Enthusiasm

Educator and Puppeteer Markie Scholz

I am always energized by the many opportunities for professional development in my district. One such avenue is our local Reading Council. Last week we had the opportunity to hear educator and puppeteer Markie Scholz. We had the delightful opportunity to hear and speak about using puppetry to enhance our teaching. But wait…that wasn’t all! We also had the chance to make our very own sock puppet. This was quite the experience.

My student intern, Ms. Kolbach, wasn’t able to attend the meeting last week and missed out on all the fun. It was student intern, Ms. DiMaria, to the rescue! Luckily, Ms. DiMaria brought her own supplies and expertise to our room. Ms. DiMaria, had such a good time that she worked with Ms. Kolbach to make a puppet for her dental health unit this week.

One of the things that Markie said was that “Enthusiasm is everything.” So true! It reminded me of one of my favorite quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” How has enthusiasm made a difference in your teaching?

To find out more about Markie and her puppets, visit her website at http://www.dragonsaretooseldom.com/markie.html. Check out the cool “dragon cave” (geodesic dome))where Markie lives with her husband, Dick Termes, artist and inventor of the Termesphere. Markie’s site even includes directions on how to make your own sock puppet. Trust me, it’s addicting. It’s not just for kids or educators in lower elementary. Did I mention that Ms. DiMaria is an intern in a fifth grade classroom! And while your surfing the web, be sure to visit Dick’s site at http://termespheres.com/. Be prepared to be amazed.

  

Ms. DiMaria and Ms. Hoscheid ready to embark on some fun


  

Partners necessary: Mrs. Tautkus rolling a sock on my arm


  

Mrs. Tautkus gluing away


 

Proudly showing off our creations



Unsung Heroes: How It All Began

Several people have asked how I first became interested in projects of unsung heroes. It dates back to 2008. I was attending the National Milken Educator Awards. My husband and I sat by a wonderful man, Norm Conard. He was friendly, wise, and thoroughly enjoyable.



The next day, I attended a session about project based learning. The thing that first caught my attention was the mention of a woman, Irena Sendler, who rescued Jewish children from the Polish ghettos during WWII. I have always been interested in WWII and inspirational stories of heroic people from that era. I had never heard of Irena before, so I decided to check it out. The gentleman giving the presentation was Norm, my table mate, from the night before. I heard the remarkable story of Irena Sendler. I heard about Norm’s experience as a teacher using project based learning and the young students from Kansas who brought this amazing story to light. Irena’s story is a touching one and there is absolutely no way I can not to justice to it in a single blog entry so please visit http://www.lowellmilkencenter.org/ and click on the link “Life in a Jar”, under highlighted projects. You will also want to visit www.irenasendler.org to learn more about the project and this once unsung hero (no longer unsung, but definitely a hero). 



On display at the Lowell Milken Center



Back to the story of how I came to be involved in my heroes’ project…Those who know me well know that my enthusiasm and passion often get the best of me. I have a tendency to jump right in before thinking things through. Immediately after the session, I marched up to Norm and explained how I would love to do work with project based learning and unsung heroes in my own first grade classroom. The next school year, my students and I did some work on a minor scale. Norm and I stayed in contact.



Megan, Don, myself, Drew, and Norm

Lowell Milken Center in Fort Scott, Kansas



During the summer of 2010, I had the awesome opportunity to visit the Lowell Milken Center in Kansas as a fellow. Visit www.lowellmilkencenter.org and click on the Fellows and Interns link for more information on this invaluable program. I spent a week at the Center learning about project based learning, primary research, and unsung heroes. I was hooked. I returned home with greater passion and enthusiasm than before I left. My colleague, Mrs. Tautkus, had her fire lit and we are continuing this remarkable journey together. Check out her Snowball post at www.mrstautkus.blogspot.com for some insights into our adventure.

And the rest is history in the making…

"I'm new. I'm trying." Button

People who comment that teachers only work 8-3 five days a week with summers off obviously don’t know any teachers! (That’s a whole other post.) Anyhow, Friday nights have become one of my major planning times, often staying until 9:00 at night. Quite often I get together with one of my colleagues, Mrs. Tautkus. Yesterday we stopped by Taco John’s for a quick bite to eat. The young man at the counter greeted me with a smile and I couldn’t help but notice the button he was wearing. It read: “I’m New. I’m Trying.”

I chuckled and imagined myself wearing that same button at school. Although this is my tenth year in education, I continuously find myself saying “I’m new at this. I’m trying.”  Education is all about trying new things, changing what isn’t working, improving what is, meeting the diverse needs of students. This year, as every year, is filled with a long list: going deeper with formative assessment, improving my questioning skills, mentoring a student intern, bringing two nationally known artists to our school for the Artist in Residence program, experimenting with how project based learning looks and sounds in first grade, discovering possible hero stories, taking on recycling projects, trying my hand at blogging, and much more. Things don’t always go as planned. It isn’t always neat and tidy. Things don’t always work out. It isn’t always comfortable. However, I’m learning and my students are learning.

I have a feeling even after 25 years of teaching, I’ll still be saying “I’m new at this. I’m trying.” What things are you trying this year? How is it going? I would love to hear from all you brave people trying new things.

Now, if anyone knows where I get one of those buttons...

“It is alright to try and fail, but don’t fail to try!” –unknown

OF THEE I SING: A Letter to My Daughters ... A Must Have

I received this wonderful book as a Christmas gift from one of my colleagues. Thank you Mrs. Tautkus! Regardless of political affiliation, of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters is a must have.

I love it for the multiple ways it can be used in and out of the classroom. I love it for its inspiration. I love it for its connections to American history. I love it for the message that fits so nicely with our “It Only Takes One” project in first grade. I love it for the message that today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders.  I love it for its encouragement to follow our dreams and reach the potential within us.

I can see using it for a six traits lesson on organization. The left page of the spread shows a child and asks a question such as “Have I told you that you are a healer?”. The right page of the spread shows that child as an adult and tells his or her place in history. In response to the previous question, the answer is: “Sitting Bull was a Sioux medicine man who healed broken hearts and broken promises. It is fine to be different, he said. ‘For peace, it is not necessary for eagles to be crows.’ Though he was put in prison, his spirit soared free on the plains, and his wisdom touched the generations.

The final page then gives additional information about each hero. Loren Long’s illustrations are gorgeous. This book is perfect for the classroom and perfect as a gift for people of all ages. Check out the following video which is narrated by Loren Long, the illustrator of the book.

Chugga Chugga Choo Choo… My Journey with Project Based Learning

My wonderful sister-in-law bought tickets for my family to ride the 1880 Holiday Express. Throughout the entire experience, I could not help but relate it to my journey on the iron horse with project based learning.

The anticipation and excitement as we stand in line to get our tickets- this is going to be a great experience. The thrill when I first start discussing ideas for the school year with a colleague- this is going to be a great experience. We do some initial planning and create a roadmap.  We look around the gift shop and admire the many beautiful things on sale. Oh, the possibilities. Things were going well, just waiting in line inside the train station. The school year starts well. Things are moving along in first grade. We have a vision and numerous lofty goals. The line progresses forward and then we hit the frigid Dakota temperatures as the line moves outside. I think, ok- I can handle this. Wait- there’s not even a train in sight. I wonder what I got myself into.  As we are in the midst of what could appear from time to time as chaos to others, I ask what I have gotten myself into. I glance around and see my three children, and I worry about them being as cold as I am. However, at closer look, I see that they were enjoying themselves, all bundled in their snowsuits and just taking it all in. I initially wonder what I brought my students into and then at additional examination I realize how much they are learning from the process. We finally board the train and things seem to be rolling along.  Things in first grade are moving along smoothly. Our projects are connected. We are hitting the standards. Our students are making growth. The cars are heated and everything is feeling fine. We are enjoying sipping on hot chocolate and eating sugar cookies. Christmas music softly plays in the background while the train whizzes along. Eventually, my toes start to lose feeling and I notice that the heater has stopped. Once again I question why am I on this ride. Wouldn’t it be easier to follow the basic curriculum, without adding all of this extra “stuff”. I could be warm and cozy at home right now. I’m cold. I’m uncomfortable. I don’t have to be spending extra time and energy stepping out of my comfort zone. The train starts to slow down and suddenly lurches to a stop. It isn’t an easy ride. There are jolts and bumps along the way. Looking outside, in between sparkling lights of houses zipping by are moments of pitch darkness where I cannot see where we were going.

Our journey in the classroom isn’t always clear or easy. The journey may appear uncomfortable at times, but we keep chugging along. Amidst the twinkling lights we see Santa Claus. He boards the train and passes out a shiny bell to each child. I watch as my children admire their shiny new bell and suck on their candy canes. The sparkle in their eyes lets me know this is a moment that will forever be etched in their memory. I notice that students are motivated and passionate about learning. Yes, students are able to write a complete sentence with a capital letter and a period, but there is a bigger purpose at work here. Their experiences will last with them far beyond their first grade year. They are learning to explore their world, question things around them, and problem solve. They are developing into lifelong learners who want to make a difference.  It was all worth it. It is well worth it.

The development of the railroad in the history of the American frontier was extremely influential. Students’ experiences with project based learning in the elementary years will impact them in numerous unimaginable ways. What is your experience with project based learning and how has it impacted your students?

Reading Council and Local Children's Author Claudia Little

Halloween may be over, but I am being haunted by voices… My blog has been talking to me. It’s saying “It’s been over a month since you last spoke to me.” Scary, isn’t it? Is it because I have had nothing to blog about? Quite the contrary! Plenty of things have happened since my last entry-  from wonderful happenings in the classroom to awesome professional development experiences. If I have time, I will catch up on all these experiences.

However, for today, I would like to share about the local Reading Council meeting I attended tonight.  Local children’s author, Claudia Little, spoke to us about making connections with our students and helping students improve their writing. Claudia is a retired teacher and lives in Spearfish, South Dakota. Claudia is the author of two books, Patches, My Mustang and Mudpies. Patches began as a story growing up on a ranch. Claudia's fourth and fifth grade students became her editors. Mudpies is a beautiful rhyming book about the simple pleasures in life. Both books are illustrated by Sharon Grey, who was a former student of Claudia’s back in the third grade.  The illustrations in Patches are charcoal. The illustrations in Mudpies are gorgeous watercolor paintings with real children used as models. Check out the following website for more information on Claudia: http://www.photographs.galeymiller.org/History/Spearfish-Area-Historical/4458366_emTYG/4 Claudia also gives presentations to classrooms. Her contact information is: 605-642-4227 or clittle@spe.midco.net.

Claudia was available to sign copies of her books. I picked up copies for several of my colleagues. Don’t books make the greatest gifts? And I couldn’t resist adding Patches and Mudpies  to my own library. One can never have too many books. Just don’t ask my husband!  We were also treated to some delicious goodies. To make a good evening better, I won the door prize- a $10.00 gift card to Borders!  Did I say one can never have too many books?

Student Intern

Knollwood is a Professional Development School and is in a partnership with Black Hills State University. The mission of the College of Education is to prepare competent, confident, and caring professionals. In an effort to reach that goal, BHSU has prescribed to a new model which imitates the medical model. Elementary Candidates are placed with the same teacher for both the Student Teaching Practicum and the Student Teaching Internship. This year long residency involves two professionals (mentor and intern) sharing the classroom. This is my second year as a mentor in the program and I am extremely pleased with the process.  Last year was a positive experience for everyone involved- the students, my intern, and me. This year promises to be the same.

My intern this year is Ms. Kolbach. She has a true passion for teaching and a genuine love for kids.  I am proud to mentor her in this learning journey. I know the students and I are going to learn as much from her as she will from us. Ms. Kolbach has already shown great desire and commitment to gain as much from this experience as possible.  In fact, we even got together before school year officially started.



Ms. Kolbach and Mrs. Roller at Alternative Fuel this summer.





Mentors, Mrs. Roller and Mrs. Tautkus, with their interns, Ms. Kolbach and Ms. Hoscheid.