158/180 What Pet Would You Get?

Last week we started a unit on PETS.

Well, we are going to turn it into a unit on living things and ANIMALS.

Our sight word is HAVE.
I found the poem.
Talented teaching partner illustrated it!
Kids loved it!

I love that some of the students are monitoring their reading.

I'm trying to get them to explain their thinking and strategies aloud.

#favoritepartofteaching  #beginningreaders

Painting is always such a wonderful activity for young children.
#Paintapetyouwouldget

Lets share paint colors.
#takingturnsisimportant

Guess our feathered friends are not popular with the ETK set!

I let the kids try to cut out their sentences on their own.
They have watched me do this for them several times now and I was curious.
To my excitement, every student was able to cut between words!
Even the students that couldn't read their sentences back,
were able to distinguish between a word and a letter. #PROUD

Super excited watching this group cut up on their own sentences,
then put the words in order to make sentences,
and read their sentences back to me!

For students that already had a good foundation in concepts of print,
I encouraged them to add more details to their simple sentence.
#differentiate 

157/180 MAY THE 4TH AND 5TH BE WITH YOU!

When you have a teaching partner that is a Star Wars fan,

you will celebrate May the 4th... (Scenes from last week)

We used a BB8 for our restorative justice circle talking piece!

 Every May 5th is International Dance Day at my school.

We celebrated May 5th with our annual International Dance Program.
I love watching every student participate in a dance.
Art education, it's a wonderful thing!

Last week was also Teacher Appreciation Week.
One of our parents gave each teacher a Mexican candy treat bag with a set of Loteria cards.
I had never played before and it was a great way to practice matching, listening, and sounds.
The kids wanted to play with money.
We played for goldfish crackers instead!

Beautiful Feet...

156/180 Teacher Appreciation Week_5 MAD SCIENCE!

The last day of Teacher Appreciation Week appreciation goes to a place where I not only taught, 

but learned for 11 years.

I had read about a district school that was going to open in Exposition Park years ago before it was ever completed.  The school would focus on science learning and teaching. It would have strong partnerships with the Exposition Park community, and be a model school.

I wasn't looking for a change when my former student teacher, Ashley,

told me about the science center school.

But the more I read about the school, the more I was drawn to the possibilities...

(The school, named Science Center School initially, then moved towards Mae Jemison Science Center School, and finally Dr. Theodore T. Alexander Science Center School)... emphasizes:

*the study of science and mathematics as the school’s curricular foundation

*the use of technology

*learner-centered and activity- and inquiry-based learning throughout all instruction

*the construction of exhibits, projects and experiments as an important tool for learning its role as an  experimental school

*the professional development of teachers and teachers-in-training 

*developing parent training programs to encourage participation in the school and to

reinforce habits of life long learning in their children 

Our school district had moved into a very scripted reading program at the time and this sounded like an opportunity to go back to teaching through experiences and not one-size fits all scripts.

I also wanted to grow and expand my knowledge base.

Science, Math, and Technology were my weakest subjects.

I went in for an interview.

I demonstrated a lesson.

At the time I was at my 3rd school in 5 years and I wanted roots again.

I accepted the challenge.

In 2004, I was part of a group of teachers that helped open the school.

For the next 11 years, I had the privilege of being educated by passionate and dedicated science educators, practicing scientists, community partners, teachers, and students.

I am not a science, math, and technology expert now.

But I do know more, and am a more effective STEM educator now because of this experience.

And next week, I get to return back to that Exposition Park neighborhood to learn even more. 

Learning from our partners at the Natural History Museum.

When a teaching legend and astronaut comes to share about her experiences.
#BarbaraMorgan

Learning with Sid, the Science Kid and lead by our science king, Dr. Chuck!
#luckystudents #luckyteachers #luckyus

Where I dove into the world of Student-Led Conferences and never looked back!
#thanksAshleyandSarahforjoiningtheexperiment

Problem solving engineers!

Problem solving educators!

Added benefit of having a science center on the same campus as your school!
#sneakpeeks #Endeavour

155/180 Teacher Appreciation Week_4 When Mentor Becomes the Novice

Today I would like to appreciate the following teachers who not only taught me how to find my teachers' voice but guided me through the process:

Sally, Ken, Harold, Diana, Susan, and Dianne.

I was teaching ungraded primary (PK-2nd grade) at White House Place Primary Center and was a demonstration-observation classroom for early literacy.
One of the groups that visited was LAEP (Los Angeles Educational Partnership).
Dianne Glinos worked for LAEP.
She invited me to check out a teacher network she was involved with.
I had no idea what it was about, but she had me at teacher network.

On a Saturday morning, I drove out to CSUN.
I was introduced to a group of LAUSD teachers.
I "participated" in a video conference (my first)
with teachers from locations across the country.
I had no idea what they were talking about...
or why I was there.

I felt out of my league among these more experienced and
super-smart educators.
I wasn't sure what they were talking about or how I would fit in.
I was a mentor teacher at school, but in this group,
I was the novice.
Teacher networking I knew.
Teacher research, teacher voice, and educational policy, I didn't.
But I was glad I decided to step out of my comfort zone and join the group.
I am so grateful that they let me in.

These amazing people, and teachers, inspired, guided, pushed,
and moved me to another level in my professional development.

I became a teacher researcher because of them.
I lead others to be teacher researchers because of them.
I met and networked with amazing teachers across the country because of them.
I visited NYC, Snowbird Utah, and Bainbridge Island because of them.
I wrote and published articles, essays, and research because of them.
I learned how to speak in front of policymakers and large audience because of them.
I learned not to be afraid to talk about what matters most to teachers because of them.
I learned you can still be a teacher leader and remain in the classroom because of them.
I learned that teachers can have influence on policy because of them.
I learned that the work we do in our classroom needs to be made public.
I learned that I should always wear lipstick when speaking publicly.
I learned what National Board Certification was.
I learned there were many other teaching "nerds" like me.

I gained confidence.
I gained a love for writing about teaching.
I gained opportunities to speak with and work with policy makers.
I gained amazing memories of experiences I never knew existed.
I gained mentors and friends.

Teachers Network Policy Institute LA with Governor of Wyoming.
Harold and Diana behind the Governor.
Kathy and her hubby (left side) We drove back together from Sacramento on 9/11

Ken with the Governor again.
Sally, Susan, and Dianne not pictured.
(Couldn't find one in my stash- sad face)

154/180 Teacher Appreciation Week_3 TOGETHER WE'RE BETTER

The Early Literacy Club was created out of a need...
to know
to learn
to teach.

While at White House Place Primary Center the state of California implemented new English Language Arts Standards. Eager to dissect, understand, and implement them successfully,  a group of teachers worked with me to figure them out.

Teaching can be an isolating job.
We are given keys to our classroom and left alone with 20-30 young minds.

To work collaboratively in elementary,
teachers need time outside of the school day to meet and work together.

I was lucky enough to have a network of colleagues (and friends),
who were committed to professional growth and student success,
and chose to meet beyond school hours to learn to be better teachers.
Most of those colleagues were new teachers, with families,
and commitments outside of the classroom.

Our students benefited from our collaboration,
and so did we...

we learned to be more effective teachers.

Being recognized for our collaboration!

Together, we really are better!

Saying goodbye to the place that brought us together!

And we continue to learn from each other...

153/180 Teacher Appreciation Week_2 THERE IS A SCHOOL IN THIS CITY

Day 2 of Teacher Appreciation Week focuses on the place where I learned to be a teacher and a leader.

WHITE HOUSE PLACE SONG

(To the tune of Yankee Doodle)

There is a school in this city

and Whitehouse is it's name-

We study hard and learn the rules

to each and every game-

White House is the very best...

Red- White- and Blue-

What is is our favorite school,

Yes, White House we love you!

After a year off to student teach back home in Fresno,

I got hired at a new primary center close to Koreatown.

The school focused on early literacy and grades K-2.

There was a pilot program started there called Ungraded Primary.

Students in multiage would be placed in the same classroom.

Unlike a combination or split grade class, where students were separated by grade level,

Ungraded Primary's focus was teaching all the students together as a whole learning community.

The leader of the program was Meredith Adams. 

What luck!

This amazing educator would teach me more about teaching and learning 

than any textbook or credentialing class could.

Thanks Mere...

-for opening the door to your print-rich, community building, 

child-centered, model, multiage classroom

-for Mem Fox and Leanna Trails, Rigby and Wright Group

-for showing me what shared, guided, and independent reading looks like

-for always sharing your ideas, materials, and resources unconditionally 

-for mentoring and helping me navigate an ungraded primary classroom

-for introducing me to teacher networks

-for modeling what thematic teaching should and could look like

-for inspiring me to take on student teachers, become a mentor, and opening my classroom

-for encouraging me to lead workshops and showing me how

-for hooking me up with Victor and amazing packets and resources

-for always nudging me to do more, try more, and believing I could do it

-for being a compassionate, caring, kind, and generous role model

-for supporting my family when mom was battling cancer

-for holding my hand when she passed away

-for bringing over that gigantic pizza (and food) when we were still in shock

-for continuing to support my boys and being our biggest cheerleader.

I wouldn't be half the teacher I am today if I hadn't had you to look up to!

#thankateacher #grateful #luckyme #luckyus

White House Place Primary Center was a very special place for teaching and learning.

When you help open a school,

You also get to learn and grow with that school.

It was a place where new teachers learn to be great teachers.

A place where experienced teachers learned to be better teachers.

A place that produced gifted, wonderful students, now adults.

It was where I got National Board Certified and met life-long friends.

Whitehouse is not there anymore.

Replaced by a parking lot.

But it will always hold a place in my heart.

It is where I met my group of forever friends.

It is where I taught amazing students.

It is where I learned to teach.

It is where I learned that I was meant to be a teacher.

152/180 Teacher Appreciation Week_1: Journey to LAUSD...

Apparently my school is celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week this week.
I thought it was next week.
So my boys' teachers will be appreciated next week instead!
#Notready #wrongdateonLAUSDsite #whathappenedtoMay9th

Since it is Teacher Appreciation Week, I would like to appreciate some teachers.
Since this is my 30th year of being a teacher,
I'm going to give shout outs to the teachers
that taught me to be a teacher.

I had originally wanted to go straight into graduate school after my bachelors.
Not in education,
Social Work.
Yup.
Crazy huh?
Well as fate had it, I wasn't accepted into UCLA.
My ego was a bit bruised.
So I did what every young, 23 year old, new college graduate, who didn't get accepted into the graduate program she thought she should have, did...
I went to UCLA's School of Social Work and asked why.
(Believe me, I can't believe I did that either. I mean I was a bitterly shy person by nature, but I did it).
I found the dean/professor of the program and straight up asked him what I did wrong or could have done better.

His response was something about maturity, lack of life experiences, yada yada yada...
When I shared that I had accepted a teaching job in LAUSD
(they were hiring emergency credentialed teachers at the time)
He told me that I would more directly impact families and children as a teacher,
than I would ever had if I were a social worker.
I didn't understand what he meant.
He also told me to reapply in a few years.
I never did.
And he was right.

Fast forward to 1985.
After being displaced from my first teaching job assignment in 1st grade at one school,
I ended up accepting a job 6 weeks into the school year at another school nearby.
Pacoima, 3rd grade, bilingual class, original teacher quit after 3 weeks, subs walked out,
and there I was.
I had one day with the mentor teacher.
She gave me a stack of teachers' guides and the keys.

It was a tough year but I somehow made it.
I had challenging students.
I had amazing students.

What saved me that first year were two teachers.
Evelyn Perez and Sandra Lutzker.
Grade level colleagues.
Shoulders to cry on.
Confidants.
Cheerleaders.
Mentors.
Friends.
My teachers.
Because of them, I became a second year teacher.