After the Last Day of School

After the last day of school, when all the kids are gone, teachers have post-planning which pretty much means we have a big ole party and celebrate the fact that we don't have to see another kid for two months. Just. Kidding!!!

On Trying New Things in Teaching

This school year, I'm trying all things new. New strategies. New ways of doing old things. Fresh. New. Unfamiliar. New.  And I'm discovering that the very things I've always been afraid to try, aren't as daunting as they first appeared...

About This School Year

Literacy and Numeracy Night 2016

This school year is going well. Not to say it's without stress and challenges because those things still exist in the world of teaching. But still, things are looking up...

Words Have Power

Dr. Eula Gueye.  She's been a person I've admired and respected for years. But next school year, she will no longer be around to support us, mentor us, have our backs! She will be sorely missed. By me. By many...

Chalk Talk - Teaching Principles

Throughout my teaching career, I've accumulated several "tools" for my teaching toolbox...tried-and-true principles that have worked for me.  I started to compile them this school year as a way to journal one of the most fulfilling careers I will ever have.

Here's a recap of my teaching tips so far (all in one post) if you'd like to see...

Tip #8 - Count Your Rainbows

The teacher who shares an adjoining room with me gave me a beautiful calendar, full of wisdom, for Christmas. And this month's inspirational words are very timely. Especially in this second semester of the school year.

So.  Here goes tip number 8 from a so-called veteran teacher...

Chalk Talk - When the Unexpected Happens

What do you do, as a teacher, when the unexpected happens?

Well.  You just have to make it a teachable moment.

That was me today, when the unexpected happened...

Chalk Talk - Cherish the Moments

We have these "inspirational talks" at my school, once a month, during our faculty meeting where a staff or faculty member shares some inspiration with the rest of us.

This morning, one of my colleagues, Shea, gave an emotional reminder of something I needed to remember. Maybe you too.

Who Runs the World?

The power's in the socks! Just kidding.

Who runs the world? Girls! At least that's what we say when we recite our Girls on the Run chant at the end of each of our practices.

This morning our season of Heart and Sole culminated with a 5k around Turner Field in Atlanta. It was cold. It was early. But we're girls...we can handle anything especially while wearing our crazy and colorful socks!

Building Relationships Outside the Classroom

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I'm one of the coaches for our girls' running club at my school.

The experience so far has been well worth it! Girls and coaches get together twice a week and talk, and run, and have fun. We get to build relationships outside of the classroom and talk about things that are on a girl's mind...

I Hope This Feeling Never Dies

I hope this feeling never dies...

This school year, my passion for teaching has been re-ignited.

There's a flame burning that I hope never gets snuffed out.

I'm happy, and I feel like I'm making a difference.

The kids love me, and they look forward to coming to my class.

As a teacher on my team told me, "You're their rock star!"

I feel it too.

Don't get me wrong.

I'm still exhausted at the end of the week.

This is still a tough job.

More parents need to get involved.

Too many kids are still slipping through the education cracks.

But...I'm leaving each day still full of life, energy and promise.

I'm also assisting two other teachers with coaching our girls' running club.

I'm happier and more fulfilled.

And even though I'm at my same Title I school,

Three things are different.

I'm teaching 6th grade, regular ed students...and I don't have a co-teacher.

It's just me and my 6th graders.

The last several years it was 7th graders with a collab teacher.

Change is good.

I hope my flame keeps burning.

This light keeps shining.

I hope this feeling never dies.

This is What Community Looks Like

This morning a ton of teachers, from my school, climbed aboard some bright yellow school buses and we took a field trip ya'll. We visited the neighborhoods that our students live in.

Our community.

We wanted to get the word out...about our upcoming "meet your teacher" day this Thursday. We wanted to make a presence in the community, and we wanted to meet parents and most importantly, our kids.

And it was hot ya'll! But we put our brightest smiles on and our best attitudes, and we took to the streets....in Summerour style!

That's community!

We ARE Summerour.

Happy Tuesday!

A Peek Inside the "New" Summerour

My teammates and I met up this week for a tour of our new school. And I've been keeping my fingers crossed, that my new classroom, in my brand spanking new school, has at least one window...

These Walls,These People, and a Farewell

These are the same hallways I walked years ago that let me know I was going to be a teacher. These are the very same hallways where I've had a "love LOVE/not so love" relationship with the joys, challenges, and struggles of being an educator at a Title I school.

But today is the last day I will walk these halls...

Chalk Talk - What I'll Leave Behind

For as long as I could remember, I had always wanted to be a teacher. When I was a little girl, I would get all my stuffed animals and dolls to be my students, and I would pretend to be their teacher. I also had a fascination with chalkboards and loved writing on them. Too bad those became obsolete by the time I started teaching!

But.  For a long time, I put my dreams on hold...

Chalk Talk - Active Monitoring

Testing began at school last week. 

I'm the type of person who can't sit still. I always have to be doing something.  And even if I'm sitting, I'm multitasking. So these past testing days have been difficult. Make that extreme torture!!! When kids are testing, up to three hours...or more...at one time, teachers have to be "actively monitoring." No. Teachers can't sit and plan lessons, or grade papers, or surf the net. We are required to walk around the classroom, constantly, watching students take their test, and documenting anything and everything out of the ordinary.  We have to make sure students are on the right section of the test, and that they're not looking at anyone else's test.  We have to document if students make too many erasures, and we have to deliver tissues, pencils, calculators, or scratch paper as necessary to students. 

It is tedious and torturous.

So I decided to document my own observations...just to make the time go by. Here's the life of a middle school teacher during one three hour block of testing.

• I have 20 students in my testing group...ten boys and ten girls.
• 17 students crossed their legs during testing.
• Four held their head...one did this the entire time.
• Three students fell asleep. One...seven times!!! Another...four times.
• One constantly moved his legs, picking them up and then letting them hit the ground as if he was making his own music.
• Three girls had ponytails.
• One girl had a bun.
• Fives times I picked up pencils that rolled off the desk.
• Three times I delivered tissues to students.
• One student bit her nails.
• Two students sneezed.
• One student's watch beeped.
• The number of students who could not open their scientific calculator...three.
• Black and grey were the colors of choice on said day. 
• Six students wore grey, and six wore black.
• The number of student who wore pink...one.
• The number of student who wore white...one.
• The number of students who wore navy blue...three.
• One student wore blue.
• One wore purple.
• One wore plaid.
• The number of students who wore glasses....five. All glasses were black rimmed.
• The number of students with hoodies...10.
• Now on to shoes!
• Six students wore black shoes.
• Five wore white tennis shoes.
• One wore burgundy.
• One metallic.
• One navy blue.
• One wore construction boots.
• One wore red.
• Two wore purple.
• Two wore grey.
• Four students wore shorts.
• 16 wore jeans.
• The number of students with mismatched socks...two.
• Most male students wore black socks except two who wore white.
• One student opted for no socks...Ewww! Stinky winky!!!
• Seven. That's the number of times my stomach growled....a loud rumbling sound like a volcano about to erupt. 
• And finally. Infinity and beyond. That's the number of times my joints cracked and popped as I walked through every aisle of student desks watching every student intently as I actively monitored!

We have one more day of testing left. Perhaps I can mentally plan my outfits for the next 18 days...that's how many days are left in this school year!

Chalk Talk Tuesday - Dear Ms. Cooke

I asked my students to write letters. To each other.  Bad behavior, disrespect, attitude, name calling, defiance...you name it...has been at an all time high. And it isn't all the students, but it just takes several, in this case, to spoil the whole bunch.  I wanted to get things back to positive, so I instructed students to write a positive and encouraging letter to each other.

The activity was for them, but little did I know it would be beneficial to me as well when two students decided to write to yours truly.

Dear Ms. Cooke,

You're an awesome teacher, a really great friend and you always give good advice. Let me tell you this, I love that you always have a great attitude.  So as I was saying, you're polite and nice.  My parents have asked me how was my day and stuff like that, I always tell them about you.  I just can't believe how you can handle everyone just being rude to you but you're still nice and polite to them.  I want to tell you more but I just don't have any words for you because you're so so awesome and one thing I really like is that you dress so pretty and fancy.

Sincerely,
L.D.

Here's another letter...

Dear Mrs. Cooke,

I think that you're very nice! Don't believe me?...Wait,  you seriously don't believe me? WELL IF I HAVE to, everyone here gotta say the same, you're nice to everyone! You greet us with joy, rain or shine - especially shine! Even the rudest of the rude cannot destroy your kindness! Honestly, if you don't think you're nice, to me that's astonishment! You're a perfect language arts teacher and you should be proud! BUT - this is one characteristic. Imagine me describing all of them! Hmmm...where should I start? At least you know that I'm here rooting for ya!

Sincerely,
J.A.

It isn't a coincidence that they both wrote about their peers being rude. Unfortunately this happens. I often wonder how I face these challenges day in and day out. This job certainly isn't for the weak at heart, and some days are certainly harder than others. I rely a lot on my teammates who are always there to listen at the end of the day. We often share our struggles, but we always make sure we laugh about our challenges too. But the one thing that has really helped me survive each school year is my faith and God. I have to pray daily for strength, patience and love. I know I can't take things personally. I know our students face a lot of challenges themselves and that's why they act the way they do. I know that I'm a teacher here to serve. Period. And that's how I do it. One day at a time.

And the good thing? The school year flies by.

Only 37 more days to go!

Making Positive Deposits

We have an AP (assistant principal) at our school who does wonders for our students and our staff. She is simply amazing! She is a great leader, she leads by example and professionalism, she is fair and equal, and she does so much to promote a positive environment at our school. Not only for students, but also for teachers.

Throughout the year, she has encouraged us teachers to write lots and lots of positive referrals for our students. It's such a cool idea because the students get called out of class to go to her office. At first the kids think they are in big trouble, but when they get to her office she greets them with that awesome big smile of hers with her hazel eyes twinkling with sweet mischief. She proudly tells them that they have received a positive referral from a teacher. She literally reads them what the teacher wrote about them, they get to choose a candy bar from her stash of goodies, and then the best part!!! She calls home and brags to their parents about their positive referral.

Isn't that just awesome! And that's just one of the countless things she does throughout the school year to inspire a culture of excellence and positivity within these walls.

And guess what? She did the same thing for teachers this week!!!!

She encouraged all of us to write a positive referral for another teacher. And today, she started calling into our classrooms for us to come to her office. I got my call this morning, and even though I expected it, it didn't lessen the excitement and thrill of getting that positive referral. I picked out my treat...peanut M&M's of course! And I also stopped by and thanked the teacher who wrote the referral for me.

And the best part? She's calling The Hubs to brag about me! I can't wait to hear how the call goes!

"You People"

I haven't been writing much these past few weeks. Literally, I've been in survival mode at work.  It's that time of year. It's nearing the end of the school year, and things are just wearing me down. Ya know?

Kids are sometimes hard to work with. I feel like things have really changed since I went to school. Back then, teachers were respected and listened to. It used to be cool to get good grades and be respectful. These days I don't see that. Most days, I feel exhausted and defeated. Sounds sad right? But I'm really okay. I'm not writing this for pity. I'm writing to just release my feelings because I know this is only temporary and brighter things are on the horizon.  I don't bring work home, and thankfully I have a happy home life that makes this really manageable.

A lot of teachers are planning their exit, and of course that's been on my mind too. I've written before about the mass exodus that's typical this time of year.  I find myself reflecting a lot these past few weeks.  Am I doing the right thing by staying another year? Is this where I should be? Is this where I want to be? Don't get me wrong. I'm committed, and I go to work everyday with a smile on my face. Professional. A team player. That won't change.

But this morning someone really irked me at work, and I just want to vent for three minutes.

Do you mind?

The whole school has been testing for the past two days. Kids have been on a "block schedule," stuck in a classroom for up to three hours for one test. A test that only has 21 test items. So. Picture a class of 27 students of varying abilities. In a classroom. Taking a test that only takes some of them 20 minutes. Some may take 30 minutes. Or even 40 minutes. You have to keep the whole class quiet while maybe one student takes up to one hour to complete the test. Then after all the kids have been sitting for over an hour, and they are all done testing you have to have an engaging lesson for them. Any lesson, plus 27 students, who have checked out mentally,and who think it's pure torture to be in a classroom for that long, does not equal engagement.

So at about 4:30 this morning I woke up with a plan to do something different with my kids to make up for the torture of the last two days. The plan, however, required about 100 copies. Copies I would need this morning when I got to work. Problem is, at my school, the rule is, you need at least 48 hours to get copies made. Not usually a problem for me. I'm a planner, and I normally get my copies made way in advance. I didn't think bending the rule, just this one time, would be a problem.

I filled out a copy request and asked my AP (assistant principal) to sign off on it.  She did it without hesitation. She supports teachers. I love that about her! I then took the request to the front office to have the copies made. I would normally ask a clerk for a request like this, but since there wasn't one around, I asked the administrative assistant for help. Wrong. Choice.

She looked at the request and started, "We're not supposed to do this. You people need at least 48 hours for copies." Then she spotted my AP walking into the office and asked, "Did you sign off on this request?" to which my AP proudly answered, "Yes I did!" as she kept it moving. The administrative assistant reluctantly took my request and started to make my copies.

All the while I was standing there thinking...she called me "you people." Really? You people!!! I play by the rules 99% of the time. I get to work on time. If I'm even one minute late, I'm the one who signs in late at the front office. I'm that person! That's what you're supposed to do.  While others who are more than 15 to 30 minutes late don't even bother to do that. Never mind the fact that I'm a teacher leader. And co-chair of the language arts department. She called me "you people." I'm a teacher. Working at a school...teaching and serving students. I need copies. That's a requirement for the job. Other schools allow teachers access to their own copy machine to make their own copies!

Maybe she was having a bad day. I'll chalk it up to that.  I have never had an exchange like that with her ever in all the years I've known her.  But more importantly, the lesson here is I need to practice more humility. So what she spoke to me like that? Who do I think I am to expect better treatment? After all, I'm here to serve. Not to be served.

That's it. Venting over. My minutes are up.  I'm done.

Thanks for listening.

That Friday Feeling

I read a recent blog post that said while most people celebrate Fridays, there wasn't much of that same sentiment for days Monday through Thursday. It makes sense. If you work really hard during the week, it's no wonder the thought of two days off brings much relief and anticipation. Just ask anyone around here at my school.  Walking through the hallway and greeting everyone, "Good morning, how are you?" You know what the answers were? "It's Friday! We made it through another week." It's true! These are the responses I got...just this morning.

This does, however, make me wonder why I'm wishing away most of my work week...and my life, essentially. Am I not living and fulfilling my purpose? Am I not using my talents wisely? This does bring me pause, and it's definitely something I need to revisit. Later.

But now back to that Friday feeling. 

There is something about Fridays. It's got that special feeling. A feeling of happiness and the idea that, no matter what happens today, I can survive because well...it is Friday!

Friday just has a way about her.  Take this morning for example. The fact that there was a kinda rare sighting of snow falling from the sky made it an even more magical Friday.

And ask this five-year old about Friday! Just because it's "Pajama Day" at his school makes it that more special.

And around here on Fridays...people are just  happier. But no matter what day of the work week it is...these girls make every day a special one.

Hope you're having a magical Friday in your neck of the woods!

I am. Happy weekend!