Greetings, everyone. As someone who is new to the blogging world, and even to a great part of the technology world, I am having a blast as I learn how to spread the word. I have created this blog as we begin our journey into the book study of "Never Work Harder Than Your Students" by Robyn Jackson.
I would like for you to read the preface and introduction and respond back to me after taking the Mastery Self Assessment on pages 7-21 . See where you are on the scoring sheet and give yourself an overall score.
Also, what is "the gift"? Who do you know that has it? How did they get it? Were they born with it or was it learned?
I look forward to following your blog. We all have so much to learn from each other.
ReplyDeleteOkay,I definitely need to work on principle seven: master teachers never work harder than their students! But, I love to read and I really enjoy this kind of collaboration so in this respect I don't think of this as work (right?).
ReplyDeleteWhen I read the introduction I thought of many of you(my fellow teachers). I truly believe that we have an abundance of "the gift" at our school!
I think the gift is about attitude, not aptitude. Of course we need to know the standards and it doesn't hurt to have a few tricks up our sleeves, but how we perceive our students and ourselves as techers is more important. It's about having direction and confidence, and it's about knowing our students and what they truly need. I think that we each are born with a natural ability to connect and focus on what is important. I just think that it gets muddled sometimes by daily challenges.
As for the rest of my personal assessment... what can I say? I've got some de-muddling to do! I'm looking forward to hearing from the rest of you!
Hey everybody! Yes, I'm a newbie.
ReplyDeleteIt's terrific to be an addition to the MMS staff, and I look forward to a great year with you guys.
The book has been a fascinating read for me.
I think one of the most trying subjects,with the NCLB Act and the constant necessity of squeezing in material,is the "Quality vs Quantity" chapter. I think it is a great reminder to make learning more meaningful for the students and strive to abstain from hurrying through material.
I also liked the idea of having students use the grading system of A, B, and Not Yet. If a student does not obtain a passing grade, then he or she should be allowed or required to a "re take". By re- taking a test( or any given assignment), we allow students to appreciate learning rather than just getting good grades. I thought this was a great way to emphasize quality VS quantity, and it stresses that we want students to actually learn.
I liked the author's idea of having a deadline for making the retake happen. This puts the responsibility more on the student.
Anyway, talk to you guys later!!
Hi to all...I'm excited about coming on board at MMS and look forward to the year with you all.
ReplyDeleteThe quiz...what a reflection tool! I can see my areas of strength and areas of need. Being an avid reader, I too am enjoying this kind of staff development.
The gift? I believe some come by it easier than others, not that it is inherent, but they just acquire it quicker. Some model the gift as though they were born with it, almost as if it were second nature.
For the rest of us, most definitely it can be acquired with the right mind set or attitude. There are so many wonderful resources to help us become our ultimate best. (Multiple learning styles, technology, data driven instruction, etc...) I feel learning is a lifetime achievement, and some of us are just late bloomers.
O.K. I just wanted to see if I could get into this blog. I will read some more and then check back in. Brenda
ReplyDeleteJust checking in as well. VBS is done so I can start reading! Welcome to the new teachers.
ReplyDeleteJust back from an absolutely awesome week at the Space Academy for Educators! I cannot wait to share my experience with all of you!
ReplyDeleteI really appreciated the assessment. It really made me look at myself and what I need to do to become a better teacher.
Principles 6 & 7 were the two on which I am going to focus. Seeing Principle 7 as a weak area was kind of hard for me, because I "thought" I was more of an encourager than that for my students! Kind of humbling!
I thought Dr. Jackson's comments on the "currency" students bring to the classroom were very valuable. We expect so much of our students, and yet they often aren't equipped to handle those expectations.
As for the gift - it is not about years, or degrees, or just experience. It is about intentionally reflecting, monitoring, and adjusting what we do, how we do it, and why we do it. It must become a part of who we are.
Welcome to our new facutly! Look forward to meeting each of you.
What is the gift? The gift is the ability to create an atmosphere where learning is taking place without notice. It is caring for each child as if they were your own. The gift is looking at yourself and growing with each experience and with each child that enters through your door. The gift is a gift. It may be given to you or you may find it within. The gift is creating the adults of tomorrow with PRIDE and with PATIENCE!
ReplyDeleteWho do I know that has it? Well me of course. LOL No! I think that personally the gift is like a roller coaster. When I am hot on teaching and feeling very confident, the gift looks close, but if I am struggling I would say it is nowhere in sight. So with me, the gift is a “traveler” of sorts. But all in all, I do see the gift in our building. I see the contagious teaching styles from you and reflect to myself often, "Boy, I would love to be a student in that room"!
How did they get it? Well, they learned the principles of their own teaching style. They learned how to reflect and tweak each unit of curricula and each individual student learning. The crowned one, with great confidence, grew to a master teacher confidently. Does the master teacher ever really feel they have mastered teaching? Or are they always trying to fix and tweak?
Do I feel some are born with it? Of course! But do I feel it can be found in all of us? Can it be learned? Absolutely! But with that said, I do believe you have to want the gift. You have to have the ‘DRIVE ‘AND ‘WANT-TO’ to improve and grow within the educational realm. I don’t think it will just “fall in your lap”. To become at the top of your game is work (mentally, physically, and spiritually), but as we will find out I am thinking, not more than your students huh?…
Just checking in as well, making sure I could do this. I also need to read some more and will check back in. It's a lot to think about. I agree with Amanda that master teachers "reflect and tweak" constantly. I don't know if anyone ever feels that they have mastered teaching. It is a constant process of learning your students'strengths and weaknesses and what works best with different groups. You may be "there" with some but not with others, and then next year you do it all over again!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to all of our new faculty members. I look forward to meeting and working with you all.
Lisa, I totally agree with your comment about the gift being more about attitude rather than apptitude. Too often our attitudes can get in the way of real growth and progress.
ReplyDeleteIn reading through section numbered one, I agree strongly with Dr. Sedlacek and the eight noncognitive characteristics. I believe determination is a powerful characteristic, and perserverence a close second.
ReplyDeleteAbout helping students choose to spend the currency they have...
I can remember sitting in class and asking myself..."Why should I learn this? I'm never going to use this in the real world...so why bother?" I just did enough to get by in those classes: trig and chemistry.
However, if it were a subject I really valued, I'd pull an A everytime. I only spent my currency on what I valued and related to needing in the "real world" later in life.
Creating the classroom community is very important to the climate for the entire year. I've used "seeding", (p. 47) but didn't know that was what it is called. There are other great ideas I'd like to implement. I begin each year with a student inventory and try to relate to my students according to their interests as the year unfolds. What are some ways each of you build the classroom community each year? I'd love to hear from you, being new to the middle school atmosphere!
We've heard before that our praise needs to be authentic. I beleive our rewarding them for achievements or goals earned, good decision making, and effort, when personally and authentic builds trust and they know we care. This can unlock a mind in a student quicker than anything I've yet to discover. What are your thoughts, experiences, and how do you motivate or reward your students?
In section two...unpacking the standards...for those seasoned teachers, like myself, we used the TIM model for planning. Does the content standard reflect the "goal" and the procedural standards the "objectives"? This is my thinking on the matter, but I've not finished the section, yet.
On p. 65, (Try This, second bulllet) it tells how to require a minimum amount of work from your students and this is a C...this way we are differentiating up from the standard rather than down. What do you think about this?
Well, that's all for now. I find this reading assignment to be deep and very thought provoking, so I'm reading and rereading too. A turtle's pace you might say. It isn't the poolside light reading for the summer, is it?
Learning alot...later.
Ok.....color me technically challenged, but I posted a comment here yesterday and it isn't here!!
ReplyDeleteNow....I took the assessment, but I think it's difficult when the "most desired" answer is so obvious, but I was completely honest and did fairly well. I scored 161, so there are things I need to work on. I admit...I did have one "A" answer...NOT GOOD! I understand the concept of the "currency", and I attended an inservice several years back that was amazing in how she explained how different things are important to different social/economic classes. This is like what the book is talking about with "currency". I truly wish I could think of her name....it's on the tip of my tongue....I will think of it sometime in the middle of the night! It was the best, most enlightening, informative meeting I've ever attended. This book (what I've read so far) kinda goes along with her.
ReplyDeleteGreat feedback everyone. I will post some comments and questions on Chapter 1 at beginning of week. Please evncourage everyone to post and comment. I hope you all are having a great summer.
ReplyDeleteHi everyone. Hope it's been a great summer so far. I read the preface and took the assessment(my least favorite thing to do)which showed about what I thought. The first chapter was thought provoking and reminded me of something I already knew but sometimes forget. That is that we invest in what we value.The question is how do I determine what my students value.
ReplyDeleteThe first full paragraph on pg.42 reminded me of Amanda's presentation this year. Understanding comes quicker with greater retention when there is a connect for the learner.
When I logged on and read all your comments, it reminded me why I enjoy teaching with all of you.
Hello to all! I am so excited to be here this year!
ReplyDeleteI took the assessment and scored a 150. It was a bit difficult to answer seeing that my experience is only that of student teaching. I am really enjoying the book and am getting some great tips from the "Try This" sections in the book.
The gift in my opinion is a deep care and concern for every student in the classroom. It is a care that concerns education as well as the little person sitting in the desk. I believe the gift is what drives these teachers to work diligently to find a way to reach every single student. The gift allows these teachers to start where the students are and provide the proper tools for the students to build upon. I am also of the opinion that the gift cannot be taught. The gift to teach effectively can be built upon and enhanced by education, but I believe the true gift is that, a gift.
I look forward to reading further and learning some great new tips!
Laura
Hello everyone...I hope all is having a great summer. I have started the book and have gained so much by reading your comments. When you have two seven year olds it seems you only read a line at a time! Your comments help to connect the dots!!
ReplyDeleteHello Everyone,
ReplyDeleteI hope everyone is having a great summer. I love all the comments that have been made so far. I look forward to reading the entire book and commenting with all of you. I am a newbie to MMS as well. I just received my book, and I am about to take the assessment. I just wanted to make sure that I am able to post a comment correctly.
Happy summer all!
ReplyDeleteI am finding this book to be very insightful. The quiz was definitely an eye opener. I am looking forward to further reading and to learning from each of you.
Let me also say welcome to our new MMS family. I know you will be happy to have joined such a great crew!
I finished the test. I am a practitioner. My goal is never to get stale with my teaching. Do I have the gift? You tell me. I hope I do. I desire to. Do I take shortcuts,Yes. Can I do a better job of meeting individual needs? Absolutely and I keep trying. Do I reach every student, No (unfortunately) Now when I quit caring and don't try, then you guys tell me to pack it up and go home.
ReplyDeleteHappy 4th to all. Brenda
I liked how Dr. Jackson began the introduction by discussing the education of teachers. Teaching is just something that can't really be taught. It is learned through doing. Most importantly, teaching is learned through reflection. I know that I am often guilty of becoming so bogged down in other things that I don't provide myself enough time for reflection. This is something that I am definitely going to work on this year because whenever I provide myself time to reflect, I feel that I become a much better teacher. I am learning so much about myself through this book and seeing so many things that I am going to work on.
ReplyDeleteOk trying this blogging thing out- just finished reading The Thorn Birds and now I will start our book study.
ReplyDeleteHey Emily, I just finished Karen Kingsbury's Sunset, and it was a great series if you'd like to borrow...let me know.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading into chpt 3, expectations...wow...it makes me wonder if my expectations are where I need them to be. I've had students that come and are so far behind...I succeed in teaching them, but catching them up fully...NOT! Could it be me that is actually in the way, not the student's lacking the abilities...hard to swallow...I'm reflecting at this point.
The teacher "Katherine" is like so many that have been teaching such a long time and have seen students not make the gains needed, I feel where she is coming from, however "Never give up or say I can't". All throughout college, while married, with a little one and working two part time jobs...I kept a copied picture of this bird with a frog's head inside the bird's mouth, and the frog's hands choking the bird around the neck, so the bird couldn't swallow the frog. I laminated it and hang it up at the beginning of each year. Students ask me about it. For some I have to explain the struggle and how it relates to us in life...others get it.
Some of my students need that attitude from me in spite of their being so far behind...I just needed to be reminded.
Hope everyone is enjoying the time off...if any of the fourth grade teachers would like to "unpack the standards" together, just let me know.
Christie
This is my 3rd time to try this. Maybe I'll be successful this time. I've read the whole book. Lots of food for thought. Currency, attitude, accountability, variety of opportunities for learning the material vs pass/fail (hmmm). If this post, I'll comment more later.
ReplyDeleteCarol Cooper
I agree and relate to Lindsay's comment completely. Reading books like this help ME work on ME...not the science side, but the teaching side. I think principle three and four are the ones that have struck a nerve the most. Knowing where the student is ...struggling or succeeding at all times is an extremely difficult task. If I'm not aware of each individual student profile,how can I identify mastery? How can I move foward? I have to create more ways to identify students' progress in a large group of 140-ish students. Where do I begin?
ReplyDeleteHi Everyone! I too am a newbie at MMS and am so excited about this year! It has been a busy summer, but I have finally been able to slow down enough to read more than a few pages at a time. So far, I love the chapter about starting where your students are. It is often easy to assume we know where our students are both socially and educationally, but they are sometimes not exactly where they "should" be, therefore creating gaps in learning.
ReplyDeleteI am new to the blogging world also, I hope this works. I truly look forward to working with each of you this year!
Hi Everyone! A little bit behind but working forward! I have been reading for quite some time - - but remember that it is hard living in the boonies with no internet....LOL! After reading the introduction and taking the assessment I ranked as a practitioner. I agree with it for the most part. Yes, I know my standards to a tee and know how to align the assessments with the activities and goals. I will admit that I struggle identifying the individual students that need my intervention sometimes until it is too late. This assessment has truly been an eye opener.
ReplyDeleteAbout "the gift" - I agree with what many of you have already stated. It is not something born into. It is something acuired over time during a teacher's practice. Through teaching, reflecting, adjusting and most of all being open to criticism anyone can acquire "the gift".