mouth, and the slide accident that knocked out a permanent tooth out of my mind and focus on the magical moment as I shared Cynthia Rylant’s In November with 19 first graders spellbound in the magic of Rylant’s beautiful words. I focused on the children begging for me to read it again, and the way they repeated some of the wondrous words in the book. This is why I teach, and I am so thankful for friends and colleagues who remind me of this. I walked out of our meeting that day with a bit more spring in my step and a hopeful outlook for more magical moments next week. There will certainly be more not so magical moments too (hopefully no more teeth knocked out)…but it’s my choice what I focus on and what I choose to take home with me. And I will certainly look forward to those monthly meetings as a breath of fresh air in my busy teaching life. 

What will you choose to focus on each day?

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Loving children…and children loving us

November 8, 2008 by kkeier

“I love children. I may be wrong, but I think children also love me a lot.”  

Paulo Freire

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I have to believe that people who go into education love children. And I think the ones who stay in education have children who love them - a lot. I recently finished a week of parent-teacher conferences in my classroom. It was wonderful to hear families say that their child loved coming to school. It’s so important that children love their school and want to come every day. Creating a space that we all love to live in for the year is something I work at from the very first day of school. But I admit, it made me especially happy to hear families say that their child loved me. Now, I’m not saying that in an arrogant way - in fact, I often wonder how in the world they can love me - after I’ve given the hundredth reminder to put the caps on the markers or had a child do yet another think sheet about their behavior. I guess that’s all part of it though. Loving someone means seeing a future for them that they perhaps don’t yet see - and supporting them in doing what we know they are capable of. 

I can only hope that loving me means each of these kids will also learn to love some of the things I love and try to teach each day - learning, reading, writing, asking questions, taking risks, being adventurous, standing up for what they believe, speaking their mind, and taking care of the planet. I know the teachers that I loved made the most impact on me as a person. They are the ones I strive to be like, and it is their voices I hear in my head as I take on a new challenge or struggle with a problem. 

I remember being told the old adage, “never smile before Christmas”, and thinking NO WAY - I’ll smile the very first second I meet my kids, and will continue to smile throughout the year.  School should be a place where children love to be, and where they feel loved, safe, challenged and nurtured. It makes me realize how much impact I have on the lives of these young children, and makes me more aware of my actions on days when I don’t feel well, am grumpy or have seen the very end of my patience. 

We’re all happier when we feel loved. Students AND teachers included. I’m going to take the words of those families with me into my day-to-day teaching life, and make sure that I am being someone worth loving…even when the times get tough.



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Education Advisors to Debate

October 13, 2008 by kkeier

Education and the next president: McCain and Obama advisors to debate

On October 21, the education advisors to the presidential candidates will face off in a debate at Teachers College at Columbia University in New York City. The debate will feature Lisa Graham Keegan, former Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction and advisor to Senator John McCain (R-AZ), and Linda Darling-Hammond, the Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education at Stanford University and advisor to Senator Barack Obama (D-IL).

The debate is set to begin at 7:00 p.m. EST and will be webcast by Education Week. Susan Fuhrman, president of Teachers College, will moderate. People who want to examine the candidates’ education platforms before the debate can do so by visiting the following websites:

Senator McCain: http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues

Senator Obama: http://www.barackobama.com/issues

To register for the webcast, visit http://www.edweek.org/ew/index.html and look for a banner with information on the debate in the upper-right-hand corner of the page.

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What keeps teachers in the classroom?

October 5, 2008 by kkeier

Last week I was asked how I was able to stay a classroom teacher for the seventeen years that I have been teaching. It was an interesting question, and one that has stayed in my mind for several days. When I think about the classroom teachers I know, most of them have been teachers for less than ten years. The majority of teachers that I have known since the beginning of my career have eventually gone into a specialist role, an administration role, a part time role, or have left teaching completely. Why is it that I remain a classroom teacher?  

I recently completed a master’s program in Literacy Studies. Part of the degree was an endorsement as a reading specialist. However, I can’t see myself as a reading specialist, and currently have no desire to leave the classroom. The one year that I was a librarian made me realize how much I liked being a classroom teacher. I missed the community we built together. I missed having “my kids”. I missed the day to day routines, rituals and connections that are a part of being a classroom teacher. I missed celebrating a lost tooth, mourning a lost pet, and getting sticky hugs after lunch. There were some things I didn’t miss that year…report cards, testing (!!!), and collecting money for field trips, to name a few - those fun things. But overall, I missed being a classroom teacher, and went back into the classroom after only one year of being a librarian.

So why do I stay in the classroom? It’s a hard question to answer. But I think the bottom line is that I love what I do. When I talk about my job, I rarely call it a “job”, or say I’m going to “work”. I say I teach and that I’m going to school. I can’t imagine doing anything else in my lifetime. Sure, there are days when I come home after a 14 hour day, and wonder what it would be like to have a 9-5 job where I could walk out with only my purse over my shoulder. There are days when I think there is no way I can go back in that building the next day and do it all again. But when it comes right down to it, I love lugging my professional books, my children’s books, my markers, post-its and planning notebooks home each day. I love to learn. I love thinking of new ways to engage, excite and reach those hardest to reach kids. I love seeing my kids empowered and feeling that they make a difference in the world. I love that I don’t leave my job at school - that it’s a part of me all day, every day. I love being “Ms. Keier”. I love the kids.  I love that my day can be full of reading, writing, painting, exploring nature, playing and listening to stories. (how can you beat that??) Even the most difficult days leave me challenging myself to think of a way to have tomorrow be better. (sometimes it takes a few hours of tears to get to that point, but I always get there eventually!) Teaching is an incredibly stimulating, challenging, creative profession to me. I guess that’s why I choose to stay in the classroom. It’s a passion for teaching and learning. I can’t imagine doing anything else.

I could name hundreds of reasons why teachers leave the classroom. And that makes me sad. We lose so many good teachers each year who come into teaching with a vision of making a difference, and are disillusioned by the realities of NCLB mandates, unsupportive school systems, and challenging kids and parents - to name but a few. But there are a few who stay in the classroom, year after year. If you are someone who is a classroom teacher, why do you remain in the classroom? Please share your stories. Perhaps what sustains you, and what keeps you teaching year after year, could make a difference for a young teacher debating whether it’s worth it or not. 

I look forward to hearing about what keeps you in the classroom!

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Joy

September 17, 2008 by kkeier

“If the experience of “doing school” destroys children’s spirit to learn, their sense of wonder, their curiosity about the world, and their willingness to care for the human condition, have we succeeded as educators, no matter how well our students do on standardized tests?” - ASCD Smart Brief

The current issue of Educational Leadership is titled “The Positive School”. I was particularly drawn to an article called “Joy in School“. The author explores why many of our schools are not joyful places to learn - and looks at how we can bring back the joy to our schools.

This year has been a particularly challenging beginning for me, and many days I’ve found myself exhausted and frustrated - certainly not in a place to facilitate a joyful learning environment! Reading this article helped me reflect on what I believe in. Creating a joyful space for children and adults to learn together is at the top of my list. Not only do I want my students to find joy in our learning experiences, I want to find joy in my teaching. 

“So teachers must strive in whatever ways they can to own their teaching so that each morning they can enter their classrooms knowing there will be golden opportunities for them—as well as for their students—to experience the joy in school.”

I am making a commitment to “own my teaching” and enter my classroom each day ready for joyful teaching and learning. How can you bring back the joy to your teaching? Perhaps this article can be a departure point to help us all reflect on what we can do to make our schools and classrooms places that encourage the spirit to learn, enhance wonder and curiosity, and cultivate a sense of caring and compassion for the human condition. 

Enjoy!

katie

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Questions

August 29, 2008 by kkeier

“It is important that students bring a certain ragamuffin, barefoot, irreverence to their studies; they are not here to worship what is known, but to question it.”

                                                                         -  Jacob Bronowski

Yesterday we had Open House at my school. It’s a time when families come in to meet the teachers and see where their room is. Our principal had asked families to write their teacher a letter about their child over the summer, and share these with us so we can get to know the kids a little better before the first day. I received one letter from a parent that I just loved. In it, the mother told me that her child questioned everything - and she was concerned that he would continue this habit in his new first grade classroom. I can’t wait to reassure her that he is in exactly the right place, and will be a role model for others. I certainly hope he continues this habit! What a great thing that he questions, wonders and doesn’t believe everything at first glance. Our world needs more of this! I want a classroom full of questioners and thinkers (with a bit of that “ragamuffin, barefoot, irreverence” thrown in!). And if they don’t come in that way - my goal is that they leave our room that way. 

I also think teachers need to question more - and not worship what we are told or what is supposedly “known”. (and remember to have a bit of that “ragamuffin, barefoot, irreverence” in our teaching lives)  I post this lovely quote in my room and it reminds me of this daily.

Here’s to a year of wonderful questioning!

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Looking to the future, and enjoying the moment

August 26, 2008 by kkeier

I’m a runner - currently training for my third marathon this winter. I love to run, and could fairly easily crank out the necessary miles and finish the 26.2 - and still be able to walk the next day. However, I really, really, REALLY want to qualify for the Boston marathon. This means I needed to create a detailed training plan and stick with it. I need to look forward to the day of the race and make sure I have prepared myself for finishing in (gulp) three hours and forty-five minutes. It was necessary to “backward design” my daily training plan.

This reminds me a lot of the expectations and goals I have for my incoming class, and that most teachers have for their students. Many of us have recently been in meetings listening to goals for AYP, goals for School Improvement Plans, writing and revising mission statements, etc…and hopefully talking a lot about how our students can make a difference in their world and how they can be successful, challenged, joyful learners. It’s that time of year. It’s part of education. We look to the end. We use backward design. We visualize where we want our learners to be in June. I think it’s very important to have a vision for where we are going - and necessary for a successful year.

But as I ran this morning, I was thinking about this beautiful summer morning, today, right now. I was enjoying the pre-dawn glow on the horizon. I was listening to the crickets, smelling coffee from passing houses and watching sleepy people stumble out to get their papers. I was enjoying the sticky humid air and wishing it would stay warm all year long. Yes, my thoughts went to Boston briefly, and I picked up my pace a bit, but mostly I was focused in the moment - enjoying this run, today. I had already done the planning, and knew how I needed to run today, so I was free to simply enjoy it.

While it’s so important to know where we are going and where we want to end up, I think it’s equally important to slow down, enjoy the moments we have in our classrooms, and savor the journey. It can’t all be focused on what benchmark the kids are at, how they are going to pass those tests in the spring, or what ranking our school is going to make. We’ll never get there (or we’ll be so stressed out when we do get there that we can’t enjoy it!) if we don’t take the time to celebrate the milestones along the way and enjoy what we do each day.

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A letter not to be missed

August 24, 2008 by kkeier

Words to start the year with…and to return to often.

 

If you haven’t read Bud the Teacher’s blog yet, you are in for a treat. His most recent entry is an inspiring letter to teachers about starting the year. I’ve printed it off and will return to his words often. It is definitely something not to miss!

Bud the Teacher

Enjoy!

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On Relationships

August 18, 2008 by kkeier

I recently finished re-reading a favorite professional book that always inspires me and moves my thinking back into school mode as summer draws to a close. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in relationship, and how it influences our every move in the classroom.

More Than Meets the Eye: How Relationships Enhance Literacy Learning by Donna Skolnick is a wonderful book that talks about the importance of building relationship between teachers, students and the curriculum. Although I’ve read this book several times, I feel like I gain something each time I pull it off the shelf. I collected some quotes to live by this year, and would like to share them here. Even if you don’t read the book, I hope you will find something in Donna’s wise words to help you build fabulous relationships this year.

“In many ways, the who we are as teachers is an unacknowledged curriculum. Our values and beliefs come through our every action in subtle and unexpected ways. How we perceive the curriculum and our relationship to it cannot be filtered out of our daily school lives. Even children who cannot read can read between the lines.”

“What allows a relationship to be transformational? I believe it’s listening softly. Active and fully engaged listening allows trust and respect to blossom as we deeply hear the words and ideas of others.”

“Always in my mind is the question, “will the decisions I am making help these children become lifelong learners, lifelong readers and writers - adults who will be comfortable and contributing members of our society?”"

“Building and strengthening relationships means living our classroom lives by design, not default.”

“If I want children to be thoughtful and patient with each other, guess who must be the most thoughtful and patient?”

In regards to a class…“Know and appreciate who they are and accept the whole package. When I stop judging good or bad and appreciate and celebrate what is, the crashing waves turn into a lapping tide. Without resistance on my part to who and how they are, we are freer to grow together.”

From The Little Prince, “He was only a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But I have made him my friend, and now he is unique in all the world.” - ”Vigorous relationships allow teachers to appreciate each child and children to appreciate each other. We are no longer just another person, but someone “unique in all the world.” A personal relationship to reading and writing elevates our efforts to a higher plateau and literacy takes on greater significance in our lives. It informs and nourishes who we are. We value our own unique relationship to the written word. No one else writes from my experience and perspective. No one brings the same thoughts to a book as they read. The way I read and write is “unique in all the world.” “

Enjoy!

Katie

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Keeping the spirit of learning alive

August 14, 2008 by kkeier

“Teachers, new and old alike, need professional dialogue to keep the spirit of learning alive in the classroom as well as in their hearts.”   - Sarah Costello

This morning I had the great privilege of sharing a few hours with other like-minded professionals talking about teaching. I am very, very lucky to have friends in education who can talk for hours about what matters most to us as teachers.  We are forming a group that will meet monthly to discuss issues in education. I realize how important - no, critical - it is for me to have a group of people to talk with about teaching. For me, reading is very social, and it is necessary for me to talk about what I have read. This is especially true when I am reading professional texts. The same is true for teaching. I am realizing how important it is to surround myself with people who share a similar passion for teaching and for making a difference in the world. It is what gives me energy, keeps me thinking and questioning, and gives me a renewed sense of what’s possible in our educational system. 

Teaching can be a lonely profession. It’s up to us to create circles of support to give us the energy to teach and to keep us challenged and connected - not isolated and indifferent to what is happening in our schools and communities. We need each other. Think about forming a group to engage in professional dialogue to “keep the spirit of learning alive.” Invite the new teacher down the hall who is trying to survive her first year. Maybe you could meet at a local restaurant, coffee shop or bookstore. Perhaps it is an online community like a blog or a social networking site. Maybe it’s a weekly phone call to a friend or group of friends who may live far away. You might read professional books, articles, or just share what is going on in your classroom. Whatever form it takes, connecting with others who can share our struggles and our successes can make all the difference.

I would love to hear how you are “keeping the spirit of learning alive” in your community! Please share!

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