#WelcomeBackMrWhitaker

A day in the life

So I have this huge crate with papers to sort and arrange. The Teacher of the Week, Jason said "carry this stuff home and tackle this pile." The Dad of the Year, Jason said, "my foot. This work has been here and will be here whenever I decide to tackle it. I'm going to spend time with my family this weekend" Dad of the Year wins again. 

Went in and bought my students the audio book "Nate the Great". Don't think that qualifies for teacher of the week, but certainly Teach of the Friday. The kids loved the reader and his inflections. 

Saw this on Pinterest (aka Teacher crack dealer). My kids love that I tell them to tell The Tattle Toolbox, but now it's got personality. My unique kiddo now goes to the corner and has full out right conversations with the toolbox. Not sure if I should be happy he's found someone to listen to him or worried. 

Didn't have any Starbucks today so that's either a good thing or a very bad thing. Hahahaha

Just realized that Dr. Seuss's birthday is next week. Can't wait! I really like Seuss books! 

 

Rapper grade blingage

I'm not sure why student isn't paying attention in class. Maybe its because he has rapper grade blingage! I just LOVE these kids.

Then I have another giant of fashion who's rocking a new pair of adidas. I told him I liked them. He also has a nice three strip track jacket. He told me I could wear it. I love these kids!

Call me Mr. Rubric

I'm not sure why I didn't roll these out earlier, but I'm so glad I did. I put the question out about rubrics on Facebook and the responses were pure gold. So I have a few rubrics for specific projects and some that can be used for general stuff.   For the latter I'm going to laminate them and allow the kids to keep these at their tables. The specific ones I'll have to print off as needed and I'll make a large one to go over on my promethean board. After the kids get used to it I'll have them help me make rubrics for each project. Going to laminate a large 4 x 4 grid on some chart paper. I'll use that to make new rubrics that the kids will be able to write the needed elements on. I know my students don't care that much about paper. They're not that into NOT wasting it. Matter of fact it's a big deal that I repurpose old lesson plans and scrap paper for them to do morning warmup work on the back. I'm going to have to drill and drill that this is what I'm going to use to help you get the most from each lesson/activity. Should be fun. 

Midweek grilling and chilling

It's Wednesday and I'm ready to grill. I love when Wednesday comes around. It's my grill day. On Wednesday I just drill, grill and thrill. We review, restate and re teach skills from earlier this week. I also have tutorial today and I hope those little dears are ready cause I'm going to push them for that hour for sure. I sure hope their appetites are in place cause I'm about to serve it up! 

Started bringing the hot fire by keeping all my parents in touch by texting them through out the day. That has been miraculous. The response and ROT (return on text) has been much better than just calling. (Besides I now have a text stream that I've talked to each parent to put in my notes for future conferences)

I have my menu ready, the grill is hot and the workshop will be smoking! Might even start wearing my grilling apron on Wednesday. 

Class vs. Shaving cream (Round 1)

I get tired of watching my students go through ream upon ream of paper just wasting it. So I got this idea from another blog to use shaving cream as an assignment. It's not cheaper per say, but it's sure a lot more fun. 

*Mind you I did notice that this student has the "+" symbol in the wrong place and an "=" sign where it's not needed. My hands were covered in shave cream and I was good to get one picture. 

We were working on inverse operations to see/prove that subtraction can help us better understand addition. The kids loved it. Since I did a lot to prep the lesson this really hit home. They did this for about 20 minutes, cleaned up and and journaled what they found. Only one had cream all the way up to his elbows. None got any on the floor. Most surprisingly none got any on their classmates. 

It cost me $1.16 for a can of cream. Not bad. Tomorrow we may pull out the shave cream again and work with forms of energy. Might save this for the next time I'm being observed to either a) hit a home room or b) crash and burn in a blaze of glory. 

*Points to remember if you use this method

• Tell the class they're icing cakes. That will keep them from rubbing the shaving cream so much that it evaporates.
• I'd think that whipped cream would work, but it's sticky, the kids will try to eat it, and it might attarach bugs. 
• They don't need a big space. The size and shape of a legal sheet of paper is fine. 
• One can of shave cream goes a LONG way. Thought I was going to need like two, but ended up using 3/4 of one. That's with me re-upping many kids work areas. 
• Take your time wrapping up. As you're talking and going back over the steps, the shaving cream dries. This makes it very easy to clean up. 
• Have baby wipes on hand unless you want to send them to the rest room to wash their hands. 
• Don't sweat cleaning the table/desks until after school. Shave cream is soap and doesn't hurt anything. It just leaves a film on the desk, but it washes off quickly. 

The bet that my class could get 150 class Dojo points has been less than spectacular. As of today they've earned 80, but also have lost 79. That's not good. Going to do something special for those who are on track with 5 or more points tomorrow. Maybe they'll get extra center time or get to go as a small group to the media center. Can't focus to much and to long on those who won't do right. I have some Prince and Princess students who want to learn and are making the most of each day. Can't let a few ogre's ruin it. 

Off to Crossfit South Cobb. 

and another week is here

This week is going to be fun. I have some spectacular (so says I) lessons planned. I'm stoked, and rested. My sabbath day of rest was fantastic. So the kiddos better get ready cause I'm going to be bringing it this week. 

Not sure how many people really unplug on the weekends, but I've been making it my habit to relax on Saturday. Actually from Friday night to Saturday night. I feel guilty cause I'm so well rested. My mind is focused and I feel great. I can't honestly laze around relax EVERY Saturday, but I am committed to do so one Saturday a month for sure. 

I have a LONG list of stuff to teach my students this week, but it doesn't matter. I can do it and I will. Going to bring the kids a wagon load of patience and strong teaching.  I sure hope them little darlings are well rested cause I'm going to bring it this week. 3,2,1...GO!

Ready for a good Crossfit WOD this evening as well. Restarted our 5 week eating challenge, cause I just didn't eat well at all. Got to take care of my body since I won't be getting a new one anytime soon. 

I'm ready! Are you ready?

Yesterday the kiddos were ready to learn. Sure hope they're ready for another great day. Got some good stuff planned for them. I'm ready. I sure hope they come in ready as well. 

I moved the small bookcase from along side the big one. This opened my room like "Wow". Not sure why I didn't see this before, but it helped a lot. Today I'm introducing 4 new centers. I'm also to the point that every kid could have their own center. I'm thinking of doing a video of the centers so the kids can see HOW to utilize them. That would be fun and they'll get to post something cool on schooltube. My plans for next week are 75% done. 

Now my room isn't as dark. The curtains worked to well. Hot glue and some binder clips make for great curtain pulls. I feel like my room is done now. All that needs to happen now is keep the learning, flowing. 

Administration stopped by yesterday to compliment on the class and my work with these children. It's not me, trust. These kids just want to learn. Though their desire to learn is buried under a lot of distractions, they do want to learn. 

 

Didn't get into Crossfit SCobb this week, but I did workout at Basement Crossfit. Though the trainer at Basement is a slacker I got a good WOD in. 

A lot going on today

Here...we..go! Another day is off and running. I'm supposed to have a visitor today to watch me teach my reading lesson. I have 2 meetings during my planning time and I have to finish the language arts assessment. Supposed to tutorial this afternoon and hit my favorite Crossfit gym as well. Let's just say this afternoon my students are going to get a healthy dose of centers. 

Thinking of doing an AR scramble. See how many AR tests we can take in an hour. My kids do read a lot of books and getting time to do the AR tests seem to be the real issue. Maybe we can do that this afternoon. 

Not sure what I'll teach for Black History Month. I enjoy looking back at the past. I'd like to tie in some form of looking forward as well. My students are gems and one day they'll be discovered. It's just a matter of time. Some how I want to get them looking at themselves in that way and acting that way. They are Americans and this is their history and future. 

There's a big push in my school to make sure kids are wearing their school uniforms. I used to not be a fan of them, but I've been won over. besides if there is one area to focus on getting kids to comply with a simple rule like that is the easiest. I wonder if other schools have dress codes/uniforms? Anyone? 

Ok, off to set up for the day. Make your day awesome!

Update on Whitaker's Workshop

So far the kids have really taken a liking to the room decor. Nothing is broken. I took my wooden caddies home this weekend to paint. The kids immediately had to touch and play with the newly painted distractions on their tables. The Home Depot aprons with the classroom job on them are a hit. 
I just never expect the kids to be able to rip, tear and ruin them like they have. I need to wash them every so often, too.  The classroom jobs, however I tough for my kids. You couple having a responsibility, with ClassDojo and the everyday off-taskness of 2nd grade and you understand why I'm re posting a job every week. 

I've received some big compliments from my peers about my room. 

What's been the biggest challenge is to get them to appreciate it and realize this isn't for my health. That's what Crossfit's for. They're really sweet kids and they've just not met a person like me before. I don't yell. I'm stern and as tough as a rattle snake. I don't care if little Johnny hit you. I don't care who's talking about your mom. I don't care whatever your problem is. Your biggest issue is that you're in a 2nd grade chair and I have to prepare you to get out of that chair and be able to hold down a 3rd grade chair next year.  Oh yeah, not having a pencil isn't going to cut it. 

I'm also getting much better at organization and planning. These have to be my bottom tier skills. Under any other circumstances I'd preach the Gospel of "focusing on what you can be a 10 in". Not sure how much I will improve in this area, but I have to improve on it. I'm so not good at it that any change can only make me look like some kind of hero.

One more area I need to step my game up in is reading everything I can related to what I'm expected to teach. Not sure if I'll ever be able to spout lessons off the top of my head like our coaches do, but I could at least sound better intuned with what's going on.

Notice I don't blame the kiddos. They're not my problem. They're doing exactly what kids should do. They're scream at the top of their actions, "Mr. Whitaker, you must keep me engaged! You can't give up on me!" The better i get at asking good questions the better I wll be at finding the solution to these little ones needs.

Alright enough of that. Let me go swing a kettlebell.   

 

My blog isn't like the others

and that's a good thing. 

There are so many top notch idea focused teacher blogs out there. I can spend entirely to much time surfing them, gaining ideas and letting the bloggers know that they're really appreciated. My own blog is different.  I can't be like them and I won't even attempt. What I can do is be Jason and put out what I think people would like to read about me and my return to teaching. 

I like to talk about what I do. I love my students even though my beard is starting to look like it needs a little touch up, because of said students. I like to vent that sometimes, more times than I'll admit I'm at my whit's end. I adore my co workers. We have the best group of rough and tumble, trench slogging, never quit teachers I've seen. I like to free myself for a few minutes and just say..."I'm a teacher and I make a difference". It feels good and that's why my blog isn't like most others out there. 

What I'm learning today is that I have to teach "children" to think for themselves. To often we've taught them to come to a wall, obstacle, challenge and sit down until you're told what to do next. That's a BIG hassle when one has a class of 20 who all seem to run into roadblocks at the same time. I almost think that my biggest goal is to get them to think past the immediate issue and think long term. It's a tough row to turn, but I see results daily. 

Thanks for checking up on Whitaker's Workshop