prepare, teach, re-teach, re-teach, re-teach...TEST!

Over the past three years of teaching, I have never had to give the CST test or prepare my kiddos to take it. When I was teaching third grade two years ago, the contracted teacher returned just as test prep began, and I was moved into a first grade classroom. Needless to say, I dodged a pressure bullet that was unknown to me. I've always overheard teachers talking about the stress load surrounding the preparations for this test, and about how many concepts they had to reinforce daily, however I never truly understood it until now.

Teaching sixth grade for the past 6 months has not only opened my eyes to new curriculum and behavior challenges, but the difficulty of administrating and preparing for the CST. I want nothing more than for my students to succeed on this exam. Preparing them for this test takes hard work and dedication on the part of the teacher and students. Trying to make 11 and 12 year old kids understand the significance of scoring well on this test has been a challenge in itself.

Since the majority of everything they are being taught is review, most of them feel like they know everything and therefore tune out. However, when given a practice test, their scores prove otherwise. As a wake up call, I explained to the kids that how they score on our quizzes is a reflection of their test talking skills and knowledge of the content, and therefore should be making more of an effort to ask questions, contribute to the lesson and seek ways to apply what they are learning in the classroom to their daily lives.

After a week of test preparations had past, I decided that in order to motivation my students to strive for better, my teaching style needed some altering. They were no longer responding enthusiastically to group collaboration or direct instruction. Naturally, lecturing and hearing my voice for 7 hours can be a bore to anyone. So, with a new mind set, I started playing games and making test prep hours a competition. Through this I learned, many students forgot they were learning test taking strategies and skills and started to become excited to play my "games". Using whiteboards, pointer sticks, a bell, stopwatch, powerpoints and online math materials, review games were created and a CST calender count down was hung on the wall.

Each day we take down the number from the previous day and mentally prepare ourself to take full advantage of the hours we have to learn, prepare, and compete to earn some of the best test scores our school has yet to see. So, with three weeks ahead of us, we are pushing full speed ahead to accomplish what we all know is possible, the very best.

6th Grade Tie-Dye Madness

I got this idea a few years ago when I taught 6th grade to make tie-dyed t-shirts for the kids. The shirts were made as a way to united the 6th graders and make them stand out at the school. Wearing them at their end of the year softball game, science camp, and the talent show, this seemed like a good idea, but a messy one, to say the least.

At first, I thought this project was going to be mayhem, but I was quickly shown, with the proper guidance and organization, this project was fun, entertaining, and controllable. The planing began by asking the kids to bring in a white t-shirt or two dollars. Next, I bought five 3 gallon buckets from the Dollar Tree along with five Rit Dye colors from Rite Aid. Last, I gathered together rubber bands and demonstrated for the kids different ways to tie the rubber bands around their shirts. From a spiral pattern to a stripped pattern, the kids quickly caught on and got excited. After I demonstrated how to properly dip their shirts into the hot dye water, I let them dive into the task.

Shirt after shirt, more and more creative coloring and rubber banding emerged. As the kids unwrapped their rubber bands, you could see the anticipation in their eyes as they waited to see what their masterpiece looked like. After letting them dry, the kids could not wait to put them on! Warning them that the fresh color might bleed on their clothes, most kids could careless, they just wanted to show off their new 6th grade artwork! With smiling kids all around me and a new shirt to take home, I was extremely happy with the results and success of this project. I highly recommend taking the plunge and doing this project with your kids. Not only do they learn a new "hip" skill, they start feeling like they truly "rule the school".

Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

Teaching the kids about Early Humans is something I have been anticipating. As I read through their history books and re-called projects my sixth grade teacher made us create, my wheels started to turn. A few years ago while I was in student teaching, I taught the kids about our body's bones. We created skeletons make out of different shaped pasta pieces. Who knew this idea would make it's way back in my mind.

Using pasta pieces, we re-created the famous Australopithecus, Lucy. This kids had a blast learning about this 3.4 million year Hominid and enjoyed building her skeleton. A successful lesson always makes for a happy Monday!

Learn Something New Everyday

Over the past three years, I have customarily taught in Vietnamese neighborhoods. Through this experience I have learned about Chinese New Year, traditional foods, soups, outfits and other celebrations that the Vietnamese celebrate. All of these celebrations have been fascinating and has made me realize how little culture I have in my family. Don't get me wrong, we have traditions and special foods we love, but no one dresses up in a beautiful Ao Dia and gets their hair done before school.

Currently, I am teaching in a pre-dominantly Hispanic neighborhood. With this change in culture, comes new traditions. The latest lesson I have learned is about the holiday, Dia De Reyes, or "Kings Day". A student brought in a "King Cake" or better known as Roscon De Reyes. This holiday celebrates the Three Wise Men and the birth of Jesus. Luckily for me, a student brought in a King Cake to share with our class. All of the kids were excited to eat the cake and hoped to get a baby Jesus doll in their piece. I learned, if your piece of cake has a baby Jesus inside, you are responsible for throwing your family a party on February 2nd. It is believed, the Light of Christ is presented to the world on this day. To our surprise, there was two plastic baby Jesus figures inside, looks like a lot of parties are going to be thrown on February 2nd!

I think the saying goes, "better late, than never!"

Clearly, it has been awhile since I have made a post, but that doesn't mean great things and ideas are not on my mind for the New Year! Before moving forward though, I must close the chapters I opened during November and December with my second graders. I also must announce that I have been hired to be a long-term substitute teacher for 6th grade!! Yes, that is correct, 6th grade and low and behold, they too have won my heart.

Without further ado, here is a cute Turkey we made during Thanksgiving. It's simple, sweet, and to the point. Most importantly, it is not an all day project. To enhance the academics of this project, the kids had to write what they are thankful for on each feather.

Another great idea, I got from friend is to make Indian Headdresses. The kids earn feathers for their headdress depending on different skills they can perform and information they know. For example, students earned feathers for being able to tie their shoes, say their telephone number, address, spell their name correctly, give answers to math problems, write a simple sentence...etc. It's all about re-teaching those life skills while meeting the standards :)

Now, moving onto December. On the second week of the month, I entered a room full of 30 6th graders. With changing hormones and plenty to talk about, the world of "little kids" was gone. Quickly adjusting my talk, discipline plan, and teaching style, my own thinking had to take a big leap into "how to teach upper grade". Within a few weeks, my lesson plans developed more challenging content and the grading increased x10. The time I have to now devote to planning has also increased. I have learned to embrace this challenge before me. From teaching them how to write a research report to finding the sales tax of an item, I have met my match! I am grateful and appreciative of this opportunity and loving their independence! I am anticipating the future and enjoying every minute of what 2011 has bring! So bring it on! Cheers to 2011 and a productive trimester ahead! Stay tuned :)

EKK, we're subtracting 2-digit numbers!

Some subjects and lessons are definitely more fun to teach than others. Due to the complexity of adding two-digit numbers and borrowing from the tens place, confusion quickly arises and frustration levels sky rocket for most kids. Within the first few days of introducing and teaching the concept of subtracting two-digit numbers 50% of the kids get it and well, the other 50% tend flail for a couple of weeks, while I try and "save them". Eventually 95% of the kids understand how to find solution by the end of the month, and gradually the synapses of the other 5% come full circle by year. Borrowing a "ten" is a very abstract concept for most kids and it's not until some get a little older that this idea comes to fruition. In the meantime, small groups are the key to success!! Practice, practice, practice! It's my goal to help them all reach proficiently by the end of second grade. Fingers are crossed!

It's NOVEMBER?

I really can't believe how fast time is passing this year. I found myself longing for August to be over and now, it's already November! Seeing how the weather is still in the 90's it hard to believe fall has arrived, but truth be known, California is not exactly known for its cold weather, haha.

I am however, happy to say, I survived the ups and downs of CELDT testing and was welcomed on board these past few weeks to teach second grade temporarily. Although, I am supposed to only be teaching these kids for a short time, I can't help but pour my heart into teaching them. I am happy to arrive once again at the same school everyday and get to know their names and quirks that make them second graders.

Within this short time, I feel very accomplished. Since their contracted teacher had been out for almost three weeks prior to me stepping in, things were a bit disorganized. Once being asked to step in and take control, I was happy to take the rains alongside the other amazing second grade teacher.

To my shock, I was asked to give each of the student's goal setting conference. After almost three years of long-term subbing I am accustomed to undoing and redoing mishaps in "orphan" classrooms due to teacher absences. Graciously accepting this challenge, I put my skills to the test. This was not my first rodeo, and I was confident in my knowledge and know-how of goal setting conferences. I knew the conferences would be a success, as long as their parents would accept a conference from their child's substitute teacher that met them 8 hours prior that is... and so the chaotic fun began.

I had exactly five hours to prep and prepare all the materials and information I would need to give 25 data supported conferences. To my surprise, I met happy parent after happy parent. I could've never predicted a better outcome. I was accepted with openness and gracious attitudes. 22 out of 25 parents attended their child's conference, not too shabby in opinion. Given the short notice they had themselves and time parameters I had to follow, I am rating this experience as one of my most successful yet. I am looking to the future with optimism and hope one day I can truly pour my heart and passion for teaching into students that I did not meet 8 hours prior to setting their yearly goal.