I am definitely going to use ISNs again this year, but there will be some slight changes. I'm kinda one of those gals who finds something and tends to follow the rules. I mean, I'm creative, but when I'm unsure of something, I find comfort in just doing it the way I'm instructed to do it. At least until I get comfortable . . . So that's what I did with the ISNs; I found a product on TpT that really spelled everything out, as far as rules, and it worked out great.
But . . . now that I'm reflecting on last year, I realize that some things need tweaking. For example, the left side/right side rule of output/input was a bit restrictive for me. I think instead of setting such a stringent rule, I'm going to let our ISN be more organic . . . just let it flow. I see the book being as a manual, a resource, a handbook for ELA. One of the things I want is for my kiddos to be able to take their ISNs with them to high school to use as a resource.
I also found two other products (from the same seller) on TpT: a Literature ISN and an Informational Text ISN. How cool is that? After buying it and reviewing it, I see some changes I'm going to make, but for the most part, it's a valuable time saver for me. Yay!
After much consideration, I've decided to have two ISNs this year: one that will be a Literature ISN on one side and when flipped over, an IT ISN. The second one will be my language ISN. On one side, it will be a vocabulary prefix/suffix/root word ISN and on the flipside, it will be a Sentence Composing ISN. I'll also have the traditional binder with five dividers and a spiral notebook for their Giggles in the Middle grammar bell work.
So much to do! Hope everyone out there in Teacher Land is feeling as productive and excited!
Jenn
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Getting Excited to Go Back!
Now that I've thrown myself into creating this Back to School PowerPoint presentation, I find myself really excited to start this school year. I'm so glad that teaching still sparks my heart and ignites a passion inside of me. I'm so glad that I haven't burned out. My first year of teaching, one of the teachers warned me about the 7 year itch. She said that, just like in marriage, teachers will know if this is a life long profession for them by the 7th year. If they can make it that long and still find themselves enjoying the students, then we're golden.
I'm not sure that it's that black and white for everyone, but I'm now entering my 8th year of teaching, and though I sometimes get frustrated, I love it! When I say I get frustrated, it's mostly with the bureaucracy and politics of education.
I'm almost done with my PP presentation. It's coming out quite good, but it's a lot longer than I anticipated. I'll post it here when I'm done.
Goodnight for now,
Jenn
I'm not sure that it's that black and white for everyone, but I'm now entering my 8th year of teaching, and though I sometimes get frustrated, I love it! When I say I get frustrated, it's mostly with the bureaucracy and politics of education.
I'm almost done with my PP presentation. It's coming out quite good, but it's a lot longer than I anticipated. I'll post it here when I'm done.
Goodnight for now,
Jenn
Friday, July 26, 2013
Gearing Up for a Great Year
Technically, I only have one week of summer left; however, I anticipate spending at least three days in the classroom next week preparing for my kiddos. Our first teacher day back is August 6th, but I think they're only giving us one day in our classrooms. The other days are filled with teacher/staff meetings and trainings. The kids come back on August 12th. Yikes!
Before becoming a mama, I used to pretty much eat, breathe, sleep teaching, and I was in my classroom much more often throughout the summer, getting a head start on my lesson plans, classroom decoration/arrangement, preparing for the first few weeks of school, but now that I have my Noodle and her little sister on the way, I find it so hard to motivate myself to get in there, on the front line, and get dirty. And that's part of the reason for this blog--to hold me accountable to excellent teaching (no matter how bloated, tired, and gassy I feel. Yes, TMI, but I'm just keepin' it real). The other reason for this renovated blog is to capture my Journey as a teacher, to chart my growth, and to reflect on my practices.
There is SO much out there, so much to learn and to apply, and it's easy to find myself overwhelmed, kinda like that "deer stuck in headlights" sorta thing where it's just easier to not do anything. BUT, I don't want to do that; I want to do what it takes to engage, challenge, and prepare my students to become active participants in their own education.
I just came back from an SDE professional development training in Chicago, and boy was it energizing! Attending that right before going back to work has given me a "jolt" of sorts, almost like drinking a Monster energy drink, so I'm going to ride the wave and jump right in.
First up? Creating my first days of school power point that details class expectations, policies, procedures . . . anything that my students will need to know to have a successful year. I've decided to print out the slide sheets with notes and use that as a syllabus. I think it'll appeal to my visual learners. The kids will take the syllabus home, have their parents sign it, and then file it at the front of their notebooks.
I've never done the Power Point expectations thing before, but Harry Wong talked about it when he came to NM last year, so I am definitely excited to make this one.
Love and Light in Teaching,
Jenn
Before becoming a mama, I used to pretty much eat, breathe, sleep teaching, and I was in my classroom much more often throughout the summer, getting a head start on my lesson plans, classroom decoration/arrangement, preparing for the first few weeks of school, but now that I have my Noodle and her little sister on the way, I find it so hard to motivate myself to get in there, on the front line, and get dirty. And that's part of the reason for this blog--to hold me accountable to excellent teaching (no matter how bloated, tired, and gassy I feel. Yes, TMI, but I'm just keepin' it real). The other reason for this renovated blog is to capture my Journey as a teacher, to chart my growth, and to reflect on my practices.
There is SO much out there, so much to learn and to apply, and it's easy to find myself overwhelmed, kinda like that "deer stuck in headlights" sorta thing where it's just easier to not do anything. BUT, I don't want to do that; I want to do what it takes to engage, challenge, and prepare my students to become active participants in their own education.
I just came back from an SDE professional development training in Chicago, and boy was it energizing! Attending that right before going back to work has given me a "jolt" of sorts, almost like drinking a Monster energy drink, so I'm going to ride the wave and jump right in.
First up? Creating my first days of school power point that details class expectations, policies, procedures . . . anything that my students will need to know to have a successful year. I've decided to print out the slide sheets with notes and use that as a syllabus. I think it'll appeal to my visual learners. The kids will take the syllabus home, have their parents sign it, and then file it at the front of their notebooks.
I've never done the Power Point expectations thing before, but Harry Wong talked about it when he came to NM last year, so I am definitely excited to make this one.
Love and Light in Teaching,
Jenn
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