School Decisions

The year that approaches looks distinctly different than any other year. Many parents are trying to decide if they should send their students to school buildings, virtual school or even home school. These are tough decisions and there is no blanket answer for everyone. But I have a few tips and pieces of info for you...read on!

When making the decisions for your student...

1. Ask, ask and ask again. Many of the choices provided to families still leave parents with a lot of questions. And to be completely honest, some of the questions parents and teachers pose may ultimately be things the decision makers hadn't considered. Asking may clarify things for many families, not just yours. Please don't be afraid to send emails, call, tweet and ASK! Reach out to school leaders, teacher friends, school board members, etc.
**Don't forget to ask if/ when you can change your decision (Ex. can you change after the 1st quarter? Do you have to wait until January? Etc.)**

2. Think it through - Consider what a day for homeschooling will look like if that is an option. See below for some suggestions of time frames for learning. What resources will you use? What will a typical day look like? If you plan to utilize virtual learning, do all students have reliable access to a device? Do they need to run an update or get some better quality headphones before the new year begins? Think of the variables.

3. Talk to your student  - Ask them their opinion. First of all, it seems to rarely happen and they will appreciate it. Plus, it would be helpful to know what they prefer as you make a decision FOR them. Of course, you can preface the conversation by reminding them you have the final decision but of course how you handle that is totally up to you.

4. Be flexible - That is easier said than done right now, I know. But I am saying it as a reminder to myself as well. Things have changed so frequently lately and it's really hard to predict. It would bite to tell your kiddo repeatedly that they'll be back on the bus with friends soon when that just might not be the case. 

What other tips would you share? How are you handling such a big decision? To be honest I am grateful my son is only 3 but I am still struggling considering daycare as I return (?) to work.

Homeschool times - The chart below shows some time frames based on student grade level. 

Point of clarification - This chart is sourced from the Illinois State Board of Education HOWEVER in TN the language regarding requirements for homeschool is very vague (although there is mention of a 4 hour minimum requirement).  I have yet to discover a similar chart for my state. Look into the Dept. of Education for your state if you're unsure.

Oh 2020...

This year has been entirely too much! I know that we all have been dealing with the general craziness of a pandemic & the increased racial tension and unrest across the country and I'm sure everyone is a bit overwhelmed.

All these factors, plus surviving a tornado (but losing our home) in April and the unpredictability of the school year made education related blogging one of the last things on my mind. If you'd like to read more about the tornado or check out my personal blog with my hubby click here.

I hope you all are doing well and staying safe and healthy! I really feel like this year is pushing us to refocus. And although this will be my 2nd year out of the classroom (in the instructional coaching role) I want to make myself available to others in need of support for their students or assistance with creating educational materials. Click the link below if you are interested!

Let's Work Together!

TPT Sale & New products!!

Did you know there is a TPT Sale going on December 2nd & 3rd?? If so, way to go teach! And if not, no problem, I got ya covered.

My ENTIRE store is on sale including some new products. See more below!

Last week I uploaded My Reading Level Cards. These can be handy for keeping students informed about their reading levels. This could also help them select more appropriate books and set goals for their reading level as the year progresses.

My next new item is my Winter Word Problems. These one step story problems cover a variety of problem types. The problems are featured in a task card format as well as an activity sheet format.  The activity sheets provide room for some sort of picture or representation, an equation and even room to write out their responses. No more one word answers with these guys!

I hope you have time to stop by my store and grab some of these good deals before the sale is over! Enjoy!

Be the Change

We've heard the phrase, we've said the phrase but how many of us great educators are making the time to actually "Walk the walk" when it comes to creating change?

Educators are usually great at looking towards the future. Obviously, we want to make a positive impact, hence our daily work. However, I personally feel like education isn't reaching it's full potential in the present.

So that leads to two choices. I could remain silent hoping that somehow things will all work out. And truly, sometimes they do. Or I could seize an opportunity to speak out and speak up.

Based on my work with My Voice, my student activism program for elementary students, you can probably guess I'm leaning towards the latter option.

I'm hoping that more educators join me in that mindset. There are definitely some things that need to change in education. It's time to be the change we wish to see in education. We really need to advocate for ourselves and tell our side of the story. So many others are trying to tell it for us!

This could mean contacting a legislator, going to a meeting or something else that could be out of your comfort zone. Do it anyways! It's worth it. 😊

Engaging Early Finishers

If your classroom is anything like the classrooms I have taught in your students probably learn and work at varied paces. This summer I had the opportunity to present at a system PD Day about "Engaging Early Finishers" and I want to share a few of those tips with you below. Instead of re-writing them, I am including them as slides from the presentation. Enjoy!

Set the classroom environment as a place of continuous learning

Flexible Due Dates

Extra Practice & Enrichment

Hopefully these tips will help you put some plans or routines in place to keep early finishers on task and engaged. Try them out and make them your own! 

Sub Plans - Because "stuff" happens

Welcome to October!
If you haven't had to use a personal day, sick day, etc. congratulations! Things happen so quickly and often in the moment, dedicated teachers end up coming in to work despite the need to do otherwise.

Having a set of sub plans available can help ease the stress and let you use the sick/ personal days you probably really need to. Below are some quick tips to help you get some sub materials together and have them ready to use.

1. Gather some easy use materials 

**Please do not mistake "easy use" as "busywork". **

I think back to a situation recently when I had to step in and teach math for a teacher on short notice. Although she planned thoroughly her plans were handwritten in a notebook and it wasn't easy for me to quickly understand and teach what I needed to. It was difficult to synthesize it all and keep students engaged simultaneously.

So back to the task at hand, gather materials for your subject (or all subjects if self-contained) that can be easily understood and used with your students.This may give a sub more time to review the schedule, plan, or just wrap their mind around all the things teachers do in a day. Be realistic too! If your special snowflakes get out of hand with scissors please don't leave multiple cut & paste activities for a substitute.

2. Plan it all out

Go ahead and make copies of things needed instead of assuming the sub will have time. Gather some ideal books if you suggest a read aloud, or pull out cubes for a math lesson if it will help keep them engaged. All of these little steps will help anyone stepping in to take care of your class. Substitutes have a variety of skills, comfort levels, etc. Help them out a little by gathering some materials and keeping them in a certain location. Also keep a list handy of helpful teachers & students the sub can rely on if needed.

3. Back ups for your back up

Many schools require sub plans to be kept in the office. Even if this is the case I always kept some back up materials in my classroom. This may seem redundant but things can happen including, but not limited to...
- office hectic and crazy and they forget to give sub your plans
- plans in office get misplaced
- plans in office get used and never returned/replenished
- sub forgets or doesn't know to ask

All of that to say, it may benefit you to keep some materials on hand in the classroom. I would also alert a nearby teacher to the location of my materials in case it was a last minute deal and I can't lay things out perfectly.

Hopefully these tips can help you gather somethings together quickly and feel more prepared in an emergency! Good luck & take that vitamin C!

Back to School is tough...so are you!

Greetings from an educator who is exhausted just a little over a month into the school year! I have transitioned to a new position this year and while that comes with its own adjustments, throw in the usual back to school craziness and I'm running on fumes! I've seen the meme tons of times comparing the beginning of the school year to childbirth; excruciatingly painful and yet give it enough time and you forget all the pain, ready and willing to take it all on again.

The truth of the matter is, Back to School time is tough. Yes, seeing a fresh pack of crayons excites me far more than it should but that doesn't negate the fact that things tend to get a bit crazy as the year starts. Teachers are often dealing with classroom changes as students get moved around, new curriculum programs or at least new instructional expectations...and of course these teachers have a life outside of work too.

I've said all this to say, I needed this reminder and maybe so do you. The beginning of the year often brings a unique set of challenges. Know that you've survived this season in previous years and will continue to do so in the present.

And if you happen to be a new teacher who as not survived this season before let me encourage you by saying..You too will survive this. You are tougher than the challenges you are facing. You are in your current environment for a reason. And you will succeed because you are meant to leave a positive impact on the future generation!

Here's to a great year guys!