My Dog's Insights

I've been debating what to write about today. 

I think anyone knows my pets are my kids. They motivate me to do many things, and people who know me joke if they have to come back as a pet, they'd want me to be their owner.

That thought is guiding today's post. My youngest dog - Kaydee - is a "pit mix." I am pretty sure that she is coonhound, but that is beside the point.

Kaydee was adopted by us at four months old. Her bio from the Humane Society said she was "the more outgoing" of a two dog owner surrender.

My mom and sister drove her out to her new home on International Pi Day: 3/14/12. I've had her now for a while, yet she still has issues. 

She isn't trusting when someone is holding anything that resembles a stick, bat, fly swatter, anything. She doesn't like loud noises, silverware being clinked with anything, or sometimes just random noises. She gives warnings, then snaps... if she runs to her kennel, you have to just leave her alone and eventually try to coach her out. She suffers from anxiety when left alone - serious anxiety - if Allie (the older dog) isn't with her, you can hear Kaydee bawling from five blocks away. She's always waiting to greet everyone the minute they arrive home... I think she can tell that we are coming from three blocks away. 

However, she is still an awesome "dog." She is willing to try new things: yesterday, she actually let us hold a flyswatter next to her and she didn't just run away.  The last thunderstorm, she wanted to run to her kennel but listened to me about just sitting with me. She is starting to not run when something scares her: she analyzes it first, especially if we tell her it is ok. 

So, how on earth does this relate to teaching? 

Kaydee reminds me that I need to realize each student comes with their own fears, problems, challenges. 

I need to keep having patience with them, just like my Kaydee. They all have their own rewards / benefits - they make my life more interesting, and sometimes challenging. 

I NEED to find what motivates them, what makes them happy, and what they fear (such as risk taking). When I know this, I can help them through the problem areas and push them to achieve even more in what they enjoy, and help expand their knowledge. 

#Reflection

Today I participated in #westedchat and #worldgeochat.

I look forward to both of these Twitter chats - they rejuvenate me and help me refocus on what I want to redo for next year. I teach ELA, Reading, Spelling, Geography and US History. I find that it's good to have my Seventh grade most of their day because we can change up what we are doing within my scheduled time.

I reflect on an hourly basis, but taking time in the Summer helps see the bigger picture for the coming school year. I know what standards I need to teach, but how to get them done are always a bigger question.

The new Seventh-grade class is always a challenge - I've not had these students, so I don't know for sure what we can accomplish right from the start. Next year, the Eighth graders will be familiar, but some despise history, that I want to come up with new ways to get them engaged. (Hence, the Summer reading and rereadings - #TLAP, Top 20 Teachers, Wooden, They Call Me Coach, and any other books I grab onto!)

I also know that PBL will be a bigger part of my classroom in the coming year. I like students leading the learning: with me as a support.

In order to help my new students go from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, I am going to restart the class based off the book Top 20 Teens. I use quite a few of these ideas in my teaching, but the students who read a copy of it -- and followed it said that it really did help! (Some read it as my "self-improvement" book genre requirement.)

SIDE NOTE:
Since I also teach ELA, I started a hybrid of Donalyn Miller's program. Most of our school does AR reading for 25% of the grade: I switched, but couldn't just say "read." I started Reader's Notebooks, genre requirements per quarter, parent reflection questions, and participation points for reading in class. I also set that for the 25% grade that each student could read 5 books. I set large requirements for these five per quarter, most the requirements were a genre or a general type of book: each quarter had several choice books. For instance, we were doing a Holocaust unit in Geography, so one was a Holocaust book.

So, the first book we will do is Top 20 Teens, then we can also blog and reflect on the lessons within it.

That will hopefully lead to a more "risk taking" group: I'll support, I'll keep learning, I'll keep reflecting. I'll take risks: there will be failures: I will see them as FIRST ATTEMPTS IN LEARNING. :)

Graduation Day

Today was graduation day for the Faith Longhorns. I look back to these students as Seventh graders and admire how much they have grown. Many know what they will do in college; others are still working on figuring that out. No matter what, I hope the world is ready... once they find what they want to do: EVERYONE else watch out.

My Eighth grade students move on to High School this next year. This is when I'm glad I work in a small school: I'll still be able to see them, support them and watch them mature into the young adults of high school.

My best wishes to BOTH groups!

#Helpful

Today, I'm 34... one more year... AND PRESIDENCY HERE I COME 😀

I figure it is the one way I can get my students to remember parts of the Constitution.

We have TWO days of school left.. That's it.

With that, I should get to this topic: helpful.

Last year, I worked for our janitor. That's when I realized how much work needs to be done each Summer.

I've always prepped my room, this year, I'm taking extra time to make sure that the boxes are sturdy, well taped up.

My classroom info on each box... On each side... Never know what side might be showing when it is moved.

All the blue sticky DAP off my walls, along with the tape... and any other stuff from my walls.

I'm also making sure there is NOTHING on the bottom, sides, or top of student desks. I scraped WAY TO MUCH GUM last Summer...

Seriously, I've got pictures of gum... a half full garbage can full.

I'm also going to leave a nice sketch of how I would like things reset... Just to save time and the newly waxed floor.

Oh, and if the garbage is full, because students will relish throwing everything away... Help empty it. (Although I didn't get to mine in time tonight!!)
So, please...

Think of the summer staff... Their job makes our job easier in the Fall.

One goal - Summer Bloggin'

I've started following #edblogaday

I LOVE IT! It has helped me find my passion and why my blogging reflections are important.

Plus, I am going to take this moment to share my class blog: http://longhorns7.blogspot.com/

I've just started it, but this Summer my incoming Seventh Graders have a chance to blog about their reading AND earn extra credit for each blog post.

I am hoping that this opportunity for them will keep them reading. My current class are putting up reasons students can and should read over the Summer.

On top of that, I love the new possibility that students can blog via sending me an email. That also means they will need to remember their school email and password :) WIN for me next Fall!

Finally, since I am asking them to blog, it helps keep me on track for my blogging!

Happy Reading!

Ms. Mielke

Things I Learned This Week... And why I love the end-of-year!

I love the end of the year! Not for the reasons you think....

This time of year allows me to try ALL kinds of projects for next year. My current students give me feedback on what works with it, how to tweek it for other students and are blatantly honest because of the trust we have built all year.

Every year, I use Google Forms for feedback at the end of year. I use this from each class to help form next year. This year, I can already guess my students will want more genius hour projects! In our final five days, they are requesting a mini genius hour project.

They also want a #mysteryskype ... I'm trying to get one done!

#Thankful

 

The past couple of days have been crazy – we are down to FOUR days of school.

 

My students are starting to get in the end of year mode.

 

Translation: we are starting to not want to do things.

 

They are finishing most tests for me today. Next week, realistically, we only have two days. The other two are plum full of activities.

 

However, I am still thankful for this time. I’ve been reflecting on their growth this year. (NOT just height – although I’m almost the shortest one again!)

 

They have grown, they have challenged each other, they have risen to levels they didn’t think possible at the beginning of the year.

 

I look forward to seeing what they end up doing – not just over the next school years, but in life. We have so many creative students, they just need guidance in how to direct their thoughts.

 

I am proud of each and everyone one of them – even if we have had our differences through the year.

 

I am also thankful that we found the folders from our graduating Seniors. They completed the Top 20 course in Middle School since then, we have a new school building, and I’ve been looking for those folders for two years. Our Supt. came in yesterday and announced they were found! He then went and handed them out to the Seniors.

 

It allowed me time to reflect again on how much the Class of 2015 has grown since Middle School, and I can’t wait to see what they do afterwards!

 

#TeachingIs

Today, I received a wonderful surprise.

It came at the right time - when I was wondering if we have done enough this year. We only have SEVEN days of school left. I keep thinking what we should have done different, how I could have improved.

I also was thinking of all the things yet to do - including all the "end-of-year-extras:" like final tests, final grades, checking materials back in, packing up the room, celebrations, and several wrap up projects.

I love my students - they are my "kids." I set high standards because I want them to succeed in life. I see good in all of them: each is unique. Sometimes though, I need the reminders of why I teach. A physical gift isn't important, but it is a reminder. It is the thought that someone took the time to remind me of those great moments, like when a student has that "ah ha moment" or says "I can do this!", or those you-had-to-be-there to understand how funny it was moments!

So, that flower is much more than just a flower.