Our First Whole-School Morning Meeting

Today we had our first whole-school morning meeting!

As a school that utilizes the Responsive Classroom approach in all grades, we start every day with a Morning Meeting.  Today, we came together as a whole school to be in community.
Our friendship hall was filled with excitement.  Classes sat together, but we created one large circle.

 

Today, we came together with a purpose as well.  To being the school year, students shared their personal hopes and dreams for the 2014-2015 academic year. In our lower grades, parents had input into helping form these goals.  As a class, goals were shared and necessary actions were listed.  For example, if you want to learn more about fractions, you will need to pay attention, you will need a quiet environment, etc.  From these necessary actions, the class created classroom rules.

Last week, a representative from each class came together and shared their class rules.  As a group, these students (with ages spanning a decade!), create our school rules.

Today, this group of students presented to us our school rules.

When we gather together, we are a community of faith, of learning, and of friendship.

Myths about Summer and the Teacher

When I entered the education field, it was common for me to hear three words when someone commented on my career choice:  June, July and August.  "You lucky teachers" I'd hear.  "Three reasons to teach!" was my favorite one.  I am now a 12-month employee, and while my summer do look a bit different, more than ever I have respect for the endless job that is teaching.

For my non-teaching friends, here are some Myths about Summer and the Teacher

1.  We're off June, July and August
Here I sit, June 25th, almost the end.  I am in my second week of all-day classes with teachers and administrators.  My friend in New England are posting on social media that their children finish classes today.  June is finished: we are not.  Teacher meetings start days before students come back.  Those beautiful classrooms aren't delivered to a school.  August is about preparing and gearing up.

2. We're "off"
Dedicated teachers never turn off that powerful hamster wheel that creates great lesson plans.  We're reading books for fun, and thinking about whether or not that word is one we want to use on a word wall.  We're walking down the beach, scanning for students and their families.  We're grocery shopping and thinking about how to use the cost of tomatoes in our money unit.  We're blogging, tweeting, and lesson planning.  We take classes, read books, go on practice field trips, inventory supplies and don't even ask what happens when we see a yard sale.  The teacher area of our brain is always activated, no matter how hard we try to calm it down.

3. We work normal hours during the year and it evens out.
It never evens out when you are a dedicated teacher.  Your brain is never finished.  7:30-3:30?  We wish.  See #2: all that happens during the school year, too.

4.  We think your job is easier
Great teachers won't complain to their students or parents. They will voice reasonable concerns to peers and administrators.  They probably vent or complain to their own friends and family.
When we complain about how hard our job is (and feeling like you are responsible for creating and molding the next generation is a heavy weight), we are not discounting the role you play in society.
When we complain, even over summer months, please don't take it as discounting your profession.  We hope we're teaching the person you'll someday train to take over when you retire.


Abigail Greer is the princpal at The Academy of Saint Matthias the Apostle.
She can be reached at agreer@stmatthias.org

World Read Aloud Day: Raise Our Voices

My mother was a teacher.  By the time I was born, she was in a different field professionally, but some thing never leave you once you have been a teacher.  Books were always around us.  We read almost every night.  Library trips were weekly events.
My first memory of hearing books read aloud was "And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street" by Dr. Seuss. My grandmother loved reading this book to me.  If you've read it, it is not as exciting as other Seuss classics, but it still holds a special place in my heart.  I've tried to read it to Katie, and at age 2, she is not impressed.  She likes "Pete the Cat."
We are preparing as a school for World Read Aloud Day in March.  As we approach this day, I look forward to sharing more Read Aloud thoughts and ideas.
litworld.org/worldreadaloudday 

How do we raise math scores? Just Keep Reading…

It seems as though the focus has changed in education.  It has become not who a student is, but what they know- especially on state or national assessments.  The pressure put on students, teachers and schools is immense.  Somehow, as a society, we have reduced our students to a list of numbers on a print-out.

I am a self-proclaimed, data-geek.  I love statistics, numbers, assessments, and debating if homework should count for grades and if a zero should ever be given on an assignment.   I also find that many schools have lost sight of powerful practices because of a focus on these numbers.  NUMBERS ARE IMPORTANT!  The problem is in the pathway to growth and achievement numbers.   Achievement on assessments reflects mastery of information.  Mastery of information is best found in inquisitive students, those students who thirst to learn more, who seek out answers on their own, who seem to soak up knowledge, the ones who started asking “why” as a three year old and have never stopped.

One of the research-shown links to math achievement that we forget about is that students who read for fun have higher math achievement scores.  And, in fact, to even take a math test, a student needs to be able to read with a level of comfort that comprehension is possible.

This is why we have two libraries, so students can access books on their level.  This is why we have blocks each week where students not only check out books, but also are read to out loud.  We are aware, like every other school in the nation, that our reading scores soar about our math scores.  We are proud of our high achievement in reading, and know that by continuing to foster reading, we will see our math scores grow.  We are not diverting resources or focus off of our reading curriculum.  Our libraries are bustling grounds where there are wait lists for books.  Students even through our middle school spend time each day reading a choice book quietly.  This is our culture.  This is who we are.

In Donalyn Miller’s books “The Book Whisperer” and her newly released “Reading in the Wild,” she talked about the power of a culture where reading is key.  We have our teacher’s books they are reading posted in our faculty lounge.  We have a summer reading program as a part of our professional development.  Most importantly, we read.  We share our books, from adult to young adult to children’s, from novels to education books.  We are a culture that reads and we love to share it.

As a parent, make sure you are practicing what we preach.  Pick up a book.  Read aloud to your child, no matter how young or old they are.  Go to the library.  Go meet authors.  Write or tweet or email authors when you children ask questions about a book that you don’t know about.  Ask their teacher or librarian what books they may want for Christmas or a birthday.  Read a book yourself.  Share with your child, at an appropriate level, what you have learned, or why you like that author or genre.   Sign up for GoodReads.com and share what you’re reading, and see what other friends are reading, too.

There is a lot of pressure in today’s society.  From rush hour, to achievement scores, to bedtime, we are always “under the gun.”  Make sure you take time to do one of the most important things to help your child succeed:  Read. 

 

Suggested Reading for Parents:

The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease

What to Read When by Pam Allyn

Best Books for Boys by Pam Allyn

 

Suggested Reading for Teachers:

The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller

Reading in the Wild by Donalyn Miller

Time to Teach, Time to Learn by Chip Wood

 

Mrs. Greer is the principal at The Academy of Saint Matthias the Apostle in Lanham, Maryland.  She is currently reading "Good to Great" and "That Old Cape Magic" along with a long list of Eric Carle books repeated for her daughter and son. 

 

Instructing on 9/11: A school-wide project of thanks

For adults, the memories of 9/11/01 are flash-bulb memories.  We know where we were, who we were with, what we felt.  In the world of education, the years after we're met with challenges and reflection.  As a high school psychology teacher, I spoke with my students about how large events leave vivid memories, but remembering what you had for dinner last week isn't as strong.  There as an academic and social connection, and always an acknowledgment of the day.

Now, being principal of a preK through 8th grade school, there is a new challenge: How do we teach and share recent, scary history for students who have no memories of the actual event.  Our answer was clear last year, as we worked in the context of our year-long theme of "the power of our words." Last year, we delivered over 300 thank you notes to our local first reponders.  We were also to share a few very important lessons with our students.  This year, we did the same.  Why?  Because saying thank you is a powerful tool and an act of kindness we cannot teach enough!

We are part of a larger system
The war on terror isn't really an age-appropriate topic for our,younger students.  As a former school counselor, the idea of striking terror in our smallest brains is something I am keenly aware of.  The idea that we are part of a larger society, where we depend on each other is not only an moorland lesson learned post-9/11, but also for preparing students for a global society.

Careers are callings
When we hear the word vocation, the association is usually priests or nuns in our Catholic schools.  A vocation is a career we are called to.  For teachers to police to military, jobs that we are passionate about and feel is our God-given path, are vocations.  Sometimes these vocations comes with danger, low pay, stress, and other problems.  Sharing with students that we are all called to use our gifts and talents and to be kind, loving and an example to others captures the feelings of unity and solidarity many of us felt in the days after 9/11/01.  Remember the flood of blood donations and military sign-ups?  We are called.....

We are not powerless
Even our 4 year old students know and are learning the power of words like "please" and "thank you."  There is a power in saying thank you to those who keep us safe.

So, on behalf of the students, teachers, and parents at The Academy of Saint Matthias the Apostle, thank you to our first responders who keep us safe everyday.

The cycles that are school years: Part 1

I have worked my entire life in jobs that are "seasonal."  They have a start and a finish, whether it was a 12-week summer swim season, a August-June office job in college, or now, in education, where, even when working 12 months, there is a finite start and finish to each school year.
I am the only member of my family who works in education, and this time of year, when all is shiny, bright and new it is easy to reflect on the advantages of this vocation.

Right now, all of the members of our school communities, from parents to students to teachers, gets a fresh start.  Student have new supplies, new desks, new classrooms, teachers, routines, and hopes and dreams!  Teachers, in the same way have a new set of expectations, goals, and hopes for the year.  The woes of the end of the last year, and the ever-unfinished to-do lists are still sitting in the back of their minds, but have no been transformed into action plans to make this year the best year ever.  All is shiny and bright- like the excitement of Christmas morning.

This is a time to reflect on this special attribute to our professions as a positive.  It is truly unique and, just like the start of football season, last year's records and victories or losses are still brought up, it is a new season.  We stand at the start of a wonderful year, full of expectations, excitement, and most of all, hope.

The Power of a Schedule- Preparing for Back-to-School

Can you hear it?  It's that rush of excitement and fear coming upon us like a tidal wave: back-to-school.
If you plan on setting your first alarm clock that first day of school, we're all in trouble.  While the joy and anticipation of day one may take your child through the day, it won't last. 

1.  Start moving your schedule now.  If you are a long way off from where you need to be, move it gradually, but start adjusting waking and sleeping times to better reflect your school year schedule.  Sleepy children do not learn as well.  Make sure they are getting enough sleep!

(from Parents.com)

2.  Practice routines.  Will your student be in charge of packing a lunch or putting out their school clothes?  Start building those routines into their day now.  Make sure your child has chores and responsibilities!  Here are some sample chores: http://www.child-behavior-guide.com/chores-list.html

3. Discuss any upcoming changes with your student, and more than once.  Will someone different be picking them up? Will they have siblings coming with them to school?  Did a sibling graduate and is now going to a different school?  Start talking about how this year will look different.

As educators, we need your help in making sure students are rested and ready to start the year.  With some planning, you can get this school year off to a great start!