The Need for Routine

As this year has started, I have been reminded about the importance of routine.  This year, I started traveling between the High School and Middle School.  We are now offering Spanish 1 to 8th graders and all 8th graders not in choir will be exposed to a class Intro to Spanish.

One of the biggest issues for me is getting into a routine.  The first day of school proved this point BIG time.  Both the Middle School and High School ran on a two hour delay schedule.  My first ten minutes of Middle School life was a complete disaster.  I had three minutes to set up my computer to the projector of the room I am teaching and as you can guess, Houston we had a problem.  The projector didn't work.  Man, did I wish I would have taken five minutes the day before to make sure everything was ready.  It would have saved me time and my first impression could have been what I wanted it to be.  The next day I was able to get set up and my opening and transitions were much smoother.

This lesson in routine reminded me that my students need a routine as well.  If I need to have a routine in order to perform at the best of my ability, my kiddos do too.  As a high school teacher, the thought of routine always seems to be something that elementary teachers focused, but that couldn't be farther from the truth.  When a student knows what is coming at them, they can perform so much better.

I pride myself in always reviewing the types of test questions the day before.  The material changes, but the style of questions remain the same.  It is setting students up for failure if a teacher gives a test over material or asks a style a question that students do not expect.  My point is that students need routine just as much as the proper review.

What does a routine teach kids?  That things happen in a certain order and this eliminates anxiety over what is going to happen.  Whether kids admit it or not, having a routine makes their life and classes simpler.  The fear of what is going to happen vanishes and students can settle in, relax and focus on what they need to focus on, learning.

Our jobs as teachers is to set students up for success.  Why wouldn't anyone want to establish a routine?

Improving from Reflection

With the close of another school year, I set here and think about how things turned out, what I could have done differently and how can I improve.  One of the most valuable things teachers can do reflect on things. For this to be productive, the teacher needs to be honest and open to feedback from students, administrators and most importantly, themselves.

At the close of the school year, I created a survey through google forms for my students to fill out.  I asked a variety of questions dealing with pace, assessments, technology, favorite part, things to improve on, what they thought I could do to improve students speaking during class.  If I had to pick the one thing that I really need to improve on is having students speak more during class.  This will help students gain confidence and true language learning can take place.

I started the year using some flipped class in my Spanish 2.  The students struggled at first getting use to the new methodology.  The students adjusted after a couple of weeks.  However, I found myself reverting back to the traditional set up as I was planning during the school year.  I justified my actions because I was busy and had other things going on.  Now, looking back, I wish I forced myself to plan out and continued using the flipped model.  It's not easy setting here and realizing what I should have done this past school year. The way to curb this feeling is to take the experience and grow with from it.  This is the purpose for reflection anyway.

Starting this summer, I have decided to dive into one of my favorite hobbies, reading.  I am going to balance reading educational books by reading novels by authors that I enjoy (David Baldacci and Lee Child).  I am reading Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni and have started rereading Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess.  A colleague of mine has let me borrow her copy of Flipped 2.0 so I can read the section by Heather Witten on the flipped class in the World Language classroom.

My goal is to reorganize my curriculum to create units and to set up a flipped model classroom.  I also would like to dabble in #geniushour and standards based learning.  I would love to do everything right off the bat, but I do not want to do a disservice to any of the items, so I will focus on the flipped class and sprinkle in genius hour and standards based learning.

Teachers should always strive to improve their craft and never be satisfied.  That is why I LOVE Twitter. The amount of professional development at your fingertips is amazing.  I have already signed up for an edcamp in Hilliard, Ohio (suburb of Columbus), and have lined myself up for 2-3 google hangouts with the great group of LangCamp teachers.

My goal for the next school year is to make time to blog once a week about things that are going on, my successes and my struggles.  By using the blog, I am hoping to improve.  Any and all comments and suggestions are welcome!

My goal as a teacher is to do the best job I can impacting the lives of my students.  I am not satisfied just keeping the status quo.  I want to find new and innovative ways to reach my students and get them to reach their ultimate potential.

The Importance of Self-Reflection

As the first semester comes to a close this coming Friday, it seems like a natural tiime to relflect on how the first half of the year has gone so far.  This is where some do not like to tread.  I set here and realize that I haven't posted a blog update since August 31.  What does this mean?  I tell myself that I didn't have time and that life happens.  Is this accurate?  To some extent yes, but like all things in life people need to make time for things.

I am happy with the progress of my students so far this year.  I am happy knowing I am doing my best, but the burning question is can I still find areas to improve?  The answer to that is yes.  How?  Self-Reflection.

So......here it goes.  No holding back.

I started the year guns blazing on flipping my classes no matter what.  Spanish 2 started well.  I had some resistance from the students because things were new, I was making them redo work until it was up to standard and being very techy by using a weebly as the hub of things.  I liked the feel and how it was giong, but I still wasn't satisfied during the class periods.  I had various activities that needed to be completed by the end of the week.  Some worked quickly, some tood forever and some.....well, let's say I am still waiting for some work.  Then, the tests and I didn't really notice that much difference in how the students scored.  The next unit I did I went back to my old stand by from years past.  The students seemed more at ease and some liked it more.  However, I felt that something still wasn't right.  I wanted to change up my classes and provide my students with more ways to improve their communication and production and I fell right back to the grammar based ways I have always done.

Spanish 1 I decided needed to start my old way and I still haven't tried a flipped lesson/unit with them. I kept thinking that they wouldn't know how to do things and adapt.  The only person who was afraid of adapting and doing was me.  

This stings as I set here and look deeply into this answer.  I am holding them back because I am afraid of what's not know.  I am making all kinds of excuses.  I neeed to be the one pushing kids out of the box and doing something new even if that means failing to reach what you thought.  I let myself down by falling victim of self-defeat. 

I am continuously trying to evolve as an educator and looking for ways to reach my students and improve their Spanish.  I let my fears set back what plans I had because I didn't want to see the idea fail.  It is time to reevaluate and reset the paradigm with the new semester.  I still have one class period of exams still to give, but I now know where I am starting the new semester.

Self-Reflection.

I will be modeling this to the students.  Then we will work on goal setting followed by creating an action plan on how to acheive these goals.  It is time for Spanish to be more than A's, B's and any other grade.  Getting a grade shouldn't equate to learning.  Learning is an ongoing process day in and day out.  Once we reflect we can move towards our goals!

Reflection means openess to learning from yourself!

My Evolving Philosophy

Most people would thing that once you have taught for 12 years one would be set in their philosophy and knew exactly how they wanted things done in their class on a daily basis.  Two or three years ago, or maybe even the start of last year, I would have thought I was set.

Then the strangest thing happened, I joined twitter, becoming involved with other amazing educators and my old philosophy went poof.  After connecting with a GREAT PLN, my beliefs were challenged and pushed me out of my comfort zone.

I jumped into a new direction with both feet and had no idea if it would even work.  I started by incorporating technology in my class.  I used a variety of blended methods and took off.  I had what I would call the best year of my career.  My administrators even commented on the change and supported me in my new direction.

Next, I decided to use the flipped classroom model to give my students more opportunities to use their Spanish.  I have set up my Spanish 2 class and have took off running.  We are 1 week in our first unit.  Spanish 1 will join in once the preliminary chapter is complete.  The flipped class gives me so many chances to help students on specific issues the moment they happen.  I no longer need to spend large amounts of class time giving notes and lecturing.

As I started this journey in earnest this year, I again thought I was set.  The flipped class was it.  Then, I ran into a concept call standard based grades, thanks Garnet Hillman.  This pushed me out of yet another box I thought I set for myself.  I realized this even more today while looking at student work.

Some new questions came to me, "What do students benefit from receiving a zero?  Why should I let students settle for doing sub par work?  Why not let students make up work and give them not just partial, but FULL credit?  Isn't the goal of learning a foreign language, to communicate with others?"

So, I was forced to reassess my beliefs.  I am not going to let my students settle and do sub par work or just not do their work.  Students will redo all parts that are no up to standard.  Students who do not do their work, will come to my class during homeroom and work on the work they did not do.  Not doing the assignment or doing poorly and moving on, is no longer an option.  They will redo things until they are acquire the skills.

I no longer feel that I have to have a set philosophy.  My philosophy should be ever changing.  Once a teacher feels their's is set, then that is when stagnation sets in.  Teachers need other in their lives that will push them in their beliefs.

I have grown so much as an educator.  I am no longer satisfied.  I want to improve every day and find something new that will make me a better teacher and my class a better and more exciting place to be.

Here's to keeping philosophies evolving!

Getting the buy in

When someone starts something new, sometimes the hardest thing is to get others to jump on board with you.  That is what I am getting ready to embark on this week, especially in my level II.  I am jumping into the flipped classroom.  I want to use my class time for much more meaningful activities that get students using the language in everyday settings.

I pose this questions, what is going to make the students buy in to this new topic?  I could answer this by saying that they will be intrinsically motivated and just love Spanish enough to do this.  However, I know teenagers, and that is just not the case.  The one thing that will get them to buy in will be one thing and one thing only.......ME!

The students are not going to buy in unless I am committed and I am passionate about how this is going to work.  If I have the attitude like this is just something I hope works, the students will not jump on board.  They will think, "If he doesn't believe in this, why should we?"

They would be right.  My passion and belief in this concept will be key to this journey being a success.  I do know that it will be different for them to get use to and that it will push their comfort zone of setting in class having information fed to them.  That's the point to this.  I want them out of their comfort zone.  This is exactly what a foreign language is about.  Pushing students out of their bubble.

Getting my students to realize that they can communicate with me and the others in Spanish and can get their point across.  They will see a tremendous improvement in their abilities.

Just like the movie Ratatouille and chef Gusteau's famous saying "Anyone can cook,"  I believe anyone can learn a second language.  It just takes the right attitude and support!

I find my support from my wonderful PLN who gives advice and support.  It is a great thing to be able to reach out to others who are just as passionate as you are in the same areas.  It is something that you may not have available in the building you teach.

One final thought for now, I hope my students see me unsatisfied in the status quo.  I want them to realize that one should never be satisfied.  There is always something more worth reaching for!  GREATNESS!  It is always there and just a bit out of reach, and my passion will continue to push my students towards GREATNESS!

Breaking the Ice

I do not know of anything more important than the first day of school.  So much of what happens during the year comes is a direct result of whta happens in the classroom that first few days of school.  The most important thing to me is for my students to feel comfortable and safe in my classroom.  It is a place to have fun and learn all at the same time.

 Relationships are vital to the success of every student.  The old cliche says "That students don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."   I couldn't agree more with this.  When one of my students kow I am invested in them, they work harder because they care about what I think about them.  They want to do better and not let me down.

In following the theme of +Dave Burgess 's book Teach Like a Pirate, I pirated +Garnet Hillman 's pipe cleaner activity to learn a little about my kiddos.  The activity had students take two pipe cleaners (at least) and draw something that represented them.  The student would then present it to the class and tell why it was important while giving their name.  This let me float around the room while they were working.

I couldn't be more proud of the work my students did.  My Spanish I and II students loved the activity and had a great time.  I could have started the year off bombarding them with vocabulary, homework, class expectations, or rapid fire Spanish.  I chose to focus on relationship building.  Breaking the ice with my students.

After the pipe cleaners, we got to play a little Sr. Adkins fact or fiction.  This is always a great way to see what the students think from just a few minute impression.  Tonight, students will fill out a personal inventory to let me know about them and I will pass out one I have filled out.  I want my students to know that I am human.  It is me working WITH them not me working at or against them.  Breking the ice and getting to know my students is what I valued today.  My class expectations and  supply list can wait.  Getting to know my students cannot and will not.

My goal is as my superintendent says is to BE AWESOME!

Here are some examples of the pipe cleners:

                                  Swimming

                             Script Ohio (I'll let the school up north's colors slide :))

                          I love you in sign language because the girl can use sign language

           Student said basketball hoop....I said toilet...what do you think?

               Cow (albeit one on a very strict diet)

             Fisherman 

         The best one by far!  Owl  She asked for more cleaners.  I kept this one intact

Thanks for reading!   #BEAWESOME!

Catching Students Attention Without Saying a Word

To steal a little bit of an idea from Garnett Hillman, there is nothing more exciting than getting your classroom ready to start the year.  Last year, my wife and I stopped by the school during the summer to check on my room and my mailbox when my wife asked, "How do kids learn in here?  It is so boring!"  Ouch!  That stung a bit because I thought I had done a decent job of decorating.  She then suggested we paint the room and redo it, with the approval of my principal.

After emailing my principal, we got the okay and set for to Walmart to look at paint swatches.  I picked one and she picked one and they looked great together.  The excitement was starting to set in.  I was curious how the room was going to turn out.  Well, here are some before pictures of my room:

Now, after painting my room, I can say that just the feel of the room can set the tone and get students attention.  ALL my students come in are drawn in by the feel of the world around them.  It is different world than all the other rooms they set foot in all day, and I LOVE THAT!

The room sets the tone before I get the chance to speak.  I want my students to realize that the room matches my personality.  I like things that are bright and eye catching.  I cannot wait for the room to match the ideas I have spinning in my head from reading Dave Burgess' Teach Like a Pirate.

This year is going to be an exciting journey that I cannot wait to take off and begin.  The new school year has so many promising things.  I cannot wait to flip my classes, incorporate TLAP in my class and get students involved in the decision making!  It is going to be a great year!  

To all my fellow teachers, I hope you all have a great start to the school year, and I cannot wait to read your blogs and twitter updates as the year progresses seeing what new ideas you have started!

Here are the after pics of my room: