Listen to Your Students

I've learned quite a bit over the last few weeks, but, unfortunately, I haven't had the time to blog about my lessons.

One, in particular, stands out:  Listen to your students!

At the beginning of last week, I began working with my students on narrative writing.  We constructed a "Happy Alien" together as a pre-writing strategy that gets all of our thoughts down in a graphic organizer in order to help us keep our actual paper organized and easier to write.

The prompt put the student in the role of a teacher for the day.  It asks what "you" would do for activities, how "you" would enforce rules, etc.

When it came down to the activities, my students said, "Hands-on!  We don't do a lot of that now, so I would do lots of hands-on activities."

I was a little taken aback because I felt that I was pretty balanced in my classroom when it came to differentiated instruction, and I felt that I utilized all of the learning styles.

Then, it hit me:  Perhaps, what I consider "hands-on", or kinesthetic, doesn't match their definition.

From then on, I've been trying to incorporate more activities that include movement, using your hands, etc.  For example, last week, I invited the students to the SmartBoard to participate in two online activities that I found that went along with what I was teaching in Science.  They created their own volcanoes and earthquakes right there on the SmartBoard.  They really seemed to enjoy these activities and seemed to grasp the difference between the two and how they come to be.

So...  I learned a huge lesson.  I need to listen to my students; ask them what they want.  If it's plausible, I will try to include it into my lessons somehow because, as I found out, it really pays off in the end.

Be Flexible

This week, I certainly learned to be flexible.  My goal with this blog was to write everyday with a lesson that I learned from that day in my classroom.

Well...  This lesson learned was spread out over this week, since I didn't get a chance to write everyday.

As a teacher, though, one should be flexible because anything can happen.  Expect the unexpected!

When you do your lesson plans, don't panic if you don't get to something throughout the week.  Think of them as your guidelines:  The objectives that you want to teach, the page numbers of the textbook, the practice problems you want the students to complete, etc.

Always leave room for the unexpected:  A lesson that doesn't go as easily as you think, students' questions that take longer to answer, etc.

So...  This lesson took me a few days to learn and realize.  Plus, I finally had a few moments to blog about it.

After a Vacation is Over

I was reminded today how important the first day back from a long vacation can be.  After two weeks off, many of my students came in today acting as though they forgot how to be a student.

I spent a good part of the day reviewing how to act appropriately in my classroom.  From constantly asking my students to be quiet and to get ready for the next subject, today was quite the adventure.  I am assuming that this will occur throughout the week, as well, as my students get back into the swing of things.

A lesson that I learned, and one that I'm passing along, is to set aside some time in the morning after a long vacation to review where the students' minds should be now that they are back in school.

Get Along with Colleagues

A hugely important lesson in the field of teaching is to get along well with your colleagues.  As in any job, these people are your support system while you're at work.  The more experienced ones are there for guidance and advice; the less experienced ones are in need of guidance and advice.  This is the perfect opportunity for you to take advantage of both:  Ask for advice and give advice to those who ask.

At my school, the faculty and staff are extremely close.  We all get along well and interact peacefully with one another.  Long-lasting friendships have formed; mentor/mentoree relationships are seen.  It's really a fantastic thing because it makes each day enjoyable.

When I began teaching at my school, I previously knew a handful of my colleagues.  I thought that I'd be good to go with knowing those few and not feel like the "new kid on the block".  Who knew that the countless others who I met on my first day of work would be so welcoming and nice.  A lot of us at my school aren't just colleagues anymore; our relationship has blossomed into being friends.

So...  Today's lesson is to get along with colleagues.  If you have only one or two colleagues at work that you go to, try to broaden your horizons and meet and befriend others.  You never know who may be in need of a shoulder to lean on.  You could provide that shoulder...

This is a picture of the faculty and staff from my school.  We are participating in Movie Day during Spirit Week as Cruella DeVil and the dalmatians from 101 Dalmatians.  This is what I mean about being close with those you work with.  We have such a great time together!

Plan Ahead

As I said in yesterday's introductory post, I am one to plan ahead.  To me, it's one of the most important aspects to being a successful teacher.  Such is the case ESPECIALLY when it comes to long breaks from school:  Thanksgiving Break, Christmas Break, and Spring Break.

I have learned that it is such a load off of your shoulders when you get all of the necessities complete before you go on vacation.  This year, before school was out for Thanksgiving and Christmas, I had my lesson plans, newsletters, and copies done for when we return.  (I only plan one week ahead, remember.)  This way, for example, when I go back to work on Monday, EVERYTHING is done.  As much as you may be "burned out" and need a break, push yourself to get things completed for your return.  You will feel so much better when you go back to work after enjoying a nice, relaxing vacation.

Think about it...  Do you really want to have a lot to do on your first day back from a two-week vacation?  I didn't think so.

Welcome!

Welcome to Life's Lesson Plans; thank you for stopping by.  My name is Kyle, and I am a Fifth Grade teacher.  With a year and a half of teaching, an internship, and a plethora of student practicums under my belt, I can honestly say that I have learned quite a bit in the field of teaching.  In fact, as cliche as it sounds, I learn something new every single day.

Whether I figure out a new, exciting way to teach something or I come up with a new solution to a behavior issue, I find myself constantly broadening my teaching horizons.  Being a teacher is much more than teaching a group of students different subjects.  Teachers instill morals and values in children and are also their support system for seven to eight hours a day.

One of the key ingredients of being a teacher is lesson planning.  All teachers do this differently, I'm sure.  For instance, I like to plan a week ahead.  On Wednesday and Thursday of every week, you'll find me using my planning time wisely by figuring out what I'll be teaching the following week.  Other teachers plan day-by-day.  After all, you never know how long a lesson will take.  I have found that a lesson that you think will be so simple for the students to grasp will take two days to execute.  (There's another lesson that I've learned...)

This blog will be dedicated to the many lessons that a teacher learns throughout his or her career.  Believe me...  It's not just the students who learn something new each day.

So...  Beginning tomorrow, each entry will house a new lesson in the field of teaching and some even in life in general that I have learned that day.

Please come back and visit, and learn something new everyday with me.