Spring fever

It is the week before spring break in our region. It could be a time to reinforce your rules and procedures and to find ways to remind students you care about them. Teachers are ramping up their testing preparation in some places, and students are or may be showing signs of spring fever. (;  at any rate there may be some challenges out there... some overt, some subtle. I know, at the college level, we see a lot of stress signs (sadness, work ethic wanes, tears, outbursts in class, leaving class, lateness...). We cannot lose sight of the importance of reminding students to take care of themselves and one another.

This week I participated in my first #mschat experience. They were talking about social emotional learning. While our conversations centered on young adolescents I was reminded that we also need to think about it for ourselves. Teaching is challenging, not so much for the content but for the myriad of personalities and needs of the students in our classes. I thought about the challenges we face motivating students and ourselves. I think if we can arrange some structures and work with our students, things can be more peacesful, more productive... and is t that what we hope for?

I have had challenging classes. Every week I had to come up with something different. The concern was not only for my own mental health, but also for the learning of those students who wanted to learn and could not, and to those who chose to disrupt because it is often easier to be disrespectful than to appear stupid in front of your peers. 

Advice

Next week, begin with the following. 

1) Set up new seating charts. Rearrange them. 

2) Ask students to write on a slip of paper, their name and what they need to be successful in class? Take those up, read them. Write what you need and display it on the screen.

3) Have a team meeting with the whole class. Students need to know we need a better working atmosphere. We have 10 weeks of school left. There are three things I need from you: respect (for one another, for me, for math, and for yourself); effort (bring materials to class, homework and a mindset ready to work), and kindness. 

When it begins to get unruly, move to the unruly group.

4) share the routine that will take place this next week

5) individual meetings with ring leaders. Let them know you care about their learning and want to help them get through the class. Be specific about a particular behavior, how it makes you feel, how you want to help them and ask what they need and tell them what you need. 

Inspired by Preservice Teachers

This week I am heading to the South Carolina Association for Middle School conference in Myrtle Beach, then will head to the North Carolina Middle Level Education conference in Greensboro, NC. These conferences provide insight and inspiration for teachers, administrators, and for the preservice teachers an opportunity to be introduced to middle level education on a much bigger scale. 

I  am so impressed with the passion and hope CMLA and other middle school preservice teachers bring. At the National AMLE.org conference (This conference takes place in the fall every year.) preservice teachers spent an entire day focusing on their needs, their ideas, and it culminated with a service project where they packed book ages with snacks for kids in Philadelphia. 

We, as educators, need their inspiration. They are the future. 

Last night, a group of preservice teachers shared their insights and passion with other student teachers about edtpa, a new national portfolio tool used to evaluate candidates’ abilities to plan, demonstrate evidences of respect, rapport, student engagement, deeper thinking, and assessing student learning. This panel of student teachers in their 8th week of student teaching came to my introduction to edtpa class and shared their insights. The following is a note I sent them. 

Dear Shawn, Lauren, Mary, Rachel, Emily, and Alex,

Thank you so much for sharing your inspiration about edtpa last night with my students. You were so clear, so helpful, and so passionate about your own views of how this process has shown you that you are prepared and ready to advocate for all students; that you recognize that teaching is about knowing all of your students and finding ways to consider their needs; that assessment is formative and that giving feedback is so important; and that the theories, knowledge of students, and best practice strategies play out everyday in your teaching. I also appreciate the candid reality that this process is rigorous, takes hours, and has given you confidence. 

It was so refreshing. Thank you for your love of teaching, your belief that you will make a difference, your passion. 

My students said you have given them a clear message that 1) this is doable and 2) they can do this! We will all celebrate March 26 with you. You all rock! Thank you. 

Sincerely,

Nancy

Advice:

1. Preservice teaching is more complex than it used to be. We as educators in the field need to find ways to support and encourage them. 
2. Our preservice teachers who are early in their programs need to hear from our student teachers. 
3. We need to share their stories and encourage them to participate in conferences that will inspire them and invite them into an educational profession that is passionate about working with young adolescents. 

The preservice teachers’ voice will be heard this weekend at these state conferences. We need their voices!!