#WelcomeBackMrWhitaker

It was one of those weeks

 We either rocked like Rock stars or we looked mighty odd.  I choose to believe that we rocked like Rock stars. 

This week was interesting. My class did A LOT of projects and class work I'd hoped to be able to display. The issue is that what the kids gave me wasn't remotely what I was envisioning. Not to say it wasn't good. It just wasn't what I had expected at all. Take the project below. 

I wanted the kids to draw a Fact Family of the basic addition facts. The plan was to use these to compile into a book for them to reference every now and then. (At least until they got the facts down like second nature.) So I put this up on the Promethean board for them to look at. 

I also did an example and passed it along around the room. 

What the kids gave me was less than what I expected. Such that I didn't even take pictures of them. On Monday I'm going to have them redo this project as well as a writing assignment they did. Thanks to a good friend making the recommendation, I'm going to post two rubrics one for each project and have the kiddos reference back to them as they do the work. All I can think of is that since I didn't have a rubric for them to reference I didn't give them a clear idea of what I wanted. 

 

I've done rubrics before. Not certain why I stopped, but I'll be doing these more often for sure. 

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.   

 

Facts vs Opinions

Earlier this week I set my kids up to listen to some unique songs, Bob Marley and some Shawn Brown. They had to listen to the 3-4 minute songs and write three facts and opinions about  them. It was a lot of fun. Listening to the kids explain and defend their thoughts was refreshing. One song has become our Official Unoffical after lunch song. It kind of cute listening to them sing it throughout the day. Ok, back to lesson plans for next week.  

The heart of a teacher

When I get really beat down and don't feel like anyone understands what in the world I'm going through, I recite this to myself. "I have the heart of a teacher and I'm making a difference for many generations to come".  

Today I recited that little bit more than a few times. It was tough, but I had to keep reminding myself that I'm getting through to these kiddos. I chose to suspend Fun Friday this week. It wouldn't have been beneficial to only have a celebration for just a few kids. This week the goal was 11 ClassDojo points. Some of my kids not only weren't on track to hit 11, but they weren't on track to get 3 points this week. I let Monday spoil me since everyone was on their game. I reminded them yesterday during our end of the day reflection time that they needed to make sure they pushed to get as many points as possible Wednesday. To many misunderstood me and came in to get as few points as possible today. I don't think enough of them believed that I would cancel it. So they had to see that getting the core content was far more important to me than anything else.

I also threw my hard cases a curve. I called everyone of their parents this afternoon. Many was on the phone with me when the offender walked in the door from the school bus. I wouldn't have minded seeing their faces. 

This week has been good, even with today being a tough one. I'm ready to start tomorrow anew. Back to the grind. 

Great Crossfit workout today. I feel like I was run over from the heavy front squats Monday, but that's why we do it. 

This is going to be a great week

Found out I have a scheduled visitation ALL day Thursday. This should be a blast. I have a solid lesson planned. I know that I need work, but I'm confident that everyday I'm getting better and better. Let's see how Thursday goes. I expect nothing less than outstanding. 

Classroom fairy hit my room again for 2.0. I'm quite proud of it. I know the kids are gonna flip over the 3D ladder bulletin board and the new reading area.

So how do you like 2nd grade?

I get this question a lot. When people see my new class it's just nature, I guess if they know what my old class was like for them to ask. Let's see here are some observations.

The new class is a lot of fun. They have some issues, because they're human. But by in far I think we have more fun. Not sure the "workshop" theme would've went over so well in 4th. Might have tried a castle or race car theme. Oddly enough both genders like the workshop. 

My old class knew a lot more than these ones did, just by default because they were almost 2-3 years older. I can't be quick to assume that a second grader does know something. They may honestly not have heard it before. 

Every group of kids cry. Some because they are angry. Some because they are sad or feel like they are being picked on. 

The pressure to do well on the "TEST" is gone, but it's just been replaced with a ton of other little gnats. I have got to get a grip on my lesson plans. I had a good, ok, fair developing system in 4th grade. Now I have to really pull my weight and I just don't feel as if I've got enough space in my life to figure it all out.

Second graders like to be seen by their teacher. It never ceases to amaze me how the one that really makes you have to go pray for a better attitude will be the first one to run up and hug you in the lunch room. (I always check to make sure my wallet is still safe) Fourth graders do that as well, but not to the degree as the little ones. 

Little kids conversations are TOTALLY different from their upper grade counterparts. I don't remotely miss overhearing some of the things my old class talked about. My new class literally talk about horses and football. Can't beat a good ole horse and football chit chat. 

Everything seemed to be funny to my 4th grade class. They were always trying to make a joke out of something. I've been warmly surprised that my new class is able to move past somethings and not make it a LOLROTFMIT (Laughing out loud rolling on the floor missing instruction time) issue. Even today I gave them permission to laugh and be silly because they were so laid back I wanted make sure it was my class and not some alien impostors. Aliens have great senses of humor. 

That crazy bucket idea coupled with a 3 day goal to focus on a particular rule and follow it to the letter have been working like a champ. I'm really surprised how well these kiddos adapt to my ideas and make them their own. The edges are still rough, but not as bad as I thought. 

This week was supposed to be my week. I have a lot of planning time and I figured I could get ahead. That doesn't look like it's going to happen so I will need to figure out another way to get ahead on my plans. Not discouraged or set back by it. I will get a grip on this and next year will be all the better because I've developed better habits. It's all about habits. 

My secret angel is working on Whitaker's Workshop 2.0. I can't believe all that she didn't set up the first time. Maybe I can come into the school over the weekend. 

Speaking of habits. I've been MIA from Crossfit SouthCobb this week. But I did get a good workout at home today and have another one planned tomorrow. Eating great on day 10. Did have some fries, but I'll burn them off trying to heard cats, I mean get 2nd graders to line up. 

Here...we...GO!

This break has been fantastic. I was able to get some much needed rest, refocus on goals I have for my profession, family and faith. Though I need to be asleep I'm stoked about what this new school year has for me.  I know it's going to be tough. I feel also that I'm more than prepared to lift the heavy load needed to make this year a success. 

Working on my room tomorrow and it will be ready for the reveal come 745 am Wednesday when my new class of students arrive. New year. New life. Here we go!

New challenge at Crossfit starts today as well. Can't wait.