We Have a Winner!

The winner of my Promethean giveaway is......

Elizabeth from Fun in Room 4B. Congratulations, Elizabeth! Why not take a moment to stop by her amazing blog:

If You Lead Them, They Will Think

What amazing thinking went on today in my classroom! I pulled out a new poem from our ARMT packet for testing practice called Parrot in the Pine Tree, about someone seeing birds in a tree through a window. We spent several minutes analyzing the text before echo reading it:

• What type of text do you think this is?
• What do you notice about it?
• Do parrots live in pine trees?
• Then, what can you predict about the genre of the poem?

We began to echo read the poem, practicing fluency, phrasing, and rhythm, and stopping every so often to discuss. Halfway through---I could not have planned this better if I'd tried---I stopped after the line about the walnut, with a genuine question to ask the class: Why was there a walnut if the parrot was in a pine tree? Where did it come from? They started coming up with all of these ideas that I'd never even considered! But the best part was that my little HONEST question lead them to share what they were really wondering and thinking. 

When we got to this line:

 "Or maybe to the deep and very dark forest, Behind the library he knew," 

I paused. A hand went up: "Maybe the writer is looking through a library window and sees the parrot." 

My jaw nearly hit the floor. What?! I hadn't even had time to consider that yet! Talk about being impressed. From there, it continued. I shared that her insight made me think that maybe the writer didn't actually see the birds, but was gazing toward the window and visualized them. Pause. Another child, "Maybe the child is reading by the window, and there really is a pine tree outside, and the pictures in his book are reflected on the window. That would explain the different types of birds." (Jaw-drop moment for me). 

As teachers, that's what we want! We know there's usually more than one way to do something, and many times there's not "one correct answer." We want them to think, consider, imagine---even during test prep. And today, it all started because I was willing to share something that was genuinely confusing to me, then provide time for them to share their thinking. Not a new concept by any means, but still amazingly powerful.  

Adventures in Wall Ball

Setting: On the playground at school during "Break" (a short 10 minutes recess)

Opening Scene: Kids come bounding out of the gym doors at full speed (and full volume), race to the back side of the gym, congregate in a large group, and excitedly begin playing a curious-looking game. 

The teacher is quite confused by this and has no clue what is going on as nearly her whole class is in this group, shouting "Wall ball!" and randomly catching, throwing, and running to the wall. 

Teacher: Hey guys, what's that game you're playing?

Kids: (Sort of talking over one another) Wall Ball! You run and touch the wall! You have to throw it! Don't let it hit you! 

Teacher: (With a puzzled look): You mean, you just throw it, then get out of the way?

Apparently, jumping into this game is the best way to learn it, so that is exactly what I did. Shouts of excitement and shock began to fill the playground:

Kids: Mrs. Kilgo's playing! (more kids come to join in). Let Mrs. Kilgo throw it! No, give her another chance!

Conclusion: Teacher fails miserably, but has a great time playing and laughing with her class. 

Eventually, I did finally figure out the rules of the game, and even had to run and tag the wall once or twice, but the real learning? How about:

• working as a team
• cooperation
• listening
• take time to learn about something important to my kids
• show them I care by spending time with them

My kids were super excited all because I played a 10 minute game of wall ball with them. I didn't have much of a clue what I was doing, but it was the willingness to learn from them and take time with them that spoke volumes to my kiddos. It really amazed me how much that small investment mattered to them. 

Teaching My Calling: Everything's Intermediate Virtual Teaching Expo

Check out the Everything's Intermediate Virtual Teaching Expo. My friend Cara is one of the presenters!
Teaching My Calling: Everything's Intermediate Virtual Teaching Expo: Please {visit here} for more information. ~Cara

Its Time for a Giveaway!

Who's ready for a giveaway? For the next two days I will be attending meetings as part of the Promethean Social Media Council. Why is this good news for you? It inspired me to do another giveaway! 

The winner will be randomly selected 

Thursday, March 22 at 10:00 PM CST. 

The winner will receive a copy of The Response Revolution, and an ActiVote and ActivExpression stress ball. To enter: 

1. Follow my blog or tell me you're already a follower. (Leave a comment)
2. Like ThinkShareTeach's Facebook page. (Leave a comment)
3. Blog about this giveaway (Leave a link to the post in your comment)
4. Grab my button and post on your blog (Leave 2 comments with a link)

Every time you comment means another chance to win! Happy Blogging! 

Wanted: All 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Teacher Bloggers

Are you an upper grade teacher blogger in search of bloggers like yourself? Fabulous 4th Grade Froggies is hosting this Linky Party. Hop on over to add your blog! I just added mine and I can't wait to peruse the others on the list.

Click to join her Linky Party

See ya there :)

Perspective

Source: fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net via Leandro on Pinterest

I stumbled upon this picture on Pinterest tonight and thought of how much that applies in the classroom and even every day life. It reminded me of my days as a Reading Recovery teacher. Sometimes it seemed overwhelming to think of all the skills that those children were missing. In our training and practice we learned to always focus on and start with what the child knows, then build from there. Small successes such as knowing that the print on a page goes from top to bottom and left to right were praised and children learned the things they needed to know when it was developmentally appropriate. Those three years were eye-opening to me and taught me to try and see things from a different angle. They completely transformed my perspective when I returned to the regular classroom.
 

Transparent, Translucent, Opaque

We made these awesome foldables last week and I thought I'd share:

 

They Don't Know

"I just don't know how you deal with all those kids all day. I'm glad its you and not me." I think probably every educator has heard this phrase at least once from friends and family. The simple truth is that they don't know.

They don't know...
...the shouts of "Yes!" when a child finishes the facts timed test in a minute for the first time.
...the excitement on a child's face when they get the answer correct.
...the gleam in the eye of a child who can't wait to learn more about (Egypt, Electricity, Government, etc...)
...how it feels to have all the kids in the class cheer because one kid made an A (finally) on a test.
...what it looks like for kids to jump up and help someone who just spilled everything from the Battleship box.
...the confusion on little faces when they learn about Jim Crow laws and the Civil Rights Movement.
...the bursts of spontaneous laughter because the class clown said something hilarious (again).
...the concern on their faces when one child is upset, sick, or hurt.
...the encouraging things kids say to other kids when you least expect it.
...the fun we have singing "Happy Birthday" 26 times a year.
...the "Aha!" moments.
...the memories we make together each day.


They don't know...But I do.