Lost & Found
This blog died. It died long ago. But I loved it and I want it up and active. And I am a teacher and a nurturer, so Ifeel that I can be successful is reviving it. Plus, it’s summer and I’m bored 
I found this post saved in my computer from mid-school year. It took me back to one of the many frustrations and revelations that I felt this year. I thought I would go ahead and share it. Later on in the summer, I’ll be back to share more stories, ideas, and info for teachers 
Another day had passed in my classroom. Another boring day. I am bored. How could the kids be learning ANYTHING if I Am bored? I am doing all of the differentiated instruction bullshit and still I don’t feel like they are getting it!
I’ve felt like this time and time again. It always makes me mad that I feel like I want to be a great teacher, but I’m not. I think I do awesome working with kids, but am I effectively educating them in academic areas?
I know this is hitting me much harder this year than last because I have students with learning disabilities, but I am a no excuses kind of person, and I just can’t be happy doing what I do, knowing it’s not working, and continuing it that way.
I want to be a teacher like Ron Harmon (put in link to him). I want to reach kids in a way that will cause them to be better people AND learn how to make sense of what they read, or to master long division, etc.
It may seem obvious to so many, and it is preached in colleges across the world, but like a ton of bricks “Bring it to life” came to mind last week for me. You know, stop giving them the information and TEACH them the damn stuff!!!
My plan of action is to move, move, move more around my classroom. Plan quarters at a time (which I do now, but only the skeleton info) and gather all the details I can. I am going to make it a goal never to read and do the questions. That way, when I am lost for how to communicate something, I can have that as a fall back and it will only be once in a great while. Many of my students can’t read. I am going to plan my lessons around that. I am also supposed to be teaching the same 6th grade standards, so I am going to use the same books and just BRING IT TO LIFE so that a non-reader is getting the same info. I’ve decided to take a new perspective. I want my kids to know the standards and I want them to be able to carry a conversation with other kids and adults. I am going to TEACH them all that I know about the topics for their level. Then in the cracks I will reteach them reading and writing. My hope is that they learn to love new information and it starts to click enough to make something of themselves
