All schools and districts come with their own set of demands and expectations that change quite frequently. Teaching for 16 years in an urban public school system has taught me to remain flexible and stay true to my teaching beliefs, for they should never waiver. Curriculums can change, principals can change, my specific teaching role can change, but what will never change are the essential components of my language arts block. These essentials are research-based effective teaching practices which include but are not limited to whole group and small group instruction, daily read alouds, and time to read. When done well and often, these practices work to improve overall literacy instruction and close the achievement gap. I have seen a lot of success over my teaching career as a result of implementing these practices. I show up each and every day with the purpose of helping, guiding, inspiring, comforting and challenging my students. I do that in the best way I know how, by providing lots of relevant text, teaching through modeling, allowing them time to practice, and always providing snippets of autonomy. Sticking to my essential components are the key to student success because I always find a way to make it work and do so with the best interests of students in mind.
Want to talk more about how to navigate district expectations and still teach through best practices?
Email me at kcgow@cps.edu
It does not matter if we are talking about adults or children, the fact is, autonomy matters. Everyone wants to feel valued and have choices in how to navigate their life or their learning. Providing autonomy allows one to feel empowered, often generating greater productivity, happiness and engagement. When it comes to a classroom environment it is up to the teacher to provide opportunities for autonomy but, to do so in a way that is very guided. Here are a few examples of how I offer autonomy to my students:
For independent reading they are allowed to choose their own books from the library
For book clubs, I pre-select 2-3 books that are the best fit for the strategies they will be practicing and to meet their reading needs, but they get to choose the final book from that small selection.
During book clubs, I provide a small menu of strategy options. They must complete them all by the end of the unit, but they can choose the order in which to practice them.
At the end of each book club, an end-of-book project must be completed. They are provided with options and directions but they get to choose the actual project that best meets their learning style, skillset, and interest.
Students must complete a vocabulary four-square (based on the frayer model) on three words per week. I identify a bank of 5-6 words that are the best for this assignment, but they can choose which 3 from that list to work on in more detail.
A sense of belonging is a basic human need. A sense of belonging makes children feel like they are part of a community. Teachers who work to create a strong sense of community are making a space where:
Students feel more relaxed, allowing them to truly be themselves
Students feel more receptive to learning strategies, new ideas, and embracing the differences in others
Students feel more motivated to participate, take risks, and strive for success.
In a world that does not yet fully welcome everyone, it is up to schools to break down these barriers and provide students a safe community that feels like home. Here are a few ways I create a sense of belonging and build community in my classroom and school:
Weekly “shout-outs” where students recognize peers for acts of kindness, achievement, or perseverance.
Bi-weekly games where students work as a team to guess answers and earn points simply for bragging rights.
Daily Morning Meetings that include “share time” where students get to learn about each other as individuals; this helps to build bonds, empathy and discover common interests.
Create an instagram wall where pictures of students are added throughout the year of fun things we do together.
Display student artwork to define the space as theirs.
School-wide field day where students engage in competitive and team building outdoor activities.
Middle school events like Reading Trivia, Science Trivia, and Math game night where students build teams across grade levels and compete.
Finally, all students want to feel a sense of competence. There is a great sense of pride that is felt when someone feels able to accomplish a task well. As a teacher I want my students to feel an inner confidence in their ability to tackle an assignment and to reap the outer confidence of being satisfied with the finished product and/or grade. This requires me to provide positive feedback to students often and create opportunities for students to give/receive positive feedback with their peers. Competence is partially a social factor, and so a stronger community that is built in the classroom, will yield a stronger sense of confidence among classmates.
Mental health and “me time” is not something to be overlooked. Teaching requires a great deal of physical, mental, and emotional energy. It is important to find ways to create balance in your life. I know, it is much easier said than done to create balance in your life. And doing so does not mean you need to become any less of a teacher, carving out time for yourself and giving yourself permission to be “off the clock” is something we all need to do. I am no expert in creating a balanced life. I work a lot, I am constantly thinking of creative new ways to make learning exciting, and following teachers around the world on instagram makes me constantly feel like I need to “up my game.” But I have discovered a few ways that added more balance to my teaching life:
I got a dog! I am a single person who lives alone and so, I would spend many hours in my classroom after school. I needed a reason to leave the building. I needed an excuse that would allow me to feel okay leaving things for tomorrow’s to-do list. And so I got a dog. I knew with a dog at home, I needed to be home for him. He needed to go on a walk, and be pet and fed. Having a dog has provided some balance for me. His name is Jacson and having him in my life has reminded me that whatever isn’t done, will get done tomorrow. And the best part of getting Jackson is that it has brought a new best friend into my life.
I do not bring school work home daily. For so many years of my teaching career, I would pack a tote bag full of papers to be graded and bring them home. Only to drudge the same bag back to school the next day having never looked at one paper. A former AP of mine called it her “bag of guilt.” I finally stopped bringing it home. Instead I found ways to get it done at school. It may be in the morning before that first bell rings, during my prep, over my lunch, or in the 45min to an hour I give myself after school. I am a responsible and reliable person and all of my work will get done. I always find a way. So I had to give myself permission not to feel guilty for not spending more hours working at home after my full day of working with students. No system is perfect and there are times of year such as preparing for curriculum night or before the end of the quarter where things can’t wait until the next day. And there are times when I am just really excited and motivated about some new unit I am making. Under those circumstances, sometimes I do need to or want to work from home. But what I don’t need to do is bring my work home Every Day. And that is Okay.
I’ve learned it’s okay to say no. I am the teacher who runs 2-3 after school programs a year, helps organize graduation, the middle school dance, the 8th grade trip, student council events, high school information night, and was on several school-wide committees and the local school council. No wonder I often felt like I was running on an empty tank. I have learned it is okay to do some of these things or none of these things. As a result of my experience, I have learned to pick and choose what I want to be involved in. So that I am actively engaged in what is most important to me. It can be a hard adjustment at first. Remember. You are your own best advocate. So, decide what you want to do and say no to everything else. Trust me. It’s okay and overtime it will feel good and right.
I dance! I make a genuine effort to spend time each week doing something I really love, and I love dancing! I like to have a creative outlet and I often need a mini getaway from my worries and stress. Dancing and live music is my perfect outlet. Living in Chicago means I could find my mini gateway nearly any day of the week. But, being an exhausted teacher means most of my dancing happens on a Saturday, and that’s okay. I enjoy the heck out of my weekends. On any Saturday night you can find me at a local music joint jamming from my seat or taking a whirl on the dance floor. I’m an avid swing dancer and even have my own dance troupe, The Lake Shore Dames. I believe the right song can just transport your mood or your memories and it is the best way to fulfil my soul. I highly recommend making time as often as you can to do the things you love. What fulfills your soul?
Check out my dance troupe here.